Academy Update | October 2025

17th October 2025 By The Editor

New Academy recruit Emmet Calvey has been playing with Shannon RFC in the AIL. Inpho

It has been an excellent start to 2025/26 for the Munster Rugby Academy with 61 appearances for senior and Academy players for their clubs in the Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup and All Ireland League in the early weeks of the season.

Additionally, Ben O’Connor and Ronan Foxe have lined out in the URC with tighthead prop Foxe among the replacements for Saturday’s clash against Leinster at Croke Park.

There will also be plenty of Academy involvement in the ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship over the season, which kicks off with an away clash against Leinster on Saturday at Ollie Campbell Park (12pm). The Munster A side for the clash will be named today, scroll down for the full fixture list.

Emmet Calvey, Conor Kennelly, Oisín Minogue, Eoghan Smyth and Tom Wood joined the Academy in the summer. See more details on the new additons here.

Hear from Academy & Pathway Manager Gar Prendergast on the latest from the Academy.

AIL players taking their opportunities…

“Conor Ryan is a brilliant guy, still very young and joined the senior squad in the summer. He comes from a rowing background in Clonakilty and has played in the AIL with UCC.

“Conor Bartley is another player who has come in from the AIL last season and done really well.

“We’ve had John Poland and Adam Maher come in and train with us too. For AIL players, our eyes are always on them and there’s a real emphasis on giving guys an opportunity if they prove themsleves on the AIL so it’s great and long may it continue.”

New Head Coach Clayton McMillan…

“Clayton has come in with a very open midset and is getting to know all of the senior and Academy players and indeed we’ve even had some NTS players come in during pre-season, so it’s been incredible exposure for them.

“He’s very open-minded and we’ve gotten to go out to places like Ennis, Rockwell and Castleisland that’s been a very big positive as well but he’s definitely been giving lads the opportunity to show what they’re about.”

New Cork Centre of Excellence…

“It’s a fantastic resource that will be utilised to the full degree from both the club and community suide of things and from a participation point of view, it’s an excellent resource.

From a pathway point of view with our various rep sides and our NTS programmes and indeed even Academy guys using it, it will be a great facility that has everything you need.

“It’s good for the game in terms of young people accessing it and, from our perspective as staff and coaches, we’ll be able to get huge benefits from it as well.”

A view of the 50-metre indoor pitch at the Cork Centre of Excellence.

Ireland U20s involvement over the summer (Eoghan Smyth, Tom Wood, Michael Foy, Luke Murphy, Conor Kennelly, Gene O’Leary Kareem & Oisín Minogue)…

“The lads had some challenges along the way but it’s a great learning for lads of that age. We’ve met with them both individually and collectively – both myself and Cathal Sheridan.

“We’ve spoken to them about what they’ve learned that can help develop their game because they will come across challenges in their careers and it’s good to experience that at a young age.”

Underage Interprovincial Championships in the summer…

“The summer programme is getting bigger and bigger every year. There’s is the Munster U16s, U17s Schools and Clubs, U18s Schools and Clubs, and Munster U19s so there is a huge amount of work goes into that.

“We had more positive results than negative results but the key learning for us was how these players can grow and develop their game and there is obviously players of interest in each group that we track and monitor.

“Regardless of whether players make it through to the NTS or Academy eventually, it’s a great experience for young players. It helps with their development and we work closely with our schools and clubs in relation to that and they’ve been hugely supportive.

“Their families have to make huge commitments following them around as well getting them up and down to training so it’s been a really good experience.”

Nenagh Ormond competing in Division 1A of the AIL…

“I can only commend Nenagh for everything they have done, they were named Senior Club of the Year at our Awards in the summer and rightly so.

“They are building something really big out there from an adult rugby perspective and at underage level so it’s a brilliant club and they’re on the up.”