Flannery And Quinlan Sign On The Dotted

Jerry Flannery and Alan Quinlan have followed suit with Paul O’Connell and signed up with Munster for the immediate future while an Australian Tony McGahan takes over from Graham Steadman

Following on from the the news last week that Paul O’Connell had pledged his future to Munster for the next threee seasons, his international colleagues Jerry Flannery and Alan Quinlan have also agreeed terms that will keep them with Munster for at least the next three and two years respectively.

27 year old Flannery has extended his contract with the IRFU up to end of season 2008/09 while Quinlan’s (31) will run up to the end of season 2007/08.

Flannery who is set to win his 5th international cap against Scotland on Saturday won his 40th Munster cap in the Heineken Cup vitory over Sale while Quinlan who has been capped
23 times at international level has made 114 appearances for Munster since making his debut for them in 1996. Quinlan who is recovering from injury sustained in the opening Heineken Cup game against Sale Sharks, is not ruling out the possibility of a return to action before the end of this season.

In addition Munster have appointed Tony McGahan to the role previously held by Graham Staedman, who is now the national defence coach.
Australian born, McGahan who will be 34 in July, comes to Munster from leading Japanese Club side IBM. Prior to that his coaching experience included stints with the Australia A side, with the Brisbane Broncos (League) and as Coaching Co-ordinator with the Australian U19 World Cup Squad.
He played League rugby with Brisbane Broncos having also represented Queensland Schoolboys and Eastern Districts at Union.