Seán Edogbo to make Munster debut on week his brother is called up to Six Nations squad

Munster have made eight changes to the team that lost in the Champions Cup to Castres for Friday's UFC clash in Cork.

The Reds host Dragons at Virgin Media Park, 7.45pm, badly needing a boost after their early exit from the top tier of Europe in the group stages for the first time in a decade. They have lost four games in a row and are without a win since beating Ospreys just before Christmas.

Former Cobh Pirate Seán Edogbo is in line for his senior competitive debut on home turf. The 21-year-old Academy back-row forward is the younger brother of Edwin, who was called up to the Ireland squad for the 2026 Six Nations on the back of his impressive form.

Edwin is marked absent on this occasion though after a failed HIA post-match, with Alex Kendellen (ankle), John Hodnett (thumb), Tom Ahern (neck) Calvin Nash (neck/shoulder) also out.

Mike Haley, Dan Kelly, JJ Hanrahan and Ethan Coughlan all come into the backline as captain Diarmuid Barron starts in the front-row with a new-look back row of Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn and Brian Gleeson. Haley, Thaakir Abrahams and Shane Daly are named in the back three with Daly moving to the wing.

Alex Nankivell and Kelly start in midfield with Coughlan and Hanrahan in the half-backs. Jeremy Loughman, Barron and Michael Ala’alatoa pack down in the front row with an unchanged second-row partnership of Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley.

22-year-old Quinn is the elder statesman in the back-row alongside 21-year-olds Edogbo and Gleeson, who recently signed a two-year contract extension.

Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley and Oli Jager provide the front row back-up with Jager making a successful return from a head injury last week.

21-year-old lock Evan O’Connell is in line for his first senior appearance since November as Gavin Coombes completes the forward cover. Paddy Patterson, who has completed the return-to-play protocols, Tony Butler and Diarmuid Kilgallen are the backline replacements.

MUNSTER (v Dragons): 

Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (C), Michael Ala’alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Evan O’Connell, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Diarmuid Kilgallen.