Leinster answer Munster’s SOS in unique deal to ease front-row injury crisis
Leinster prop Michael Milne and hooker Lee Barron arrive at Munster on loan.
Munster have announced that soon-to-be permanent signings, Michael Milne and Lee Barron, have joined from Leinster ahead of schedule on loan deals until the end of the season.
The duo were recently confirmed to have agreed to moves to Thomond Park from 2025/26, but following injuries to two players, the two sides have struck a deal to accelerate their arrivals.
Therefore loosehead prop Milne and hooker Barron join after Jeremy Loughman and Diarmuid Barron sustained injuries against La Rochelle and Bordeaux-Begles over the past fortnight.
Impressive try return
From Birr in County Offaly, powerful prop Milne came up through the ranks at Birr RFC and Cistercian College, Roscrea and has impressed during his outings for Leinster over the years.
He has scored 12 tries in 48 appearances for the province since making his debut as an Academy player in 2019.
Milne played schools rugby alongside prop Josh Wycherley and the duo won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s in 2019, along with scrum-half Craig Casey and flanker John Hodnett.
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The 26-year-old represented Emerging Ireland in 2022 and has twice been called up to train with the Ireland senior squad.
Meanwhile, Lee Barron is a dynamic hooker who has represented Ireland at U20s and has scored three tries in 23 outings since making his Leinster debut as an Academy player in 2022.
The 24-year-old has spent the past five years at Leinster, having come up through the ranks at Lansdowne RFC and St Michael’s College.
He has scored one try in seven appearances so far this season.
Champions Cup exit
The front-row duo are both set to join the Munster squad at the HPC this week.
Munster return to United Rugby Championship action this Saturday with a home meeting with the Bulls after they were knocked out of the Champions Cup at the hands of Bordeaux-Begles.
They currently sit in fifth position on the table, but there are several teams currently battling it out for a position in the crucial top eight spots that will secure play-off rugby later in the year.
