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Haley, O'Donoghue sign new contracts with Munster

Mike Haley has signed a new contract until 2027
Mike Haley has signed a new contract until 2027

Mike Haley, Jack O'Donoghue and Ben O'Connor have all signed new contracts with Munster, the province confirmed this afternoon.

Full-back Haley has made over 100 appearances for Munster since signing from Sale Sharks in 2018.

The 30-year-old from Preston - who is Irish qualified through his maternal grandmother - has signed a contract keeping him at Munster until 2027.

A first choice at 15 since his arrival, Haley was an integral part of the 2022-23 URC title victory.

The past two seasons have seen injury interruption, with hip surgery sidelining him for the first half of the 2023-24 season, while this year, he hasn't played since picking up a knock in the away Champions Cup loss to Northampton in January.

Haley has a single Ireland cap, featuring as a replacement in the 2019 World Cup warm-up victory over Italy.

The 31-year old flanker O'Donoghue has signed a deal keeping him at the province until the end of next season.

O'Donoghue, a URC winner in 2023 and the club's Player of the Year in 2021/22, made his 200th appearance for Munster at the tail end of the 2022-23 season. The Waterford man's last appearance for Ireland came against Japan in 2017.

The 20-year old O'Connor has signed a new contract that will see him continue as an Academy player next season before moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.

The full-back has scored two tries for Munster in his five appearances this season. O'Connor is a former Cork underage hurler, winning an All-Ireland minor title in 2021 and an U20 title in 2023.

Jimmy O'Brien signs new contract extension

For Leinster, meanwhile, Ireland international Jimmy O'Brien has signed a contract extension, as has hooker John McKee, with centre Hugh Cooney signing his first senior contract - the length of all three deals being undisclosed.

O'Brien, capped eight times for Ireland, has not featured for the national side since coming on as a replacement in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final loss to New Zealand.

The Kildare man missed the 2024 Six Nations title triumph through injury and, while has been part of the set-up in 2025, has yet to see any action in this year's tournament.

The Belfast-born McKee signed his first senior contract with Leinster in April 2023, while Cooney, who made his first Leinster start against the Lions in the URC meeting in October, has signed his first senior deal.

Cooney was a central part of the Ireland's U20 Grand Slam winning side of 2023.

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