Dave Kilcoyne cleared for Munster action after nearly 12 months out
COMEBACK: Dave Kilcoyne during Munster training last week. Picture: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
International props Oli Jager and Dave Kilcoyne have both been cleared for selection when Munster visit Castres for their Champions Cup pool clash in France on Friday night.
Tighthead prop Jager sustained a neck injury in URC round three at home to Ospreys on October 5 with veterans John Ryan and Stephen Archer ever-present in the six matches since given the long-term knee injury to fellow number three Roman Salanoa.
Kilcoyne, meanwhile, has been sidelined for almost 12 months with shoulder and ankle injuries but his return to full team training eases the pressure on the loosehead side where Munster have been forced to make short-term signings to cover the absences of four frontline players, new arrival Dian Bleuler starting the last two matches.
Bleuler was prominent in last Saturday’s 33-7 pool-opening victory over Stade Francais, a match which saw back-three players Calvin Nash and Shane Daly removed for Head Injury Assessments. Nash returned to the field having passed his early HIA while tryscorer Daly’s came on 77 minutes and both players have been cleared to face Castres at Stade Pierre Fabre following the bonus-point win.
Munster will continue to be without lock Jean Kleyn, who sustained a neck injury on Test duty with South Africa last month. The province on Tuesday morning said the World Cup winner was progressing well with his return to play rehabilitation work but remained unavailable.
Also ruled out for the trip to Castres is scrum-half Conor Murray, whose elbow injury sidelined him for the Stade Francais win. Munster reported he was expected to return to action in “the coming weeks”.
Interim head coach Ian Costello is set to name his matchday squad on Thursday afternoon.
