Ben O’Connor Signs New Contract

Munster Rugby and the IRFU can confirm that Ben O’Connor has signed a new contract that will see him continue as an Academy player next season before moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.

He has signed a development contract for 2026/27 and will progress to a senior deal for the 2027/28 campaign.

The 20-year-old has scored two tries in 10 appearances since joining the Academy in 2023.

A talented sportsman, O’Connor has won two All-Ireland medals with the Cork hurlers – at minor level in 2021 and U20 level in 2023.

He flourished at PBC and played a leading role as they won the 2023 Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup.

He made his Munster debut within months of joining the Academy against Dragons in November 2023 and made his Champions Cup debut against Bayonne a month later.

O’Connor started all five of Ireland’s matches during their unbeaten U20s Six Nations campaign in 2024.

He was also part of the Ireland squad selected for the U20s World Championship in South Africa, where he started in the back three for every fixture.

He lined out for Emerging Ireland in South Africa earlier this season and has scored two tries in five appearances for Munster this season.

Five Academy players have been confirmed so far to be moving up to the senior squad next season: Fionn Gibbons, Shay McCarthy, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhán Quinn and Kieran Ryan.