About The Academy

Munster Rugby Academy

The Munster Rugby Academy was formed in 2004 “to prepare young players for life in and beyond professional rugby”.

A programme that players can follow for up to three years, the first Academy group of players was selected and split into Level 2 and Level 1 members (Academy and sub-Academy).

The initial crop of 22 players included Keith Earls, Billy Holland, Duncan Williams, Donnacha Ryan and Tomás O’Leary, the inaugural winner of the Academy player of the Year award.

Academy players receive coaching and guidance from Munster Rugby staff and play with their clubs in the All Ireland League.

The current conventional pathway to the Academy sees players initially selected from clubs and schools to one of the four Munster Rugby Regional Development Squads (east, north, south and west).

From there they move up to the Munster age-grade squads (U18 Clubs, U18 Schools, U19s and U20s), PTS (Provincial Talent Squad)/NTS (National Talent Squad) and then Academy.

With Academy players playing All Ireland League rugby throughout the season, AIL games are monitored closely with the best club players also scouted.

The door is never closed on young players who leave the pathway or are late developers.

On average, three to four players progress from the Academy into the senior squad each year with the majority of the Munster squad having come through the Academy system.

2023/24 Munster Rugby Academy

Promoted to senior squad: Tony Butler (Out-half/Young Munster), Ethan Coughlan (Scrum-half/Shannon), Mark Donnelly (Prop/Garryowen), Edwin Edogbo (Lock/UCC), Brian Gleeson (Back-row/Garryowen)

Year 3: Fionn Gibbons (Centre/Young Munster), Darragh McSweeney (Prop/Shannon), Evan O’Connell (Lock/UL Bohemian), Jack Oliver (Scrum-half/Garryowen), Ruadhán Quinn (Back row/Old Crescent), Kieran Ryan (Prop/Shannon).

Year 2: George Hadden (Prop), Dylan Hicks (Out-half), Shay McCarthy (Wing), Ben O’Connor (Full-back).

Year 1: Jake O’Riordan (Scrum-half), Gene O’Leary Kareem (Centre), Michael Foy (Lock), Danny Sheahan (Hooker), Seán Edogbo (Back-row), Luke Murphy (Back-row).