Cashel native Diarmuid Barron promoted to Munster squad

Hooker Diarmuid Barron has been promoted from the Academy to the senior squad while the 2020/21 Greencore Munster Rugby Academy has been confirmed.

Cashel native Diarmuid Barron has been promoted to the senior squad after two years in the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy. The 21-year-old has signed a one-year contract with his native province.

Barron becomes the fifth Academy player to be promoted to the senior squad for next season, joining winger Liam Coombes (Garryowen), prop Keynan Knox (Young Munster), centre Alex McHenry (Cork Constitution) and back-row forward Jack O’Sullivan (UCC).

A product of Cashel RFC and Rockwell College, Barron made seven Guinness PRO14 appearances as an Academy player with his debut coming away to Cardiff Blues in September 2018.

He is a former Ireland U20 international and plays his All Ireland League rugby with Garryowen.

Meanwhile, three players have been added to the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The Year One recruits are hooker and former CBC man Scott Buckley (UCC), Bandon RFC/Bandon Grammar out-half Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution) and PBC back-row forward Alex Kendellen.

Scrum-half Jack Stafford and full-back/out-half Alan Tynan have completed their three years in the Academy and we wish to take this opportunity to thank them for their time with the province.

Former Ireland U20s player Stafford made his senior debut for Munster against Zebre in November 2017. The former Glenstal Abbey man has featured for Shannon and Garryowen in the AIL during his time in the Academy along with Munster A.

Tynan, another former Ireland U20 international, featured for Young Munster in the AIL and Munster A throughout his time in the Academy. Tynan made his senior Munster debut in the pre-season clash against Connacht in 2019 and has previously played both hurling and football for Tipperary at minor level.

See player bios of the new Academy recruits, and the full listing of the group below.

Scott Buckley – Hooker
Scott Buckley captained CBC to the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup in 2019 and has represented Ireland at U18 and U19 level.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a strong campaign with Munster A in the Celtic Cup this season and captained the side away to Dragons in August.

Buckley was unfortunate to miss out on the majority of the campaign after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Jack Crowley - Out-half
Inishannon’s Jack Crowley won the U18 Munster and All Ireland titles with Bandon RFC in 2018 and has also lined out for Bandon Grammar in the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup.

The 20-year-old starred for the Ireland U20s in this year’s 6 Nations and scored 36 points in three games as Ireland cliched the Triple Crown before the campaign was cut short.

He has also played a leading role for Cork Constitution in the AIL this year along with lining out for Munster A in the Celtic Cup.

Alex Kendellen – Back-row
Alex Kendellen joins the Academy straight out of school having led PBC to the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup final this year.

The 19-year-old has already earned a number of representative honours at provincial and international level.

Kendellen has lined out for the Munster U18s and U19s and captained the Ireland U18 Schools side last year along with lining out for the Ireland U18 7s team.

Greencore Munster Rugby Academy 2020/21

15 players have now been confirmed for the Academy next season and there may be further additions over the coming months.

Year Three: Thomas Ahern (Lock/Shannon), Jack Daly (Back-row forward/Garryowen), Ben Healy (Out-half/Garryowen), James French (Prop/UCC), Seán French (Centre/Cork Constitution), Eoghan Clarke (Hooker/Shannon), Jonathan Wren (Back three/Cork Constitution), Josh Wycherley (Prop/Young Munster).

Year Two: Jake Flannery (Out-half/Shannon), John Hodnett (Back-row forward/UCC), Paddy Kelly (Lock/Young Munster), Eoin O’Connor (Lock/Waterpark RFC).

Year One: Scott Buckley (Hooker/UCC), Jack Crowley (Out-half/Cork Constitution), Alex Kendellen (Back-row forward/PBC).