MAGNERS LEAGUE:ULSTER, WHO face Cardiff Blues tomorrow night in the Magners League, have strengthened their frontrow options for next season by signing hooker Andy Kyriacou from Saracens on a two-year deal. Kyriacou, who will make the move from the Vicarage Road to Ravenhill over the summer, is Irish qualified and has spent the last five seasons with the London club.
The 26-year-old began his career with Sale and Leeds and also enjoyed a loan spell with Munster during the 2006-07 season. He has representative honours at under-21 level, and was part of England’s Grand Slam winning squad in the 2004 Under-21 Six Nations Championship.
Munster, who play against the Scarlets in Musgrave Park, also tomorrow evening, have included all of their eight Lions selection in a 25-man squad. Irish flanker Denis Leamy has also been named despite retiring after 77 minutes of last week’s match with a knee problem.
His withdrawal from the game, however, was precautionary and he is available for selection. The Welsh region have not won on Munster soil since September 2003.
Munster already have one hand on the trophy and, with 53 points, can now earn a maximum of 68 points after their final three matches. Second placed Ospreys on 42 points have a game in hand but can gain a maximum of only 62 points through their last four games, while third-placed Leinster, also on 42 points, can reach a maximum of 57 points.
Ospreys, who face Edinburgh at home on Saturday, must win in order to keep their league hopes alive. They play Munster in Thomond Park in the last round of matches.
MUNSTER (squad v Scarlets): D Hurley, B Murphy, K Lewis, P Warwick, D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, I Dowling, R O’Gara, P Stringer, T O’Leary, M Horan, J Flannery, D Fogarty, J Hayes, T Buckley, F Pucciarello, P O’Connell, D O Callaghan, D Ryan, M O’Driscoll, A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy, N Ronan
