Tyler Bleyendaal

5 Munster players sign contract extensions

<span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:#454a6b'>Munster Rugby and the IRFU have&nbsp;confirmed thatTyler Bleyendaal, Ciaran Parker and Alby Mathewson have all signedcontract extensions at the province, while&nbsp;Greencore MunsterRugby Academy duo of Sean O&#8217;Connor and Keynan Knox have alsoput pen to paper.<br><br>Tyler Bleyendaal has made 47 appearances in red since his debut inSeptember 2015 and has captained the province on 11 occasions.Munster&#8217;s Player of the Year in 2017, the New Zealand-bornplaymaker will remain with the province until June 2021.<br><br>Tighthead prop Ciaran Parker will move from a development contractto a senior contract for next season. The 23-year-old has made 11appearances for the province.<br><br>Scrum-half Alby Mathewson will remain with the province until theend of the season after signing a further extension. The former AllBlack has played for Munster on 13 occasions, scoring twotries.<br><br>22-year-old Sean O&#8217;Connor will advance to the senior squadnext season on a one-year development contract after completing histhree years in the Academy. The versatile Tipperary native can playat lock and in the back row and has made nine appearances for theprovince. In 2016 he featured for the Ireland U20s side thatsecured their best-ever finish as runners-up at the World Rugby U20Championship in England.<br><br>Keynan Knox has signed a three-year deal with the province thatsees him continue with the Academy for a further year beforeadvancing to the senior ranks. The 19-year-old Young Munster playerfeatured for Munster A on five occasions in the Celtic Cup earlierthis season.</span></span></span></span></span>