Munster issue update on the Peter O'Mahony injury rehab
Munster have revealed that Peter O’Mahony is still in the hunt to face an All Blacks XV this Saturday in Limerick. The title-winning Guinness Six Nations 2024 skipper with Ireland was a first half casualty in his province’s October 5 URC win over Ospreys in Cork.
His hamstring strain ruled him out of the Irish derby at Leinster and also the two-match tour to South Africa.
Having been named in the 35-man Ireland squad for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series, O’Mahony didn’t travel to Portugal on Tuesday for the warm-weather training camp ahead of the November 8 series opener at home to New Zealand in Dublin.
Instead, he has continued to train with Munster in the hope of proving his fitness in time to feature in this Saturday’s provincial friendly versus an All Blacks XV in Limerick before joining the Ireland squad in Dublin ahead of the Test match six days later.
A statement on Wednesday, the day after head coach Graham Rowntree stepped down as boss, read: “The Munster squad have started preparations at the HPC ahead of Saturday’s sold-out clash against the All Blacks XV at Thomond Park (5.30pm).
“On the injury front, there were no fresh concerns following Saturday’s clash against the Sharks in Durban. Peter O’Mahony (hamstring), who has been included in Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series squad but is continuing his rehabilitation at the HPC, will increase his training load this week. His availability for this weekend’s clash against the All Blacks XV will be determined later in the week.
“Brian Gleeson (shoulder) and Diarmuid Kilgallen (leg) came through the weekend with no issues after returning to action with Garryowen in the AIL. On the international front, Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Alex Kendellen have travelled to Portugal with the Ireland squad ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.”
O’Mahony was named Ireland skipper in their July 6 loss to South Africa in Pretoria, dropping to the bench for the following weekend’s win over the same opposition in Durban.