Former Garryowen hooker Damien Varley will sign for Munster

FORMER Garryowen hooker Damien Varley will return from London Wasps this summer to take up a contract with Munster.
The 25-year-old Damien Varley moved to Guinness Premiership giants Wasps last summer and made an instant impact when scoring a dramatic match-winning try against the Leicester Tigers in his opening league appearance. Varley, who made 10 appearances for Wasps during the season, was a key member of Garryowen’s All-Ireland League and AIB Cup-winning side of 2007.
Former AIB Club international Varley joins Munster in the wake of Frankie Sheahan’s departure from the club after a distinguished 13-year career.
Eleven members of Munster’s 2008-09 squad depart the province this summer while it has already been confirmed that Ireland under-20 full-back Felix Jones is on his way south from Leinster.
Back-row forward Billy Holland and centre Tom Gleeson will move from development to full contracts while academy players, flanker Tommy O’Donnell and prop Dave Ryan, brother of Toulon-bound Timmy Ryan will move onto development contracts.
Exciting winger Ciaran O’Boyle is back training having suffered injury in his try scoring appearance against the Dragons in March while Darragh Hurley is also on the mend following minor neck surgery last month.
The Munster squad will report back for training on June 29.
Meanwhile Lions captain Paul O’Connell has urged his players to restore the pride lost during the 2005 tour of New Zealand with the opening match of their South African tour now just four days away.
The Lions were today stepping up their preparations for their clash against a Royal XV selection in Rustenburg.
Ian McGeechan’s starting line-up is scheduled to be announced this Thursday.
“The players must now live up to the tradition of what the Lions is all about,” Paul O’Connell said.
“Maybe in 2005 we didn’t do the Lions jersey proud, but this tour gives us a chance to restore that pride.
“All the talent is there for us to be competitive, we have a great coaching team, but now it’s up to us, the players, to perform as a team.”
Coach Ian McGeechan said he would give everyone an opportunity in training in the coming days to force their way into Saturday’s team, as well as the Test XV.
“I’m going to give every player an equally chance to get into the Test side. I’ll pick the Test team in the Test week,” McGeechan said.

Colm Kinsella