Farrell ruled out for return Castres trip

Chris Farrell will miss out on Munster’s return Champions Cup fixture with Castres this coming Saturday, while Joey Carbery remains a doubt. Both players cried off just before kick-off in Munster’s 30-5 victory over the French champions at Thomond Park.

Farrell suffered a quadriceps muscle strain in the warm up and is set to miss Saturday’s game at the Stade Pierre-Fabre.

He has been assessed by the medical department and will undergo treatment for the injury. He had just recently returned from a long term knee problem.

A tight hamstring saw Carbery withdraw from the starting team on the morning of the game. He will manage the injury with the Munster medical department.

Elsewhere, Chris Cloete came off during the game for a Head Injury Assessment, which was passed. All subsequent tests were also passed.

In other in injury news, Stephen Archer resumed training on Monday, while Tommy O’Donnell, Stephen Fitzgerald, Jean Kleyn and Liam O’Connor began reintegration to team training this week.

The following are progressing with rehabilitation: James Cronin (leg), Rhys Marshall (hamstring), Jack O’Donoghue (knee), Dave O’Callaghan (foot), James Hart (knee), Dan Goggin (knee), Darren Sweetnam (back).

Munster have also confirmed that their home Pro14 game with Leinster on Saturday, December 28 has sold out in record time.

The province have installed additional seating for the game that will bring the capacity at Thomond Park to a record equalling 26,267. The Leinster game comes in the middle of three Interpro fixtures over the holiday period.

Johann van Graan’s men play Ulster a week after the Castres game in Belfast, before welcoming Leinster to Thomond Park. They then travel to Connacht on January 5. Munster then return to Champions Cup action with a visit to Gloucester.