Munster announced their squad on Tuesday for the coming season and while it did not include John Hayes the 206 times capped prop, he is contracted until the end of the Rugby World Cup. This however is the biggest indicator so far that the tight head has played his last game for Munster. Some quarters believe, that if Hayes does not make it to the World Cup, he may still play some part for the Red Army. That is, of course, until the World Cup stars return.
Munster’s preparations for the coming season began yesterday with a squad assembly in Cork. The session did not include their international contingent who continue their RWC preparations in Carton House Maynooth. The internationals break up this evening and return south where they’ll join the rest of their colleagues for the best part of the next two weeks before returning for a three week camp. Those attending the session in CIT yesterday were introduced to new Strength & Conditioning Coach Bryce Kavanagh who joins from Australian Rules side The Sydney Swans. A number of Academy players were in attendance also as they train with the senior squad for the duration of pre-season.
New signings BJ Botha and Ian Keatley will be among those in Cork also along with 11 players who have come up through the ranks to earn full time contracts.
Six of those are forwards, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Ian Nagle, Peter O’Mahony and Paddy Butler, with the five backs, Conor Murray, Simon Zebo, Scott Deasy, Declan Cusack and Danny Barnes, joined by Ivan Dineen and Sean Scanlon who are on Development contracts.
Munster Squad (2011/2012): F Jones, D Hurley, D Howlett, S Deasy, S Scanlon, I Dineen, D Barnes, K Earls, J Murphy, L Mafi, S Zebo, T Gleeson, I Keatley, R O’Gara, D Cusack, T O’Leary, C Murray, D Williams, P Stringer. BJ Botha, D Hurley, S Archer, M Horan, W du Preez, J Ryan, J Flannery, D Fogarty, D Varley, M Sherry, S Henry, P Borlase, M O’Driscoll, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell, D Foley, I Nagle, B Holland, D Ryan, P Butler, D Leamy, N Ronan, T O’Donnell, P O’Mahony, D Wallace, J Coughlan,
