Kiran McDonald secures a temporary URC deal after Wasps redundancy

The break-up of Lee Blackett’s out-of-work Wasps squad continued on Friday when second row Kiran McDonald became the latest to find a new employer after he was one of the 167 players and staff made redundant by the Gallagher Premiership club on October 17.

A summer signing from Glasgow Warriors where he had been for five seasons, McDonald quickly became a Wasps first-choice as he started all four of their matches in the 2022/23 Premiership before the club fell into administration. He has now taken up a short-term deal at Munster to tide him through the winter.

A statement read: “Munster Rugby and the IRFU can confirm the short-term signing of lock Kiran McDonald as injury cover on a three-month deal. From Scotland, the 27-year-old was playing with Wasps earlier this season after making the move from Glasgow Warriors where he had been playing since 2017.

“The second row will link up with the province this weekend. On the injury front, there was disappointment for Jean Kleyn and Tom Ahern following scan results for respective rib and shoulder injuries sustained against Leinster last weekend. Kleyn will be unavailable for the next number of weeks while Ahern is due to meet with a specialist next week.

“The duo join Fineen Wycherley (shoulder), RG Snyman (knee) and the uncapped Paddy Kelly (head) on the unavailable list, while Tadhg Beirne is with the Ireland squad for the Bank of Ireland Nations Series.”

Confirmation that McDonald had got himself sorted out for the next few months at least came on Friday after a busy few days where other members of the redundant Wasps squad also sourced new employment. Ex-Ireland international John Ryan returned to Munster on Monday, ex-England international Brad Shields was snapped up by Perpignan on Wednesday, with Springboks prop Vincent Koch and one-time England prospect Paolo Odogwu switching to Stade Francais on Thursday.

A short-term deal was also struck for Dan Frost to link up with Exeter and he will be a travelling reserve for Friday night’s Premiership game at Gloucester. Those moves followed last week’s signing by Harlequins of Josh Bassett, Bristol’s short-term deal with Will Porter, and Racing bringing in Biyi Alo.