Ireland star heads home ahead of Sharks clash

SQUAD: Munster will be without one of their most experienced players when they face the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

After their 18-34 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town, the Irish province revealed that veteran scrumhalf Conor Murray has returned home for family reasons.

The good news for Munster is that Craig Casey will return to training this week having been unavailable on Saturday due to a knock.

Scrumhalf Paddy Patterson has joined the squad in South Africa having returned to full training and Academy prop George Hadden will also join the squad this week.

Meanwhile, Alex Nankivell (hip) was a late withdrawal ahead of the Stormers game on Saturday and is being assessed by the medical department.

Jeremy Loughman (knee) and Shane Daly (leg) will go for scans on Monday after being removed against the Stormers.

Diarmuid Barron is continuing the return-to-play protocols and his availability will be determined later in the week.

The players that are continuing their rehab include Josh Wycherley (neck), Mark Donnelly (ankle), Dave Kilcoyne (ankle), Oli Jager (neck), Peter O’Mahony (hamstring), Liam Coombes (leg), Thaakir Abrahams (thigh), Patrick Campbell (shoulder), Cian Hurley (knee), Edwin Edogbo (achilles) and Roman Salanoa (knee).