Contract News & New Signings | Ryan, Milne & Barron
29th January 2025 By The Editor
Kieran Ryan, Michael Milne and Lee Barron.
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm that Academy prop Kieran Ryan will move up to the senior squad next season on a two-year deal with prop Michael Milne and hooker Lee Barron joining from Leinster on two-year deals.
Ryan moves up to a development contract next year and will progress to a senior contract for 2026/27.
He becomes the fourth Academy player moving up to the senior squad next year with two-year deals confirmed for Shay McCarthy, Evan O’Connell and Ruadhán Quinn earlier this month.
The Limerick man, who can play loosehead and tighthead, made his Munster debut against the Sharks in October 2023 and has already made 11 senior appearances, the most recent of which came in the bonus-point win over the Dragons last weekend.
The 22-year-old came up through the ranks at Shannon RFC and St Munchin’s College and plays his Energia AIL rugby with Shannon. Ryan represented the Ireland U20s in 2022 and made his Champions Cup debut against Stade Francais earlier this season.
From Birr in County Offaly, powerful prop Michael Milne came up through the ranks at Birr RFC and Cistercian College, Roscrea.
He has scored 12 tries in 47 appearances for Leinster since making his debut as an Academy player in 2019 and will join Munster this summer.
He played schools rugby alongside Josh Wycherley and the duo won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s in 2019 along with Craig Casey and John Hodnett.
The 25-year-old represented Emerging Ireland in 2022 and has twice been called up to train with the Ireland senior squad.
A dynamic hooker who has represented Ireland at U20 level, Lee Barron has scored three tries in 22 appearances since making his Leinster debut as an Academy player against the Sharks in 2022.
The 23-year-old has spent the past five years at Leinster having come up through the ranks at Lansdowne RFC and St Michael’s College.
He has scored one try in six appearances so far this season and also joins Munster ahead of the 2025/26 campaign on a two-year contract.
