Celtic League News:Munster coach Declan Kidney has announced a 27-man squad for Saturday's Magners Celtic League match against Llanelli at Musgrave Park that includes Ireland's number eight Denis Leamy. His return compensates for the absence of Alan Quinlan while the squad is further bolstered by the presence of John Hayes, another who hasn't played since the European Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Saturday's opponents.
Cork Constitution fullback Denis Hurley is named, while Mick O'Driscoll and Chris Wyatt increase the secondrow options alongside last Saturday's starting locks Donnacha Ryan and Donncha O'Callaghan. Shane O'Connor drops out. Ian Dowling, Trevor Halstead and John Kelly are being considered for selection having missed the defeat by the Ospreys. Peter Stringer and David Wallace continue to be rested.
Arguably the most surprising news to emerge from the province was the revelation that Tony Buckley underwent an 11th-hour change of mind and instead of signing a one-year contract with English Premiership side Bath, as officially flagged by Munster on Tuesday, has agreed to sign a deal with the Irish province that will keep him there until June 2009.
The 26-year-old rejected Munster's initial offer, theoretically a starting point for negotiation. The Easter weekend apparently queered the pitch a little in terms of communication channels and this led to the Bath fiasco.
Buckley's decision to remain with the province is a significant fillip for Munster.
One player (we're assured) that is leaving is Eoghan Hickey, who will take up a two-year contract with London Irish this summer. The arrival of Paul Warwick from Connacht meant that the 25-year-old, who has represented Ireland at schoolboy, under-21 and A levels, had to look elsewhere.
London Irish's director of rugby Brian Smith enthused of his latest signing: "Eoghan is a talented athlete with excellent all-round skills, and I'm sure he'll have a great impact at the club.
"He is a prodigious kicker off both feet and can play anywhere in the backline. He's been in terrific form for Munster and we're delighted he decided to join London Irish."
Hickey will vie with another Irishman, Jeremy Staunton, and English Test player Shane Geraghty for the number 10 jersey.
Hickey pointed out: "My move to England involves a lifestyle change and the challenge of playing in the Guinness Premiership. From what I've seen that demands a continuity of top-class performance week in, week out and it will be good to be involved. London Irish play the style of rugby that I enjoy."
Meanwhile, Michael Bradley has confirmed a 23-man squad ahead of Connacht's final home match of the season, against Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground tomorrow night. There are a couple of alterations with Matt Lacey and Brett Sturgess returning, while March McHugh and Stephen Knoop drop out because of injury.
Bradley has retained Ireland under-20 players Andrew Browne and Aidan Wynne in the extended squad, a reflection of their potential and an extensive injury list that includes Knoop (hamstring), Ronan Loughney (knee), Keith Matthews (knee), McHugh (groin), Matt Mostyn (ankle), Brendan O'Connor (arm), Conor O'Loughlin (hip), Ted Robinson (hamstring), Tom Tierney (ankle), Gavin Williams (hamstring).
CONNACHT (squad): A Browne, G Duffy, P Durcan, A Farley, A Flavin, J Fogarty, J Hearty, R Hogan, C Keane, M Lacey, C McPhillips, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney, D Riordan, D Slemen, R Strudwick, B Sturgess, M Swift, P Warwick, B Wilkinson, A Wynne, D Yapp.
MUNSTER (squad): C Cullen, D Hurley, M Lawlor, J Kelly, A Horgan, T Halstead, B Murphy, L Mafi, B Carney, I Dowling, T O'Leary, B O'Meara, R O'Gara, J Manning, M Horan, F Pucciariello, T Buckley, J Hayes, F Sheahan, J Flannery, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, C Wyatt, D Ryan, A Foley, J O'Sullivan, J Coughlan, D Leamy.
