Former Cistercian College Prop Milne signs for Munster

By Shane Brophy

Former Cistercian College Roscrea player Michael Milne is one of two players who will make the move from Leinster to Munster at the end of the season.

Munster Rugby and IRFU confirmed that prop Milne along with hooker Lee Barron will join on two-year deals up to the end of the 2027 season, with prop Kieran Ryan also making the move up from the academy on a two-year deal.

A native of Birr, powerful prop Michael Milne came up through the ranks at Birr RFC and Cistercian College, Roscrea, helping the school to reach the 2016 Leinster Senior Cup final where they lost to Belvedere College, a year after the schools one and only success.

He played schools rugby alongside future Munster teammate Josh Wycherley and the duo won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s in 2019 along with Craig Casey and John Hodnett.

With Leinster, he scored 12 tries in 47 appearances for the province since making his debut as an Academy player in 2019, with the 25-year-old also represented Emerging Ireland in 2022 and has twice been called up to train with the Ireland senior squad.

A dynamic hooker who has represented Ireland at U20 level, Lee Barron has scored three tries in 22 appearances since making his Leinster debut as an Academy player against the Sharks in 2022.

The 23-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 six appearances so far this season.