Tipperary’s Diarmuid Barron will captain Munster for their season opener this weekend.
The New Inn native will lead out Munster for their URC clash at home to Connacht on Saturday.
He starts at hooker in a team that includes new signings Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell and Billy Burns.
Jean Kleyn returns from a ten-month absence for Saturday’s 5.30pm start in Thomond Park.
Munster XV: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (C), John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Seán O’Brien.
