Munster sign Garryowen centre after standout season
Munster have announced the signing of Garryowen centre Bryan Fitzgerald on a three-month deal ahead of the new season.
The 25-year-old has joined Graham Rowntree's squad after a standout season in the All-Ireland League Division 1B as they earned promotion to Division 1A.
Fitzgerald scored two tries as he vice-captained an AIL Select XV against Munster A in May.
The centre becomes the fifth Munster signing ahead of next season and the tenth new addition overall. Fitzgerald and fellow midfield signing Tom Farrell will help fill the void left by Antoine Frisch, who has joined Toulon.
Former Connacht centre Farrell is one of three players to switch provinces, with teammate Diarmuid Kilgallen and Ulster flyhalf Billy Burns both moving to Thomond Park as well.
Lyon's South African wing Thaakir Abrahams is the final new signing in the squad, with Munster confirming the recruitment of the 25-year-old in May.
Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly, Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson will also join the senior squad from the academy. The quintet have already made 52 Munster appearances between them.
No8 Gleeson is fresh from captaining Ireland U20 to a fourth-place finish at the World Rugby U20 Championship.
Munster reconvened on Monday for preseason training, with the new season beginning in September, although their Ireland internationals are still absent.
The 2023 United Rugby Championship winners get their new season underway against Connacht at Thomond Park on September 21, with their second all-Ireland clash coming in round four against Leinster at Croke Park.
Latest Comments
Robertson should have been a bit more experimental, preparing for the trip up North. Cane should been rested to allow for the Savea (7) and Sititi (8) pairing to be given a run because they appear to be the new way forward. Six is far from settled on with Blackadder only a temporary fix as like his other loosies he is either too short, too light or too slow, and so his best role is cover. ALB,Proctor or both should have been given a run as Australia's midfield is an ever changing experiment and then Reiko could have been put back on the left wing with Telea on the right. Will Jordan could then come on later to fullback or wing.
Go to commentsAgreed for the most part. And perhaps Dmac needed a period were he is the 'Hobson's choice' too.
Yes and no, they main concern I had from the situation is Razor didn't really explain why they had developed differing opinions, had he? I've seen too many things happen in life to jump the gun. Fall all we know it was a locked in choice before they found the difference last year and played out this year to see if they were recoverable. I can certainly see where it would be a valid criticism to suggest he spent too much time reviewing his players tripping overseas and not enough work with his team at that time. But things like Tony Brown not even being contacted in the lead up to the naming of the squad are endemic in the union, and for much just as much blame should be laid on someone like Wayne Smith. Some like Mitch would have been aval at the same time too I'd think.
Ultimately I see MacDs time at the Blues much as I saw Ian Fosters time at the Chiefs. Heavily overshadowed by their successors but you could find something good in there if you wanted. Same here. This will play out.
Go to comments