Munster begin preparations for new season

IRELAND might have had completed their international season just 48 hours ago, but several members of the Munster rugby squad have begun their preparations for 2010-11.
The Munster players not involved in Irish and under-20s squads assembled in Limerick earlier today to under-go fitness tests. The players are due to train in their respective centres during the week as they finish with a full squad session in Cork this Friday.
The next four weeks will see the players take part in intensive strength and conditioning sessions under the watchful eye of Paul Darbyshire and his strength and conditioning department.
Returning South African prop Wian Du Preez was due to re-join the squad today while newly-arrived New Zealand centre Sam Tuitupou was set to meet his Munster colleagues for the first time.
The senior Irish internationals - who have just returned home from their end-of-season tour to New Zealand and Australia - are due to return to action in four weeks’ time on Monday, July 26. The squad will then head for the La Manga Club in Spain on Tuesda, August 10 for a week-long pre-season training camp.
On their return Munster have organised two high-profile pre-season friendlies against top-ranking Guinness Premiership opposition.
Munster will take on the Leicester Tigers on August 20 and Gloucester seven days later at Musgrave Park.
Tickets are now available for both pre-season fixtures - both games kick-off at 7pm.
Tickets are priced at €25 for the West Stand, €20 for uncovered seating and €15 for adult terrace tickets.
Junior (under-16) Terrace tickets can be bought for €5 while a Family Pack Terrace (two adults and two juniors) is also available for purchase at just €35.
Match tickets can be bought from the Munster Rugby website, from the Ticketmaster hotline on 0818 719 300 or from the ticket office at Thomond Park.
Meanwhile the Irish international side suffered a 22-15 defeat to Australia in the final game of their summer tour at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. The game saw Munster hooker Damien Varley earn his first full international cap when introduced as a second half replacement for Sean Cronin.
Irish team captain Brian O’Driscoll said many of the Irish players were ‘on a learning curve’ during the course of their three-match tour to New Zealand and Australia.
“We had a number of players earning their first caps and it was all good experience - they will take a lot out of it,” Brian O’Driscoll said.
“We haven’t managed any victories on this tour and of course that is what you are judged on.
“We wanted to put a bit of pride back into our defensive game as we let ourselves down against New Zealand.
“Although we had a couple of lapses against Australia, we were fairly solid,” he said.

COLM KINSELLA