Munster confirm four player departures


<span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:#454a6b'>Munster Rug</span></span></span><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>b</span></span><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>y haveconfirmed that Seán O’Connor, Darren O’Shea andCiaran Parker will depart the</span></span> <span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>province at the end of this season, whileBrian Scott has been forced to retire from the professionalgame.</span></span><br><br>Brian Scott, who last lined out for the province in November 2018,has been advised to retire on medical grounds due to a footligament injury sustained while in AIL action for Cork Constitutionin December 2018.<br> <span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:#454a6b'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Aproduct of PBC and Dolphin, he joined the Greencore Munster RugbyAcademy in 2013 and scored two tries in 26 appearances for theprovince.</span></span></span></span><br><br><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>A former Ireland U20 international, Scottmade his senior debut against Scarlets in September 2016 and hisChampions Cup debut against Glasgow at Thomond Park the followingmonth.</span></span></span></span><br><br><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>In 2017, the 27-year-old started everygame of Munster A’s British and Irish Cup-winning campaign,and lined out for the Barbarians against Tonga at ThomondPark.</span></span></span></span><br><br><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Scott is expected to take up a coachingrole with one of the province’s AIL clubs nextseason.</span></span></span></span><br><br><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Speaking about his retirement,<span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><b>Scott</b></span></span></span></span>said: "I’m devastated to be finishing my career prematurely.The last 15 months have been incredibly testing and unfortunately Idid not come out on the right side ofit.</span></span></span></span></span><br><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>"I have great confidence in knowing themedical team and I have tried and given everything to this and doneeverything possible to regain full fitness. I have huge gratitudefor the physios and the doctors for everything they did forme.</span></span></span></span><br><br><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>"I look back at my journey through rugbywith great happiness. From my club games, school games in PBC andcoming up through the Munster Rugby system. It was a childhooddream of mine to play for Munster Rugby and I’m incrediblyproud to say I got to do so. I grew up attending Munster matcheswith my grandad and the club and its fans will always have aspecial place in my heart. I am first and foremost a Munsterman.</span></span></span></span><br><br><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>"Throughout my career I have beensupported and helped by many people. I would like to thank myfamily, my girlfriend, my friends, my team-mates and the coacheswho have guided me from the beginning. They have all helped mepersonally develop and I can’t thank them enough forthat.</span></span></span></span><br><br><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>"My time with Munster has meanteverything to me and I look forward to continuing to supportMunster Rugby. I wish all my team-mates the greatest success in thecoming years."</span></span></span></span><br><br><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><b><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>MunsterHead Coach Johann van Graan</span></span></span></span></b> said:"I want to wish Brian all the best for the future and thank him foreverything he has done forMunster.</span></span></span></span></span><br><br><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>"It’s a difficult time for anyplayer to have to finish early through injury, but Brian should bevery proud of everything he has achieved in representing theprovince."<br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Academy graduate SeánO’Connor, who can play in the second row and back row, madenine Munster appearances since earning his debut against the MaoriAll Blacks in 2016.</span></span><br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>A product of Cashel RFC and RockwellCollege, the 23-year-old helped the Ireland U20s to the runners-upspot at the 2016 Junior World Championship and has lined outextensively for Garryowen in the AIL this season. O’Connor will play Championship rugby in England nextseason.</span></span><br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Lock Darren O’Shea scored two triesin 44 Munster appearances and made his debut against Edinburgh inSeptember 2016.</span></span><br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>O’Shea joined the Munster RugbyAcademy in 2013 before spending the following two seasons atWorcester Warriors, helping them win promotion to the Premiership,and rejoining the province in 2016.</span></span><br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>A product of Crosshaven RFC, the27-year-old played a key role in Munster A’s successfulBritish & Irish Cup campaign in 2017.</span></span><br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>A former Ireland U19 international,O’Shea made his Champions Cup debut against Leicester Tigersat Thomond Park in December 2017.</span></span><br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Tighthead prop Ciaran Parker make 13appearances for Munster since joining from Sale Sharks in2017.</span></span><br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>A former England U20 international,Parker made his Munster debut against Benetton Treviso in September2017.</span></span><br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>The 24-year-old made his Champions Cupdebut against Castres Olympique in December 2018 and appeared inthe 2017/18 Guinness PRO14 knockout clashes against Edinburgh andLeinster.</span></span><br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Parker will join O’Connor inplaying in the English Championship next season.</span></span><br><br><span style='font-weight:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><b><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>HeadCoach Johann van Graan</span></span></b> said: "I would like totake this opportunity to thank Ciaran, Darren and Sean for theirtime with the province.</span></span></span><br><br><span style='line-height:inherit; text-align:start'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>"We wish them all the best with theirfuture rugby careers and wish them continuedsuccess."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>