Kildare's Loughman set to start for Munster in new coach McMillan's first game
Kildare's Jeremy Loughman has been named in the starting 15 for Munster's first URC game this weekend against Scarlets. Photo ©INPHO/James Crombie
New Munster Head Coach Clayton McMillan has named Kildare's Jeremy Loughman in the starting XV for the province's first game of the season as they begin their BTK United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign tomorrow (Saturday, September 27) against the Scarlets.
The Athy man missed a large part of last season through injury as Munster finished in 6th place - good enough to qualify them for another year in the Investec Champions Cup.
Munster's season ended in absolute heartbreak, however, when they lost out to the Sharks in the quarter-finals on the rarest of sights in rugby union - a penalty shootout.
Scarlets were the top Welsh side in the URC last season and, like Munster, they made it into the Champions Cup by virtue of an 8th-place finish - followed by defeat in the URC quarter-finals at the hands of Leinster.
Munster travel to Parc y Scarlets for the game with kick-off at 5.30pm and live coverage on Premier Sports.
Their first home fixture of the season next week is also against Welsh opposition when they welcome Cardiff to Limerick's Thomond Park.
Munster then switch to Musgrave Park, Cork, the following week when they host Edinburgh.
The first big Irish derby for Munster is a mouthwatering clash against Leinster at Croke Park on Saturday, October 18.
The other Kildare interests in the Munster squad are the Eadestown pair of Tadhg Beirne and Diarmuid Kilgallen.
Beirne, who was named by McMillan as the province's captain for this season, is still on the road to recovery following his Player of the Series accolade in the British and Irish Lions' victory over Australia in the summer.
Kilgallen, now in his second season with Munster, misses the game due to an ankle issue.
Mike Haley: Shane Daly, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Brian Gleeson.
Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Seán O’Brien.
