Sherry won his 26th Munster cap as a replacement for Denis Fogarty in last Friday's RaboDirect PRO12 game in Edinburgh. He was in turn replaced by Fogarty before the end after suffering a knock but was expected to be named in the Munster squad for Saturday's tilt at the Ospreys.

Reacting to the news Tony McGahan said, "I'm delighted for Mike to see him take this huge step forward in his career. He's a dedicated young man and I'm sure he'll acquit himself well in whatever role he's asked to fulfill.

And on the situtaion it leaves Munster in ? "Yes it does in turn leave us stretched in that particular position now that a third Munster hooker is unavailable to us but that's the nature of this sport and in turn it provides an great oportunity for Denis Fogarty and Sean Henry."

Munster take on Ospreys in Thomond Park Stadium on Saturday night and the squad for that game will be announced later today.