Hurler swaps Rebel red for Munster red

There’s bad news for Cork GAA fans today as rising hurling star Darren Sweetnam has just signed a contract with Munster Rugby.

We’re used to Gaelic football losing the odd up-and-coming player like Ciaran Kilkenny or Pearce Hanley but for hurling to lose a player to another code is a bit more unusual. However, that fate has befallen Cork as it was announced today that Darren Sweetnam had signed on as a pro with Munster Rugby.

The news is not a huge shock as Sweetnam had been a talented rugby player in school and had also played for Munster at Under 18, 19 and 20 level.

And now he has followed the footsteps of another talented hurler, Tomas O’Leary, and committed his future to rugby.

In a statement on the Cork GAA website, Rebel boss Jimmy Baryy Murphy says: "Darren is a very talented player and while we are sorry to lose him, we wish him every success in his chosen career".

A midfielder for the Cork seniors this term, Sweetnam’s position with the oval ball is full back so we look forward to seeing him strutting his stuff at Thomond real soon.