Evan O’Connell Signs First Senior Contract With Munster

Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm that Academy lock Evan O’Connell will move up to the senior squad next season on a two-year deal.

O’Connell moves up to a development contract next year and will progress to a senior contract for 2026/27.

The talented second-row joined the Academy ahead of the 2022/23 season and currently plays his AIL rugby with Young Munster RFC, making the switch to the Cookies from UL Bohemian RFC ahead of the 2024/25 season.

A former Castletroy College student, Evan lined out for the Munster U18 Schools team at the start of the 2021/22 season.

He captained Castletroy in the Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup later that year before lining out for Ireland in the 2022 U18 Six Nations Festival.

O’Connell featured for the Munster U19s in the 2022 Interprovincial Championship.

Internationally, O’Connell has captained the Ireland U20s squad through the 2024 Six Nations and led the team in South Africa during the U20s World Championship.

He lined out for Emerging Ireland on their tour to South Africa in October and has made four senior appearances for Munster so far this season.

O’Connell made his debut against the All Blacks XV at Thomond Park at the beginning of November before lining out against the Emirates Lions, Stade Francais and Ulster before Christmas. He started on his Champions Cup debut in the win over Stade Francais at Thomond Park.

The second-row has also captained Munster A this season in the A Interprovincial Championship.

Alex Kendellen, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Shane Daly and Alex Nankivell have all signed two-year contract extensions ahead of next season with O’Connell and Shay McCarthy moving up from the Academy to the senior squad.