Munster Rugby v Edinburgh Match Programme
United Rugby Championship | We take a look at tonight's URC opposition and get the lowdown on their season so far with a tough challenge ahead come kick-off at Thomond Park. Get the latest news from around the province on and off the field with the activities stepping up each week as restrictions lift across the country. We hear from Academy prop Mark Donnelly on his journey so far and take at look at the representative sides in Six Nations action. The positive updates continue on the contract front with the latest players signing up to Munster, and finally we get the inside track from Stephen Larkham and Simon Zebo as we look forward to returning to Thomond Park tonight.
United Rugby Championship | We take a look at tonight's URC opposition and get the lowdown on their season so far with a tough challenge ahead come kick-off at Thomond Park.
Get the latest news from around the province on and off the field with the activities stepping up each week as restrictions lift across the country.
We hear from Academy prop Mark Donnelly on his journey so far and take at look at the representative sides in Six Nations action.
The positive updates continue on the contract front with the latest players signing up to Munster, and finally we get the inside track from Stephen Larkham and Simon Zebo as we look forward to returning to Thomond Park tonight.
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GETTING TO KNOW<br />
Mark Donnelly<br />
First year Greencore <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Academy player Mark Donnelly started playing<br />
rugby in the Minis section at Midleton RFC and also played with Midleton College before<br />
going on to win a <strong>Munster</strong> Schools Senior Cup with CBC in 2019.<br />
The prop plays his club rugby with Garryowen FC in the AIL and has also lined out for<br />
the <strong>Munster</strong> 7s and <strong>Munster</strong> A. He made his senior <strong>Munster</strong> debut in December against<br />
Wasps in the Champions Cup.<br />
He featured for Ireland in the 2021 U20 Six Nations lining out against Scotland, Wales<br />
and England.<br />
ON HIS RUGBY PATHWAY…<br />
“I started playing at six or seven in Midleton<br />
RFC and then played until I was 13 or 14.<br />
I started playing in Midleton College and<br />
after a year or two I moved to Christians<br />
in Cork. I played up until 6th Year and then<br />
moved up to Limerick, joining Garryowen<br />
and I have been with Garryowen since. I<br />
won the Senior Cup and it was a class year<br />
to be fair. There was nothing better than to<br />
sign off with the lads like that and I really<br />
enjoyed that.”<br />
ON PLAYING WITH THE IRELAND U20S<br />
LAST YEAR…<br />
“It was a great experience being over in<br />
Wales for the month. We all really enjoyed<br />
that. It was tough with a six-day turnaround<br />
between games, but everyone pulled<br />
through and everyone really enjoyed it over<br />
there. It was an unreal experience so far<br />
and I think everyone took their opportunity<br />
when they got it, so it was great time over<br />
there.”<br />
ON HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE GREENCORE<br />
MUNSTER RUGBY ACADEMY SO FAR…<br />
“It has been great. It was a tough first<br />
few weeks alright with my first senior<br />
preseason. That was tough going for a few<br />
weeks but I am really enjoying it now. It is<br />
good to be back playing week in, week out<br />
in the AIL and playing some <strong>Munster</strong> A. It’s<br />
been a great first few months and I’m really<br />
enjoying it.”<br />
ON THE COMPETITION WITHIN THE<br />
SQUAD…<br />
“It is unbelievable. It is such an experience<br />
- you couldn't ask for anymore. Just<br />
learning off fellas – what more could a<br />
young fella want coming into the Academy.<br />
It has been a great first few months –<br />
already I am learning so much. You are<br />
learning new things every day. Hopefully<br />
now I can just keep going on a good track<br />
and catch the eyes on the coaches and<br />
keep going.”<br />
ON HIS AMBITIONS FOR THE SEASON…<br />
“The main thing is to just play rugby. Last<br />
year I was in the same<br />
boat as a lot of younger<br />
fellas - I didn't play much<br />
rugby up until the U20s.<br />
To be honest, this year is<br />
all about getting a run of<br />
games and trying to get<br />
back into playing games<br />
week in week out and just<br />
enjoy playing rugby again.<br />
There was a lot<br />
of training over<br />
the last year<br />
or two without<br />
many matches,<br />
so my main<br />
goal this year is<br />
just to get back<br />
playing rugby<br />
and enjoy it.”<br />
MUNSTER V EDINBURGH | 18.02.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
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