With the 2024/25 season quick approaching, we spoke to Munster Rugby Academy & Pathway Supervisor Gar Prendergast final week to learn the way the province’s younger gamers are shaping up forward of the brand new marketing campaign.
Six new gamers joined the Academy forward of the brand new season: Seán Edogbo, Michael Foy, Luke Murphy, Gene O’Leary Kareem, Jake O’Riordan and Danny Sheahan.
Edwin Edogbo, Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Brian Gleeson have moved up from the Academy to the senior squad.
See the total Academy squad for 2024/25 right here.
Hear the most recent from Gar beneath.
Pre-season coaching…
“The preliminary group had a Bronco Check on Friday, July 26, they usually began the pre-season coaching programme with the senior squad on July 29.
“The World Cup lads have been staggered, they’re solely again since Monday, August 12 – Seán [Edogbo], Danny [Sheahan], Jake [O’Riordan], Ben [O’Connor], Evan [O’Connell] and Luke [Murphy].
“Gene O’Leary Kareem and Michael Foy are coming into the Academy from the college programme and the Nationwide Expertise Squad (NTS).
“As a result of they’re coming from the college programme, naturally you’ll modify their coaching masses a bit extra as a result of they’re youthful. Michael has an damage however it will likely be a possibility as a growth block for him.
“There is usually a massive distinction in how the pre-season programme appears for a 12 months one participant and a 12 months three participant in order that has been properly managed and that’s simply good comms between the assorted departments and it’s working properly.”
Munster gamers at U20 World Championship…
“It’s large for his or her growth. To begin with Evan, I assumed his management was excellent on and off the pitch. The suggestions we acquired from the administration, who we’d communicate to commonly, they spoke very extremely of him. I assumed he performed very well and was very unfortunate with the damage, dangerous timing. I felt he was a little bit of a loss within the England recreation.
“Credit score to the opposite lads, they performed very well and acquired good recreation time. When it comes to their growth it’s nice publicity for them enjoying rugby at that degree in opposition to their friends, one of the best on the planet at that degree. It’s nice, and it’ll stand to them.”
5 Academy gamers transferring as much as senior squad…
“You need to commend the colleges and membership programme to start with, after which certainly our personal programme. These lads are available in at younger ages for pre-summer and summer time programmes and it stands to them. All that preparatory work builds in direction of them excelling on the U20s age-group they usually have kicked on now to the senior squad.
“It’s pleasing to see the 5 gamers go on however I believe it’s vital additionally to focus on that it’s very a lot a transition part as properly.
“We be in contact with them, examine in on them and see how they’re growing. We work intently with the senior coaches on that. I slag the lads and say ‘don’t overlook the place we’re!’ they usually don’t both in equity to them and we’ve good relationships constructed with them so it’s nice to see them kicking on.”
Upcoming Munster Growth & A video games…
“We’ve the 2 pre-season video games arising in opposition to Tub and Gloucester which hopefully a number of lads will get publicity to.
“We may have a Growth recreation in early September which some Academy gamers will play but it surely’s extra the youthful group. We’ve a growth group working with Tommy O’Donnell this summer time so that they’ll get good publicity there.
“Along with the AIL, which is beginning on September 21, we’ve got two A video games in November, two at Christmas and two on the finish of the season. There might be good publicity there for gamers who mighn’t be getting the game-time they want.”
Growing gamers although the underage Interprovincial Championships…
“We work very intently with the Home Recreation division on that so our teaching groups are properly blended between employees from the Academy/skilled recreation division and the home recreation division.
“These teaching groups have labored very well collectively and I used to be up on the U17s Pageant final weekend and it was nice to see. Sensible publicity for our U17s Golf equipment and Faculties workforce.
“It’s the factor we at all times remind one another of, these gamers are nonetheless very a lot in a growth block. And, sure, outcomes are good and efficiency is vital but it surely’s all about how these guys develop.”
Damage replace…
“Evan [O’Connell] might be again sooner reasonably than later, it’s not a long-termer. The massive one was Fionn Gibbons, sadly he did his cruciate on the finish of final season which was very unhappy and he’ll goal a return to play in March or April so he’ll miss an enormous chunk of the season.
“He’s a really resilient character and he’ll bounce again from that. He’s an excellent man and a fantastic participant so hopefully he’ll come again a stronger participant.”
Males’s Pre-Season Fixture
Friday, September 6
Munster v Gloucester, Virgin Media Park, 7pm; Purchase tickets right here
