Waterford's O'Donoghue and Ahern to line out for Munster in new coach McMillan's first game
Waterford’s Tom Ahern and Jack O’Donoghue have both been named in the 23 for Munster's first URC game of the season against Scarlets. Photo: ©INPHO/James Crombie
New Munster Head Coach Clayton McMillan has named Waterford's Jack O'Donoghue and Tom Ahern in his first 23 for the province's opening game of the season as they begin their BTK United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign on Saturday, September 27, against the Scarlets.
O’Donoghue is in from the start, playing blindside flanker, and is joined in the back row by Alex Kendellen and Brian Gleeson.
Ahern, who impressed for Ireland during the summer against both Georgia and Portugal, provides secon-row cover on the bench.
Both Waterford men played a significant role in Munster's 2024/25 season that saw them finish in 6th place - good enough to qualify them for another year in the Investec Champions Cup.
Munster's season ended in absolute heartbreak, however, when they lost out to the Sharks in the quarter-finals on the rarest of sights in rugby union - a penalty shootout.
Scarlets were the top Welsh side in the URC last season and, like Munster, they made it into the Champions Cup by virtue of an 8th-place finish - followed by defeat in the URC quarter-finals at the hands of Leinster.
Munster travel to Parc y Scarlets for the game with kick-off at 5.30pm and live coverage on Premier Sports.
Their first home fixture of the season next week is also against Welsh opposition when they welcome Cardiff to Limerick's Thomond Park.
Munster then switch to Musgrave Park, Cork, the following week when they host Edinburgh.
The first big Irish derby for Munster is a mouthwatering clash against Leinster at Croke Park on Saturday, October 18.
Mike Haley: Shane Daly, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Brian Gleeson.
Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Seán O’Brien.
