Munster: Covid-hit Irish province add 22 young players to Champions Cup squad

Patrick Campbell is among the Munster academy players who could now feature in Sunday's Champions Cup opener against Wasps

Covid-hit Munster have added 22 young players to their European Champions Cup squad in the build-up to Sunday's opener against Wasps.

The majority of Munster's squad are either isolating at home or remain in South Africa following the Covid cases that arose on the abandoned trip.

Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray are among seven internationals available as they did not travel to South Africa.

All 22 players called up are under the age of 21.

Munster coach Johann van Graan hinted on Wednesday that a number of the players in home isolation could feature in Saturday's game in Coventry but the province also revealed that there had been additional Covid-19 positives among the 34 Munster personnel who returned to Ireland last week.

"There will potentially be certain players available," said Van Graan, who is among the Munster staff in isolation after returning from South Africa.

'Some players are such, others aren't'

"We've got to announce a team on Friday afternoon, we've still got to go and get through training after that, so anything is possible at this stage.

"Guys have been sitting in their hotel rooms for almost two weeks, at home. Some players are sick, others aren't."

The youngsters drafted into the Munster squad for the European campaign include recent academy recruits Tony Butler, Patrick Campbell and Edwin Edogbo, although the majority of the squad additions are players from the National and Provincial Talent squads who have featured in the All-Ireland League this season.

Campbell, who previously played gaelic football for the Cork minor team, could be in contention for a full-back role in Sunday's game in Coventry.

Unlike Scarlets, who have conceded their away European opener to Bristol because the vast majority of their squad are still quarantining in Belfast following their return from South Africa, Munster seem set to fulfil Sunday's fixture.

Fourteen Munster players and staff remain in South Africa after testing positive for Covid-19, with 34 personnel also still undergoing mandatory self-isolation following their return to Ireland on 1 December.

Peter O'Mahony says it "never crossed my mind" that Munster would be unable to fulfil the Wasps fixtures

In addition to captain O'Mahony and Murray, Joey Carbery, Tadhg Beirne, Keith Earls, Dave Kilcoyne and Andrew Conway are set to be available after not travelling to South Africa because of their involvement in Ireland's successful November games.

Damian de Allende is also in contention to feature on Saturday after missing the trip because of his participation in South Africa's autumn Tests, while Ireland centre Chris Farrell and prop Roman Salanoa could also be in contention following injury spells.

With Van Graan and his staff either in home or hotel isolation in Ireland, academy manager Ian Costello has been conducting training sessions with the players who are available for Sunday's game.

Munster captain O'Mahony has paid tribute to the efforts of the young players who have been drafted into the squad.

"We produce a lot of players who play for Munster who grow up in the province and I knew having come through that system that we could fall back there and I've seen in the last two weeks what the guys have come in and done," said the Ireland back row.

"So it never crossed my mind, to be honest with you, that we wouldn't be able to fulfil it (the Wasps fixture)."

Munster squad additions for European Champions Cup

Forwards: Edwin Edogbo (lock), John Forde (back row), Nicky Greene (back row), Alessandro Heaney (loosehead prop), Peter Hyland (back row), Jack Kelleher (back row), Darragh McCarthy (tight-head prop), Darragh McSweeney (tight-head prop), Conor Moloney (back row), Dylan Murphy (hooker), Fearghail O'Donoghue (back row), Jack O'Sullivan (back row), Kieran Ryan (loose-head prop)

Backs: Tony Butler (fly-half), Patrick Campbell (full-back/wing), George Coomber (wing), Alan Flannery (centre), Darragh French (centre), Adam Maher (scrum-half), Andrew O'Mahony (scrum-half), Jack Oliver (scrum-half), Jamie Shanahan (wing)