Munster confirm the signing of Exeter Chiefs centre Sean O’Brien

Munster has confirmed the signing of 24-year-old centre Sean O’Brien on a two-year deal in advance of the 2023/24 season.

From Westmeath, the centre has been playing with the Premiership’s Exeter Chiefs for the past two seasons and most recently started in the club’s Champions Cup round of 16 and quarter-final games.

O’Brien has previously played for Connacht and lined out for the Ireland Under-20s in 2018 with current Munster players Diarmuid Barron, Jack Daly and Jack O’Sullivan.

“He’s a player we have looked at over the last couple of months. He is Irish-qualified and the thing for me is his profile,” Munster coach Mike Prendergast said of O’Brien.

‘It’s class being part of driving the bus’: Finlay Bealham on growing with Ireland and facing France

Perennial debate over Ireland number 10 jersey set to run and run

Blackrock reach Leinster Schools Senior Cup final after proving too strong for Roscrea

“He plays 12, 13 and he can play on the wing and his skillset is someone we see in terms of us being better. He is someone that we identified would enhance what we are trying to do, especially from an attack point of view. You are talking about a guy who is potentially going to be playing in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup coming back into our squad, which is obviously a very good sign.”

On the injury front, RG Snyman will follow the return to play protocols this week and is unavailable for Saturday’s game against Sharks.

Diarmuid Barron (neck) has settled well and will return to full team training, while Dave Kilcoyne will increase his training load and his availability will be determined later in the week.

Back at the high performance centre, John Hodnett has recovered from his calf strain and returned to training.

Continuing to rehab are: Paddy Patterson (knee), Niall Scannell (shoulder), Roman Salanoa (neck), Liam Coombes (thigh), Tadhg Beirne (ankle), Liam O’Connor (neck), Chris Moore (neck), Eoin O’Connor (shoulder), Paddy Kelly (head), Jack Daly (knee), Andrew Conway (knee).