Howlett to be new Munster captain

DOUG HOWLETT is set to become the next Munster captain after Paul O’Connell indicated his intention to step down from the job after five years. It is a tribute to Howlett’s enduring quality, professionalism and durability that the All Blacks’ all-time record try scorer is regarded as favourite to captain Munster in his fifth season with the province.

Howlett will turn 34 next month and, having recovered from the Achilles injury he suffered last December which forced him to miss the remainder of the season, he returned in pre-season away to La Rochelle. And having led Munster to victory over Bristol last Friday, he will captain them again against London Irish tomorrow in Musgrave Park (kick-off 7pm).

The game is also notable for marking the return to his native city of Tomás O’Leary when he lines out with Irish, having joined the Exiles in the close season. O’Leary won the last of his 126 Munster caps in the RaboDirect Pro12 semi-final against Ospreys last May while his last start in a Munster shirt was at Musgrave Park in the April game against Glasgow Warriors.

LONDON IRISH: Tom Homer; Topsy Ojo, Jonathan Joseph, Joe Ansbro, Sailosi Tagicakibau; Steven Shingler, Tomás O’Leary; Max Lahiff, Scott Lawson, Leo Halavatau, Bryn Evans, George Skivington, Jamie Gibson, Ofisa Treviranus, Jon Fisher. Replacements: Shaun Malton, Halani Aulika, James Sandford, Gerard Ellis, Alex Gray, Kieran Low, Darren Allinson, Michael Ward, Foster Horan, Marland Yarde, Conor Gaston.

Leinster are offering 1,000 tickets to their Pro12 game against Munster on October 6th at the Aviva Stadium at a discounted price of €10. Tickets will be available from 10am this morning for one hour on Ticketmaster.

Leinster season ticket sales, which are close to the 13,000 mark for the coming season, and which cover all 14 home matches in both the Pro12 and Heineken Cup at Aviva Stadium and the RDS, as well as other benefits, will be available until tomorrow.Season tickets are priced at €289 for adults, €119 for under-18s and €789 for a family of four.