Munster’s Evan O’Connell Set for Champions Cup Debut

Academy lock Evan O’Connell is scheduled to make his initial appearance in European rugby’s Investec Champions Cup. The match, a Pool 3 opener for Munster against Stade Francais, will take place at Thomond Park in Limerick on Saturday, 7 December, with a kick-off time of 17:30 GMT. Coverage, including team news, score updates, and a match report, will be available on the BBC Sport website. The 20-year-old, who is the nephew of former Munster, Ireland, and Lions captain Paul O’Connell, is slated to start in the lock position in Limerick. The Irish hosts, Munster, have implemented five alterations to the squad that secured a victory against Lions in the United Rugby Championship during the previous weekend. Shane Daly will feature at full-back, marking his 100th appearance for Munster. Four Ireland internationals—Calvin Nash, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, and Peter O’Mahony—are returning from international commitments and will start, with Tadhg Beirne named among the replacements. Diarmuid Barron is set to captain the team in the Champions Cup for the first time. Additionally, short-term signing Dian Bleuler, along with Tom Farrell and Thaakir Abrahams, will make their debut for Munster in this competition. Bill Burns, listed on the bench, is also poised to make his Champions Cup debut for Munster should he be brought into play. The Munster lineup is as follows: Daly; Nash, Farrell, Nankivell, Abrahams; Crowley, Casey; Bleuler, Barron (capt), J Ryan; O’Connell, Wycherley; O’Mahony, Kendellen, Coombes. Replacements include: Scannell, K Ryan, Archer, Beirne, Hodnett, Patterson, Burns, O’Donoghue. Stade Francais will field the following team: Jonas; Laloi, Marchant, Boudehent, Ezeala; Henry, Motassi; Castets, Peyresblanques, Kodela; Azagoh, Pesenti; Huguet, Chapuis (capt), Tanga. Their replacements are: Petriashvili, M Alo-Emile, P Alo-Emile, Turagacoke, Timo, Scelzo, Foursans-Bourdette, Carbonel.