Head coach Clayton McMillan says teenager Tom Wood is ready to step up and become a third generation Munster player.
The 19-year-old, who has been selected on the bench for Friday’s URC clash with Glasgow Warriors, is set to follow in the footsteps of his dad Keith and grandfather Gordon by playing for Munster.
In the process Tom Wood looks set to pip his older brother Gordon, who is also in the Munster academy, to the honour.
Gordon Wood, now 21, was poised for his debut when he was selected on the bench for this corresponding fixture against Glasgow Warriors last March but the centre wasn’t introduced in a game which Munster lost 28-25.
Out-half Tom Wood, who will be 20 on St Valentine’s Day, gets his opportunity after the experienced JJ Hanrahan picked up a hamstring injury in the warm-up before last weekend’s clash with the Dragons in Cork when Munster ended a four-match losing run in the URC and Champions Cup.
“This opportunity for Tom has come along probably a little earlier than we all anticipated,” said McMillan. “But there’s no denying his talent. It might upset a few Irish people, but I see a lot of Stephen Larkham in the guy.
“He’s long-limbed, tall, feels like he has a lot of time, which is a really great quality. So if he gets this opportunity to go out there, I know it’ll be a proud, proud moment for himself and his family.
“His slightly older brother I think was on the bench last year and didn’t get on the field, so he’ll be hoping that he gets on. But look, he’s a prodigious talent, great left foot boot, sound goal kicker. And like I said, he just seems to be one of those people that has time,” added McMillan.
The Munster head coach said they will need to show improvement from last week even if Glasgow are without most of their internationals, 15 of which have been retained by Gregor Townsend ahead of the start of the Six Nations next week.
“I’m hugely impressed with how they’ve played. And the representation that they have in the Scottish side is obviously a testament to the work that they’re doing for the club. They’ve got depth in their squad.
“You know, the squad that we’ve put out, we’ll have to take a big step forward from what we produced at home last week,” added McMillan.
Meanwhile, there could also be a poignant appearance off the bench in Friday’s game for Glasgow Warriors by scrumhalf Jack Oliver against his former teammates.
The former Irish U-20 could follow in the footsteps of his late father Greig, who was working as an elite performance officer with Munster when he died in a paragliding accident in Cape Town in 2023, having gone to South Africa to support his son Jack in the U-20 World Cup.
