MUNSTER HAVE ANNOUNCED their academy intake for next year with ex-Leinster fullback Jack Power and Welsh underage international James McCarthy among 11 new recruits for 2017/18.
Five of the Ireland squad from last month’s U20 World Championships are also included, while Power moves south following a year in the Leinster setup.
McCarthy, who scored two tries against Ireland for a Welsh Schools side in April, was previously part of the underage system at Newport Gwent Dragons and now enters the southern province’s academy at the first year stage.
The fullback is joined on the roster by Liam Coombes (Garryowen), Joey Conway (UL Bohs), Conor Fitzgerald (Shannon), Jack Stafford (Shannon) and Alan Tynan (Young Munster) who all featured for Ireland at the JWC in Georgia.
Craig Casey (Ardscoil Rís), Daniel Hurley (Garryowen), Alex McHenry (Cork Con) and Jack O’Sullivan (PBC) make up the first year roster, with a total of 20 players set to be in the academy for this season.
Munster academy:
Year 3: Liam O’Connor (Prop/Cork Con), JP Phelan (Prop/Garryowen).
Year 2: Gavin Coombes (Backrow/Young Munster), Shane Daly (Centre/Cork Con), John Foley (Backrow/Shannon), Calvin Nash (Centre/Wing/Young Munster), Vincent O’Brien (Hooker/Cork Con), Sean O’Connor (Lock/Garryowen), Fineen Wycherley (Lock/Young Munster).
Year 1: Craig Casey (Scrumhalf/Ardscoil Rís), Joey Conway (Prop/UL Bohs), Liam Coombes (Back three/Garryowen), Conor Fitzgerald (Outhalf/Shannon), Daniel Hurley (Back three/Garryowen), James McCarthy (Fullback), Alex McHenry (Centre/Cork Con), Jack O’Sullivan (Back row/PBC), Jack Power (Fullback), Jack Stafford (Scrumhalf/Shannon), Alan Tynan (Outhalf/Young Munster).
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Fair play to the lad.
The MLS is leading the way in supporting LGBT, the rest of world football has allot of catching up to do!
This really annoys me that this is a story at all. Well done to Martin for standing up against the biggest coverup in world football – nobody believes that there isn’t any high profile, gay, professional players. I don’t know if it’s the agents, clubs, sponsors, other players or a combination who make players so terrified of being themselves. It could be the value of image rights and perceived reaction, but they need to grow up and realise we live in an inclusive society with no place for bigotry and discrimination. Unfortunately it has to start with more and more stories like this where people put their own necks on the line.