Munster named a 26-man squad ahead of their upcoming trip to Chicago where they will take on the US national team as part of their World Cup preparations.

The squad depart for the States from Shannon next Wednesday (22nd) morning and coach Declan Kidney has included a number of new players, who are likely to be afforded the opportunity to impress in the absence of the province's senior players who are with the Ireland squad preparing for next month's World Cup.

Kidney's men will take on the US Eagles at the Toyota Stadium on Monday, August 27th which will serve as their last friendly before heading to France for the World Cup. In Munster's case this will be the first of their three match pre-season programme.  
  
The names of Ciaran O'Boyle, Gerry Hurley, Mark Melbourne, Darragh Hurley, Donnacha Ryan  and Denis Hurley are some of the new generation of Munster players likely to be on show in The Windy City.

"Everyone's aware of the importance of  pre-season work and the matches serve as a significant part of that preparation," said Kidney. "It is a privilege to be able to include an international side in our  pre-season schedule and even more so when we are playing them in their own back yard just  before they head off for the World Cup.

"It's a marvellous opportunity for us, and particularly for the younger members of the squad, to get this type of exposure against an international outfit."

Munster Squad:F Pucciariello, T Buckley, Darragh Hurley, A Foley, J O'Sullivan, Donnacha  Ryan, M O'Driscoll, E McGovern, D Fogarty, N Ronan, J Coughlan, M Melbourne,  A Horgan, J Kelly, T O'Leary, C O'Boyle,  D Hurley, J Manning, M Lawler, I Dowling, B Murphy, K Lewis, L Mafi, P Warwick, R Tipoki, G Hurley.