Munster have made seven changes to the side that claimed a famous victory against Leinster in Croke Park last weekend.
Round 5 of the URC sees Clayton McMillan’s men face Connacht in Thomond Park this Saturday evening at 7.45 as they aim to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
This brings the total number of players named in matchday squads to 41 over the first five rounds of the season. John Hodnett returns from a broken cheekbone to start on his first appearance of the season.
Diarmuid Kilgallen, Evan O’Connell and Shay McCarthy are all set to make their first appearances of the season, while Jake O’Riordan is in line for his debut off the bench.
Shane Daly, Kilgallen and Thaakir Abrahams make up the back three. Dan Kelly shifts to outside centre to make room for Alex Nankivell with JJ Hanrahan stepping up from the bench to pair with Ethan Coughlan in the halfbacks.
Michael Milne, Lee Barron and John Ryan are named in the front row. Fineen Wycherley makes his fifth straight start of the season and his fourth alongside Jean Kleyn. Jack O’Donoghue captains the side in the absence of the Irish internationals, with Hodnett and Gavin Coombes completing the back row.
Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman and Ronan Foxe provide the front row cover, while O’Connell and Ruadhán Quinn complete the forward reinforcements. O’Riordan, Tony Butler and McCarthy complete the backline replacements.
Munster Starting: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan; Michael Milne, Lee Barron, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Munster Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhan Quinn, Jake O’Riordan, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.
Your Munster team for Connacht at Thomond on Saturday ️
7⃣ changes
©️ Captain Jack O’Donoghue
John Hodnett & Diarmuid Kilgallen return
1⃣ Jake O’Riordan set for debut
Full team news ⤵️#SUAF | #MUNvCON
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) October 23, 2025