Munster have named an extended 29-man squad for Friday evening’s pre-season clash against Leicester Tigers at Virgin Media Park.

Kick-off is at 7.15 pm, with the game available to watch via a live stream on Access Munster.

Fineen Wycherley will captain Munster for the first time, while new signings Marnus van der Merwe and Kieran Brookes are both included.

Van der Merwe is in line to make his first appearance for the province.

There could also be a senior debut for new recruit Charlie O’Shea at out-half, with the Academy back named alongside fellow Academy players Jake O’Riordan and Gordon Wood.

Tony Butler, who left Munster over the summer after five years with the province, returned to squad training this week and is also included.

Young Munster’s Hubert Gilvarry is set to make his second appearance of pre-season.

Tom Ahern, Alex Nankivell and Josh Wycherley are all in line to feature for the first time in the 2026/27 campaign, having missed last month’s pre-season clash with La Rochelle.

Munster’s first-half team sees Ben O’Connor start at full-back, with Diarmuid Kilgallen, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien and Shay McCarthy in the backline.

Charlie O’Shea and Ben O’Donovan are named at half-back, while Michael Milne or Josh Wycherley, Marnus van der Merwe and Kieran Brookes make up the front row.

Evan O’Connell and Fineen Wycherley are in the second row, with Seán Edogbo, Alex Kendellen and Brian Gleeson completing the starting side.

The second-half team includes Hubert Gilvarry, Gordon Wood, Dan Kelly and Shay McCarthy in the backs, with Tony Butler and Jake O’Riordan at half-back.

Josh Wycherley or Mark Donnelly, Diarmuid Barron and Ronan Foxe or Michael Ala’alatoa form the front row.

Evan O’Connell and Tom Ahern are named in the second row, with Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes completing the team.