Academy Update | August 2024

With the 2024/25 season fast approaching, we spoke to Munster Rugby Academy & Pathway Manager Gar Prendergast last week to find out how the province’s young players are shaping up ahead of the new campaign.

Six new players joined the Academy ahead of the new season: Seán Edogbo, Michael Foy, Luke Murphy, Gene O’Leary Kareem, Jake O’Riordan and Danny Sheahan.

Edwin Edogbo, Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Brian Gleeson have moved up from the Academy to the senior squad.

See the full Academy squad for 2024/25 here.

Hear the latest from Gar below.

Pre-season training…

“The initial group had a Bronco Test on Friday, July 26, and they started the pre-season training programme with the senior squad on July 29.

“The World Cup lads were staggered, they’re only back since Monday, August 12 – Seán [Edogbo], Danny [Sheahan], Jake [O’Riordan], Ben [O’Connor], Evan [O’Connell] and Luke [Murphy].

“Gene O’Leary Kareem and Michael Foy are coming into the Academy from the school programme and the National Talent Squad (NTS).

“Because they’re coming from the school programme, naturally you’ll modify their training loads a bit more because they are younger. Michael has an injury but it will be an opportunity as a development block for him.

“There can be a big difference in how the pre-season programme looks for a year one player and a year three player so that has been well managed and that’s just good comms between the various departments and it’s working well.”

Munster players at U20 World Championship…

“It’s huge for their development. To start with Evan, I thought his leadership was outstanding on and off the pitch. The feedback we got from the management, who we’d speak to regularly, they spoke very highly of him. I thought he played really well and was very unlucky with the injury, bad timing. I felt he was a bit of a loss in the England game.

“Credit to the other lads, they played really well and got good game time. In terms of their development it’s great exposure for them playing rugby at that level against their peers, the best in the world at that level. It’s great, and it will stand to them.”

Five Academy players moving up to senior squad…

“You have to commend the schools and club programme first of all, and then indeed our own programme. These lads come in at young ages for pre-summer and summer programmes and it stands to them. All that preparatory work builds towards them excelling at the U20s age-group and they have kicked on now to the senior squad.

“It’s pleasing to see the five players go on but I think it’s important also to highlight that it’s very much a transition phase as well.

“We keep in touch with them, check in on them and see how they are developing. We work closely with the senior coaches on that. I slag the lads and say ‘don’t forget where we are!’ and they don’t either in fairness to them and we’ve good relationships built with them so it’s great to see them kicking on.”

Upcoming Munster Development & A games…

“We have the two pre-season games coming up against Bath and Gloucester which hopefully a few lads will get exposure to.

“We will have a Development game in early September which some Academy players will play but it’s more the younger group. We have a development group working with Tommy O’Donnell this summer so they’ll get good exposure there.

“In addition to the AIL, which is starting on September 21, we have two A games in November, two at Christmas and two at the end of the season. There will be good exposure there for players who mighn’t be getting the game-time they need.”

Developing players though the underage Interprovincial Championships…

“We work very closely with the Domestic Game department on that so our coaching teams are well mixed between staff from the Academy/professional game department and the domestic game department.

“Those coaching teams have worked really well together and I was up at the U17s Festival last weekend and it was great to see. Brilliant exposure for our U17s Clubs and Schools team.

“It’s the thing we always remind each other of, those players are still very much in a development block. And, yes, results are nice and performance is important but it’s all about how these guys develop.”

Injury update…

“Evan [O’Connell] will be back sooner rather than later, it’s not a long-termer. The big one was Fionn Gibbons, unfortunately he did his cruciate at the end of last season which was very sad and he will target a return to play in March or April so he will miss a big chunk of the season.

“He’s a very resilient character and he’ll bounce back from that. He’s a good guy and a great player so hopefully he’ll come back a stronger player.”

Men’s Pre-Season Fixture

Friday, September 6

Munster v Gloucester, Virgin Media Park, 7pm; Buy tickets here