Munster coach Alan Gaffney has named a 25 strong squad from which the Munster side to play Bristol Shoguns will be selected for Tuesday’s warm up against Bristol Shoguns at Thomond Park (7pm). The squad includes newcomers Dominic Malone and Eddie Halvey plus a number of non-contracted players brought in by Gaffney because of injury and non-availability due to national squad commitments.

The starting line-up will not be announced until sometime before kick off but it will be led by new captain Jim Williams, who takes over from Mick Galwey. Galwey has captained Munster for the past number of years but opted to stand down this season. Williams, in just his second season with the two time Heineken cup finalists, was elected captain by Munster squad members last Thursday night. The former Australian was delighted with his appointment. “I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s a great honour and I’m deeply appreciative that the guys saw fit to make me captain.” He said. “ Training has been going well. It’s been a little difficult right enough with injuries and some guys away with the international squad but there’s a good atmosphere about and I’d be pretty pleased with the way things are going.”

The game against Bristol will be a regular 80 minute game but the warm-up against Connacht set for Friday August 23rd will be a 120 minute affair, three 40 minute quarters.

Munster Squad of 25:

D Crotty, T Cregan, J Lacey, M Lawlor, M Mullins, K Keane, J Staunton, M Prendergast, D Malone, P Brennan, F Roche, J Blaney, J Fogarty, R Laffen, T Buckley, R McKinney, M Galwey, D O’Callaghan, T Hogan, P Malone, C McMahon, E Halvey, D Bowles, U O’Callaghan, J Williams