Munster Name 26 Strong Squad

Munster have named a 26 strong squad for the Heineken Cup game against Biarritz on Sunday.

Munster Squad.

Backs (11): Burke, Paul; Devlin,Paul; Holland, Jason; Henderson, Rob; Horgan, Anthony; Kelly, John; Lima, Brian; Mullins Mike; Murphy Frank; Payne Shaun; Stringer, Peter Forwards (15): Bowman, Tom; Foley, Anthony Flannery, Jerry; Horan, Marcus; Hayes, John; Hogan, Trevor; Keogh, Stephen; McIlwham, Gordon; O Callaghan, Donncha; O Connell, Paul; Quinlan, Alan; Roche, Frank; Sheahan, Frank; Williams, Jim; Wallace, David; The Munster starting line-up will be announced on Friday morning next from Shannon Airport prior to departure for Biarritz.

Newcomers to the Squad.

Frank Murphy (23). Educated in Christian Brothers College Cork, he was a member of the Senior Cup side that won the 2000 Senior Cup. Represented Ireland at Schools and Ireland Under 21 and made his Munster Senior debut in August 2001 in the pre-season tournament involving Bath and Wasps. He made his Celtic League debut in October 2003 and won his 11th Munster senior cap against Ulster in Musgrave Park when he was voted Man of the Match. Now in his fourth season playing AIL rugby, he is captain of fourth placed UCC. I suppose I was surprised to get the call up to the Heineken Cup squad,” said Murphy, “but delighted at the same time. It is every Munster player s ambition and I am really looking forward to the whole Heineken Cup experience.

Brian Lima (33). Brian Lima has played 60 Tests for Samoa. Prior to coming to play in the northern hemisphere, he was involved with the Otago Highlanders and Auckland Blues, winning the Super 12 with the Blues in 1996/97. His first Heineken Cup experience came with Swansea under coach John Connolly when he played with current Munster colleague, Shaun Payne. After that he moved to Stade Francais and had his first Thomond Park experience when the French side were beaten 27-10 in the 2000 quarter final. The following season he was again in the Stade squad but missed the Lille semi-final clash with Munster through injury. A season with Japan First Division side Secom followed and after that he confined himself to IRB World Sevens rugby with Samoa before returning to the 15-a-side game in the North v South Tsunami game, scoring a try in the process. Approached by Munster after that game, he was according to himself, really happy to accept the offer to play with Munster.

“The only difficulty was that I had been away from my family for a long period and would be leaving again.

Munster are a side of course, I was aware of and knew they were always up at the top level in the Heineken Cup, always making the knock-outs in recent years.

I played in Thomond Park many years ago and remember their passionate supporters who get right behind their team. So yes I remember them well. They won that day (in Thomond) and then they lost the semi-final to us although I didn t play that day and it was a very close result.

I am very happy to be here and looking forward to playing with a team that is so highly regarded.

Contracted to the end of the season, Lima would consider an extension if approached.

It is something I would have first to sit down with my wife to discuss, but yes it is something I would consider if everything went well.