Academy Update | November 2024

20th November 2024 By The Editor

Shay McCarthy, Ben O'Connor, Ruadhan Quinn, Kieran Ryan, Ronan Foxe and Evan O'Connell after the All Blacks XV game. Inpho

We spoke to Academy & Pathway Manager Gar Prendergast this week ahead of a very busy period for the province’s young players.

The IRFU ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship has returned for 2024/25 with Munster A kicking off the campaign away to Leinster A this Friday at Lakelands (5pm).

The first home game of the campaign will see Munster A host Ulster A at New Ormond Park in Nenagh on Friday, November 29, at 3pm.

Gar Prendergast will lead a Munster A coaching team of Head Coach Tommy O’Donnell (Elite Player Development Officer) and Assistant Coaches Aiden McNulty (Elite Player Development Officer) and Seán Cronin (Provincial Talent Coach).

There will be six games in total over the Championship with two games in November, two in December and the final pair of matches in May. The Munster A team to face Leinster A on Friday will be named on Thursday.

Hear the latest on the Academy from Gar below. Scroll down for the full list of Munster A fixtures.

‘A’ Interprovincial Championship…

“For games like this, it’s very important to get the balance right between player development and performance.

“The games themselves we’ll take in blocks and there’s a lot of planning involved from a squad rotation point of view because some players will come in and out due to injury and due to availability if they are selected by the seniors.

“The one thing we are taking seriously is that it’s a competition with a trophy at the end of it. That’s got the juices flowing in terms of having something to target at the end of the season so we’re going into it with a really competitive mindset.

“Among the players, everyone will have different goals. Some guys are pushing to try and get into the senior team for the following week against Lions, some guys are trying to get into Ireland U20s squads, some guys are coming back from injury and some guys are coming out of the AIL. There’s a wide range of individual goals, for the want of a better word, but the collective goal is to make a good start on Friday.

“We always put a huge emphasis on the AIL and it’s a platform for us to look at players every week. This gives them the chance to also play against their peers from the professional level so from that perspective it’s a great test. It’s another level of rugby they can play in addition to the AIL when they’re not playing for our senior side.”

Gordon Wood earning an Academy place…

“Gordy had some very good performances both last season and this season with Garryowen. He also had some very good performances in Munster Development games and has been training with the senior squad for well over a year.

“From an Academy perspective, we’re pretty close to capacity for this season but the door is never closed if there are players impressing in the AIL. For players who are a small bit older, if they are going well in the AIL we’ll have a look at them too as we’ve proven over the last couple of seasons.”

Six Academy players featuring against the All Blacks XV (Shay McCarthy, Kieran Ryan, Ronan Foxe, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhán Quinn & Ben O’Connor)…

“It’s a highly emotive thing for us and you’re full of pride. You have to tip your hat to the people who have coached these guys from a young age in their clubs and schools, and their parents of course.

“You have to commend the training they are doing in the HPC with the Academy and senior coaches and the work they are doing in the integrated model.

“There are a range of different people who have helped the lads get to that stage but most importantly you have to commend the players themselves. They are the ones putting in all the work and I was very proud of all of them on the night.

“It was a brilliant occasion with some of the lads getting out there for the first time and all of them doing so well on the night. It was a pity we didn’t come out the right end of it but it was a brilliant experience for all of them.”

Evan O’Connell making his senior debut…

“He’s been brilliant since coming into the Academy, captaining the Ireland U20s and training really well.

“He’s playing in the AIL, progressing really nicely and he’s a very talented player. He’s an old head on young shoulders so the future is bright for Evan and I was delighted for him to get his first cap so onwards and upwards for him now.”