And lucky for them or perhaps maybe thanks to the prescience of their Operations Manager Bryan Murphy, their travel arrangements will not be disrupted by the threatened Aer Lingus pilot's strike, the Munster squad being flown by American Airlines.

The twenty six strong playing party includes the new generation of Munster player with  the likes of Ciaran OBoyle, Gerry Hurley, Mark Melbourne  included along with Darragh Hurley, Donnacha Ryan  and Denis Hurley, who made an impact last season in the Magners League. 

Also included are the newcomers to the squad, Niall Ronan, Kieran Lewis, Paul Warwick and Rua Tipoki.

Munster play the US Eagles in Toyota Park  on  Sunday August 27th in what will act as the first of their three match pre-season programme while the game will serve as the final outing for the Americans before the World Cup.

Coach Declan Kidney, looking forward to the trip said, " Everyones aware of the importance of  pre-season work and the matches serve as a significant part of that preparation. It is a privilege to be able to include an international side in our  pre-season schedule and even more so when we are playing them in their own back yard just  before they head off for the World Cup. It's a marvellous opportunity for us, and particularly for the younger members of the squad, to get this type of exposure against an international outfit."

Munster Squad: F Pucciariello, T Buckley, Darragh Hurley, A Foley, J OSullivan, Donnacha  Ryan, M ODriscoll, E McGovern, D Fogarty, N Ronan, J Coughlan, M Melbourne,  A Horgan, J Kelly, T OLeary, C OBoyle,  D Hurley, J Manning, M Lawler, I Dowling, B Murphy, K Lewis, L Mafi, P Warwick, R Tipoki, G Hurley,