Ireland quintet return to Munster squad in URC

Munster have named five returning Ireland internationals in their squad ahead of Saturday's match against Stormers at Thomond Park (17:30 GMT).

Captain Tadhg Beirne, Tom Ahern, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley and Tom Farrell have all been included after international duty.

New signing Michael Ala'alatoa, who has signed a contract until the end of the season, does not feature in the squad.

In addition to the returning Ireland internationals, Shane Daly, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams and Jeremy Loughman also come into the starting line-up.

Casey and Crowley are paired in the half-back while Farrell, who won his first two international caps in the autumn, starts at centre with Nankivell.

Beirne captains the side and joins Jack O'Donoghue and Gavin Coombes in the back row.

Ahern, who did not feature in any of Ireland's matches despite being named in Andy Farrell's wider squad, will start in the second row.

Both Munster and Stormers are unbeaten to far this URC campaign going into Saturday's in Limerick.

Munster: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Jack O'Donoghue, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Michael Milne, Ronan Foxe, Edwin Edogbo, John Hodnett, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Dan Kelly.