Munster welcome back key quartet for URC decider as they prepare to fly to Cape Town

As expected, Munster have been boosted by the return of Malakai Fekitoa, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and RG Snyman for next Saturday’s URC Grand Final against Stormers in Cape Town (6.30pm local/5.30pm Irish time). The quartet have completed the return to play protocols and are available for selection after missing the 16-15 semi-final win over Leinster.

The four were named in a 30-player Munster travelling squad, consisting of 17 forwards and 13 backs, which will depart for South Africa on Monday and arrive in Cape Town on Tuesday.

All of the 23-man matchday squad involved in the semi-final are named except for scrumhalf Neil Cronin. And with Paddy Paterson sidelined, the academy scrumhalf Ethan Coughlan is included in the travelling squad, as are David Kilcoyne, Scott Buckley and Joey Carbery.

Munster have also announced they will face the Barbarians at Thomond Park in a historic double-header for the province with the women’s and men’s squads facing respective invitational sides on Saturday, September 30th.

The Counter Ruck: the rugby newsletter from The Irish Times

---

Struggles in South Africa complicate Leinster’s run-in

---

Brilliant win over Bulls suggests Munster fans need to raise their game at Thomond

---

When it comes to the 20-minute red card replacement, World Rugby should play it safe

---

The Munster women’s team, who are the current Interprovincial champions, will play their Barbarians counterparts at 2pm while the men’s side will kick-off at 4.30pm.

Thomond Park last hosted the Barbarians in November 2017, on the same day as the first-ever Barbarians women’s fixture took place, with Munster also providing the opposition.

This will be the first time the men’s sides face each other, as the Barbarians played Tonga and Ireland on their previous visits to Thomond Park.

Meanwhile, Connacht have announced that they reached an agreement with Italian-based sportswear brand Macron to become the club’s official kit partner in a long-term, multiyear partnership.

The partnership will begin for the 2023/24 season and will see Macron become Connacht Rugby’s official kit suppliers for all men’s, women’s and age grade teams, with the new home jersey to be revealed later this summer, with the away and European jerseys to follow later in the year.

Munster squad

Backs: Craig Casey, Ethan Coughlan, Conor Murray; Joey Carbery, Jack Crowley, Ben Healy; Malakai Fekitoa, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell; Shane Daly, Keith Earls, Mike Haley, Calvin Nash.

Forwards: Dave Kilcoyne, Jeremy Loughman, Josh Wycherley; Diarmuid Barron, Niall Scannell, Scott Buckley; Stephen Archer, Roman Salanoa; Tadhg Beirne, Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, Fineen Wycherley; Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony.