McGahan’s men up the ante

CLOSE on 50 Munster rugby players and backroom team members are due to fly home from Portugal this Wednesday to finalise their preparations for Friday night’s season opening friendly against the Sale Sharks at Musgrave Park.
The 43-strong playing squad, who have been involved in an intensive training camp at the renowned Browns Sports and Leisure Centre in Vilamoura, features several new arrivals including French international prop Julien Brugnaut, former Garryowen hooker Damien Varley, who joins the province from London Wasps, former Connacht player Danny Riordan as well as former Ireland U20 full-back Felix Jones and Kiwi scum-half Toby Morland.


Also included on the Portugal trip are Tomas O’Leary and Jerry Flannery, both reported to be making excellent progress from their respective injuries, and Academy players, Scott Deasy, Danny Barnes, Mick Sherry, Andrew Burke, Conor Murray and Ian Nagle.
The five Munster players who were involved for the duration of the Lions tour - Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, David Wallace and Keith Earls - returned home yesterday while the remainder arrive back on Wednesday afternoon.
Munster’s Lions will not be involved in any of the three up-coming pre-season friendlies nor the early rounds of the Magners League.
Sale Sharks who Munster meet in Musgrave Park on Friday (7pm) spent the opening week of their pre-season at the Vilamoura complex.
Sale Sharks have already had one pre-season game against Montpelier last week in Millau that they lost 12-5. They have also played French side Albi and arrive in Ireland on Wednesday to prepare for the clash with Munster.
Sharks coach Kingsley Jones is expected to include the likes of Charlie Hodgson, Andrew Sheridan, Luke Abraham, Ben Cohen and a fully fit again Dwayne Peel in his squad for the trip to Munster.
Meanwhile adidas and Munster Rugby today officially unveiled the club’s new 2009-10 home kit.
The traditional red home kit with a new twist was revealed at Thomond Park by Munster players Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara, Keith Earls, Donncha O’Callaghan, Denis Leamy and Doug Howlett.
The team will wear the kit for the first time in their pre-season friendly against Sale on Friday night and will be available in stores from August 27. The new shirt has a number of distinctive and specific features that tap into the tradition and heritage of Munster Rugby.
The words ‘wear with pride and honesty’ feature on the inside of the collar while the six counties of Munster - Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Cork, Kerry and Waterford - are imprinted along the bottom end of the jersey, symbolising the unity within the province. The antlers from the Munster Rugby logo are also embossed across the chest of the jersey.
The new jersey will be available in stores from August 27.

Colm kinsella