France release Frisch to Munster

ANTOINE FRISCH remains eligible to represent Ireland after the Munster midfielder was released from France’s training camp yesterday.

Frisch was called up by head coach Fabian Galthie to provide training cover ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash with England, but Frisch has been subsequently released back to club training.

The France-born centre has been a smash hit at Thomond Park since he signed from Bristol Bears in 2022. Frisch, who qualifies on residency through an Irish grandmother, toured with the Emerging Ireland side in 2022 but he has failed to force his way into Andy Farrell’s thoughts, with Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey all ahead in the current pecking order.

Frisch’s call-up this week lead to fears he might be capped this weekend which would have knock-on effects for Munster who already have a NIQ (non-Irish qualified) centre on the books in Kiwi Alex Nankivell. The likelihood of the province having two NIQ midfielders on the books, going forward, would be unlikely.

Elsewhere, Ireland U20 head coach Richie Murphy has made two changes for tomorrow night’s Six Nations clash with Scotland in Cork. Hooker Henry Walker and flanker Sean Edogbo are named in the forwards. IRELAND U20: B O’Connor; F Treacy, W de Klerk, H Gavin, H McLaughlin; J Murphy, O Coffey; A Usanov, H Walker, J Boyd; E O’Connell (capt), J Hopes; S Edogbo, B Ward, L Murphy. Replacements: D Sheahan, B Howard, P Bell, B Corrigan, J McKillop, T Brophy, S Naughton, D Colbert.