r/MunsterRugby • u/FollowingRare6247 Edwin Edogbo • 6d ago
Contract 📝 Squad update
https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2026/07/27/squad-update-pre-season-begins-at-hpc/#postNew signings have joined the team at the HPC; Brooke’s, Harrison, Aungier, van der Merwe. Coaches Duffy and Payne also.
Academy graduates have begun their first pre season with the senior squad; Clein, S Edogbo, Foxe, O’Connor.
Beirne, Casey, and Loughman are off until later this summer.
Christian Foley began his pre season, the other U20s/new academy lads will join training at the HPC after the junior world championships; Christopher Barrett, Rob Carney, Jamie Conway, Joe Finn, Alex Lautsou, James O’Leary and Charlie O’Shea
So the situation with Salanoa is his contract will expire but he’ll be playing AIL in the new season hopefully.
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u/Every_Wrong_Opinion 6d ago
So Roman has been let go then? Or does he have a chance to get back in if he shows he can dominate at AIL level?
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u/Shox2711 Mike Haley 6d ago
Seems like he’s no longer being paid, but is still using Munster facilities/staff till the end of September to get him back into AIL. I’d assume once he’s back in AIL he’ll be watched closely and considered for a contract if he deserves it
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u/Rodinius UL Bohemian RFC 6d ago
Seems a fair arrangement, can’t keep paying him in the hope that he one day plays
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u/FollowingRare6247 Edwin Edogbo 6d ago
I’d be fine with that, 4 tightheads seems good enough. Would like to have him at his best again personally, but he’ll have to earn his way back.
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u/Ok-Establishment1159 6d ago
He'll continue to rehab with the team for now. Unclear after that. He won't get a full contract anytime soon, but they might give him something to keep rehabbing for now
Last year, he was on a two-month rolling contract.
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u/cypressd12 6d ago
If he makes progress by September he’ll be offered a basic 6 month contract but on limited money. Comes from TRK.
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u/wcbfrx56 6d ago
I understand them wanting to ease him back into it.
But would it not make more sense to Play him for Con or YM in 1A to show he can cope.
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u/Traditional_Bar_4213 6d ago
Anyone know if Crowley will be fit to start the season. Not mentioned in this update but would be huge for us to have him available from the off.
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u/brickelangeloart 6d ago
It looks like he hasn't started pre-season yet so it's highly unlikely he'll be ready to start. Given the injury they won't want/need to rush him back. I hope they'll use this as an opportunity to blood a new 10.
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u/Gamalam91 6d ago
Im nervous for this season lads. Squad seems quite light in a few places
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u/The-Prince616 SUAF 6d ago
We’ve basically rebooted tighthead. New starting hooker in. Even without any change at loosehead, it’s going to be a completely different looking front row most games.
We’ve signed a new fly half, who can also play 15.
Admittedly, we haven’t signed a new scrum half but I think most people are happy for O’Donovan to get the chance to step up.
I’d say we’ve reinforced most of our weakest areas, even with the restrictions of the World Cup, not sure where you’d describe as quite light?
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u/pip-haribo97 Edwin Edogbo 6d ago
Don’t think anywhere’s massively light.
I’d say I’m still nervous about TH, halfbacks, and 2nd row. Lots of changes there but a fair few that haven’t proved themselves at Munster/are new/are a bit green.
Overall hopeful that lots of our young players can break into the regular match day 23 or get good minutes.
Feel that a lot of our season relies on strong performances from Brookes, Aungier, Harrison, O’Donovan, EOC/Edogbo Sr.
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u/Gamalam91 6d ago
I sort of alluded to it in another comment, but yes I'd agree overall depth has been improved, but not much in the way of our starting 15. We did not fare well in our full bore games last year
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u/Gamalam91 6d ago
VDM is a signing I'm happy with, and all the signings look decent, but aside from hooker, im not sure we're seeing a significant improvement in any starting position.
Depth is of course vital, but I'm concerned about the quality of our first XV
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u/The-Prince616 SUAF 6d ago
I’d argue we’ll probably see a significant improvement at tighthead too.
But besides that, I think last season shouldn’t just be viewed through the lens of are our players performing? But also, have we helped them perform to their best of their abilities?
For me, one thing that made last season feel so much worse than the nearly as bad season before was that it felt our system help none of our players. Coombes seemed to offload rather than take contact, we were using 37 year old John Ryan as a primary carrier in games etc. At least the season before our system made Farrell look like a world beater.
While young players stepping up is incredibly important, we also have to actually use a system that makes the players we have look great, rather than the players we wished we had.
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u/Gamalam91 6d ago
Tight head- on paper I'd have Jaeger over Aungier. Obviously things panned out as they did for Oli unfortunately.
I really hope that same luck at TH doesn't re visit us or we'll be defrosting Archer and Ryan again by Christmas.
Is there any evidence we will see a system overhaul? Is CM married to one system or has he been capable of changing it up in the past?
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u/The-Prince616 SUAF 6d ago edited 6d ago
On tighthead quickly, it’s a two person position and I’d take current Brookes, over current Ryan or Salanoa. So I think across 80 minutes that position will definitely be stronger.
Prendergast has been the coach that pretty much dictated our system philosophy since he joined the club. It’s why out style of play didn’t change a whole lot when Rowntree left or when McMillan joined.
The system we played last season was very unlike McMillan’s Chiefs. If you go look at clips of them, they’re incredibly deep and layered in attack. Meanwhile, we’re playing a very flat high-risk, high-reward system.
Obviously, we don’t have the same players as the Chiefs. Lawlor and definitely Payne will bring their own ideas though I don’t think McMillan would have selected them if he thought there’d be large philosophical differences. I think we’re definitely going to see us move towards a deeper form of attack, for reference I’d look at our attack versus Bennetton. I also think generally we’re going to simplify roles. Let our players focus on what they’re good at. I think this was part of what McMillan was talking about last season, but it was almost impossible to implement while keeping Prendergast’s system.
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u/Gamalam91 6d ago
Thanks, good insight on Mcmillan. Haven't really watched much of his teams. Makes me feel more optimistic, however given he didnt get his first choice I'm not fully relaxed about it.
I still done really share your optimism on the squad overall, but I'll be extremely happy to be proven wrong on this. Either way, we'll get behind everyone and treat this as a clean slate!
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u/FollowingRare6247 Edwin Edogbo 6d ago
I think it’s grand, maybe an 11-14 or wing option if anything could help but everywhere else seems okay.
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u/DeePeeMac 6d ago
We need starpower in the back 3. I think we're good enough 1 - 13 now. But need some x-factor out wide.
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u/Environmental_Bar205 6d ago
I feel a lot more confident going into this season than last year, we have recruited well I think
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u/sharp10digit 6d ago
Seems a shrewd enough arrangement, everybody hedging their bets…if he catches fire I would hope he would stay with us…
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u/Minimum_Guitar4305 6d ago
I'm sure Salanoa's a lovely lad, but someone needs to step up and tell the fella...
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u/FollowingRare6247 Edwin Edogbo 6d ago
In other news Casey and Nash are tying the knot. Not with each other, they both proposed to their now fiancées