KEITH Wood’s son Tom will be among five new academy players for Munster’s 2025/26 campaign.
The province this morning confirmed that he would be joining the ranks along with Emmet Calvey, Conor Kennelly, Oisín Minogue and Eoghan Smyth.
The club revealed the five new members of its academy on Wednesday morning[/caption]
The other Wood son Alex also plays to a high level with Garryowen in the Energia All-Ireland League[/caption]
All five are Ireland Under-20 internationals with Keith having cheered his son on against France in March’s Six Nations tussle.
Keith’s older son Gordon also featured in that game as he’s heading into his second year at the Munster academy.
Tom and Gordon may be chips off the old block in many ways – but they’re far from hard-nosed hookers as they line out at fly-half and centre respectively.
It’s worth noting too that Oisín Minogue is the nephew of another Reds icon and ex-head coach in Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley.
The family lineage of both legends being carried on into next season was warmly received by supporters.
Julien hailed: “Special mention to Tom Wood, carrying such a name is hard.
“There is a lot on you but know that whatever happens we, the supporters, will be with you. Just give it your all and have no regrets.”
2025/26 MUNSTER ACADEMY SQUAD:
Year 3: George Hadden, Dylan Hicks, Darragh McSweeney, Ben O’Connor, Max Clein, Ronan Foxe.
Year 2: Jake O’Riordan, Gene O’Leary Kareem, Michael Foy, Danny Sheahan, Seán Edogbo, Luke Murphy, Gordon Wood.
Year 1: Emmet Calvey, Conor Kennelly, Oisin Minogue, Eoghan Smyth, Tom Wood.
On a lighter note, the official Munster Supporters Club had some fun on social media yesterday by “posting” a response to Johnny Sexton after he joked about becoming a Reds season ticket holder.
The 39-year-old cracked the gag in response to being asked about how he felt about his World Cup nemesis being Leinster-bound.
Speaking at his first appearance as a member of Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions coaching staff, Sexton played down the seriousness of his former club snapping up Rieko Ioane on a short-term deal.
When asked on Monday about the Kiwi’s impending arrival, he replied: “I purchased my Munster season ticket last week, put it that way.”
Now, the good folk at the province’s official club fan club have responded by taking Sexton up on his remark. They shared a mock-up of a season ticket pass with his name on it.
The amusing social media post was captioned: “Great to hear from official Lions Rugby that we have a new member for next season. Your card is in the post Johnny. SUAF.”
BOOK BLAZE
In his autobiography, Sexton lifted the lid on the row between the pair after Ireland had lost to New Zealand in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
He wrote that, after referee Wayne Barnes blew the final whistle, Ioane said to him ‘Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement you c***’.
Sexton responded by calling him ‘a fake-humble f*****’.
Auckland native Ioane reignited the row after the All Blacks beat Ireland last November with an Instagram post with the caption ‘Put that in the book’.
