Eight Players Joining Munster Rugby Academy

Munster Rugby can confirm eight promising young players have joined the Academy ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The new Academy recruits are Christopher Barrett, Rob Carney, Jamie Conway, Joe Finn, Christian Foley, Alex Lautsou, James O’Leary and Charlie O’Shea.

All eight players have come through the Munster system, lined out for the province at underage level and they have all been called up for the Ireland U20s this season.

As previously confirmed, Max Clein, Seán Edogbo, Ronan Foxe and Ben O’Connor are being promoted to the senior squad for the 2026/27 season.

Michael Foy will spend one more year in the Academy before moving up to the senior squad in 2027.

Munster Rugby Academy & Pathway Manager Gar Prendergast said: “The new Academy intake for next season once again highlights the excellent work being carried out through our NTS programme, with eight players progressing into our Year 1 Academy.

“This achievement represents the culmination of a number of years of hard work, dedication, and development from the players, all of whom have progressed through our player pathway system.

“It is important to acknowledge the crucial role played by their clubs and schools, whose continued support and collaboration have been instrumental in helping these players reach this milestone. The collective efforts of players, families, coaches, clubs and schools continue to provide a strong foundation for the development of future Academy talent.”

Munster Rugby General Manager Ian Costello said: “This is one of the most exciting groups that we have seen progress into the Academy.

“It is particularly pleasing that all players have been promoted from our NTS programme.

“Increased investment in the academy and pathway has been a key strategic priority at the club for the past five years.

“During that time, the NTS and Academy programmes have expanded considerably. NTS player numbers have doubled and 19 players have successfully transitioned from the academy into the senior squad.

“This reflects the both the importance and the quality and breadth of work carried out by Gar Prendergast and the Academy and NTS teams.”

See player bios for the new Academy additions below.

Christopher Barrett

Christopher Barrett

Position: Scrum-Half

Club: UCC RFC

Age: 19 (30/06/2006)

UCC scrum-half Barrett hails from Glounthaune in Cork and came up through the ranks at Midleton RFC, Cork Constitution FC and CBC.

He enjoyed a standout 6 Nations campaign with the Ireland U20s this year and scored five tries in five games as Ireland won the Triple Crown.

His Six Nations debut against France saw Barrett score two tries to become the first Ireland U20s scrum-half to score two tries in one game since Craig Casey in 2019.

Along with his Ireland U20s exploits, Barrett also made 11 appearances with the UCC senior team last year.

He helped CBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup title in 2025 having also reached the final of the competition in 2023 and 2024.

Rob Carney

Position: Centre

Club: Cashel RFC

Age: 19 (4/08/2006)

Cashel RFC outside centre Rob Carney has made 11 appearances for his club at senior level this season and played a key role for the Ireland U20s as they clinched the Triple Crown.

Carney started out at Roscrea RFC and played his schools rugby with Cistercian College Roscrea, lining out for the Munster U19s in 2024.

Carney made his Ireland U20s debut against South Africa last November and made four starts in the 6 Nations, scoring a try in the win over Scotland.

Jamie Conway.

Jamie Conway

Position: Prop

Club: Shannon RFC

Age: 19 (26/09/2006)

Shannon RFC prop Jamie Conway played underage rugby at UL Bohemians, Thomond, Old Crescent and his school Castletroy College.

He made 19 appearances for Shannon this season in his first year at senior level.

Last season saw Conway line out for the Ireland U19s after helping Castletroy reach the semi-finals of the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup.

He has been selected in the Ireland U20s squad for the upcoming Junior World Championship.

Joe Finn.

Joe Finn

Position: Lock

Club: Garryowen FC

Age: 19 (20/10/2006)

Garryowen lock/flanker Joe Finn is a former Cistercian College Roscrea student who started out at Ballina-Killaloe RFC.

Remarkably, he becomes the fifth player from Ballina-Killaloe to earn an Academy contract in the past four years, following in the footsteps of Ruadhán Quinn, Oisín Minogue, Gordon Wood and Tom Wood.

Finn was another prominent performer for the Ireland U20s this year and started on his debut against South Africa in November before playing all five games of the Six Nations.

Along with his international exploits, he also made 11 appearances for Garryowen this season.

Christian Foley.

Christian Foley

Position: Prop

Club: Young Munster RFC

Age: 20 (13/03/2006)

Young Munster prop Christian Foley came up through the ranks at Abbeyfeale RFC, Coláiste Íde agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale, and Desmond Rugby.

He also lined out for the Munster Club Select Player (CSP) side at underage level in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

He made his AIL Division 1A debut with Young Munster in September 2024 and made his Munster A debut in December 2024.

In his first year in senior rugby, he made 14 senior appearances for Young Munster in 2024/25 and a further 12 appearances this season.

He was called up to the Ireland U20s squad last summer for the World Championship and played in all five games of the 2026 Six Nations, scoring a try against Scotland. He missed out on initial selection for this summer Junior World Championship due to injury.

Alex Lautsou.

Alex Lautsou

Position: Back-row forward

Club: Shannon RFC

Age: 18 (23/08/2007)

Shannon back-row forward Alex Lautsou made his Munster A debut in October 2025 and has already trained with the Munster senior men’s team.

A former Castletroy College pupil, Lautsou made his debut for the Ireland U18 Schools team last August.

He made his Shannon debut in September 2025 and made 16 appearances for the club this season in his first year at senior level.

Still eligible for the Ireland U19s this year, Lautsou was named on the Ireland U20s squad for the Six Nations and this summer’s Junior World Championship.

James O’Leary.

James O’Leary

Position: Centre

Club: UCC RFC

Age: 19 (21/10/2006)

UCC inside centre O’Leary is a former PBC student and Cork Constitution clubman who has started the last three Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup finals, earning winners’ medals in 2023 and 2024.

He was an ever-present for the Ireland U20s in this year’s Six Nations, starting all five games as Ireland won the Triple Crown.

O’Leary has made nine appearances for UCC in his first year of senior rugby having made his debut in September 2025.

Charlie O’Shea.

Charlie O’Shea

Position: Out-half

Club: UCC RFC

Age: 19 (13/08/2006)

UCC’s Charlie O’Shea captained CBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup title in 2025 having also reached the final of the competition in 2023 and 2024.

He played all five games of the Six Nations campaign for the Ireland U20s and landed a superb late penalty from the halfway line in the victory over England at the Rec.

O’Shea has made 15 appearances for UCC in the AIL this season, his first year in senior rugby.