Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Update

After another very busy month in our Academy, Elite Player Development Manager Peter Malone fills us in on the latest news from inside the camp.

Seven Munster players selected in Ireland U20s squad…(Full details)

“It’s great, the lads have worked hard over the course of the year and they have spent time in the Irish camp and most of them played in the Christmas fixture between a Munster Development side and an Ireland U20s XV, either playing for Ireland or playing for Munster. I think some of the guys, like Dave McCarthy, had very good games for Munster against Ireland so that fixture is a real valuable one for us and for the lads to put themselves in the frame for selection.

“We’re happy with the number [of players selected]. They’re prepping this week and then they will be going into camp next week so hopefully the lads get into the matchday squad and we’ll see some good performances.”

B&I Cup quarter-final clash away to Leinster A…(Full details)

“That is shaping up to be a very exciting weekend with Munster and Leinster both at home in the Champions Cup quarter-finals and Munster A playing Leinster A in Dublin, we’re looking forward to it. Leinster have been in great form over the course of the competition but we’re going up there strongly believing that we can win and quietly confident that we can do a job on them, but we’ll need to put in an excellent performance if we are to beat Leinster up there.

“I thought we had very good form in the pool stages of the competition and the big one was the head to head against Bedford when they got a bonus point against us and we didn’t get one against them but we learned a lot from that. We actually played very well against Bedford in Cork but a few mistakes cost us and we rectified those the following week.

“Overall, we’re very happy. We’re in the quarter-finals, we’re playing in Ireland so it’s a trip up the road and it’s a big game and a big occasion for us against Leinster.”

Contracts for Liam O’Connor, Calvin Nash and Fineen Wycherley…

“Liam got an opportunity at the start of the season and really held onto that jersey and made it hard for the lads to get it off him, until his injury. It really was the epitome of the message that you have to take the chance when it comes. That’s the whole purpose of the Academy, train hard and be ready rugby-wise, physically, and mentally.

“Calvin and Fineen joined straight out of school and spent two years in the Academy. They earned development contracts because they got so much game time with the seniors over the last 12 months and they train with the seniors a lot. We’re very happy with the progress both of them have made.

“They have been excellent in regard to their application and attitude in the Academy and the next six months will play a big part in their development as well so it’s good news for them, for us in the Academy and Munster Rugby overall.”

Keynan Knox and Matt More training with the Academy…

“They are two players that were identified and recruited in line with our succession plan and they have come with references from rugby credible contacts in South Africa who we have good relationships with.

“Keynan and Matt will train with the Academy within a structured programme that takes into account their age, relocating to a new country, and their personal development. Both players have adapted well in a short period of time and are looking forward to playing rugby.

“They only finished school in South Africa in November and since joining us, are following our Academy personal development programme. In the last few weeks they have already completed modules on financial planning, nutrition, and rest and recovery. They then will have the opportunity to continue with third level studies or vocational opportunities in line with the academic year next September.”

Find out more about the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy here.