By Paul Smith 
Munster flanker Daniel Okeke has become the latest player to join Coventry Rugby’s squad for the 2024/25 season.
The 22-year-old flanker arrives at the Butts Park Arena having made three senior appearances for the Thomond Park-based province including a Champions Cup outing.
The Limerick-born back-rower who has spent much of his career with All-Ireland League outfit Shannon RFC where he started playing as a 17-year-old, joined Munster’s academy prior to the start of the 2021/22 season.
Okeke has also won international honours for Ireland at under-20 level and this season has also been part of an Irish academy group that played against Italy.
He follows the recently-departed Paddy Ryan, Eoghan Grace and 1972 Cup winner Robin Cardwell on the list of Irish back-rowers to represent Coventry.
Coventry head coach Alex Rae believes Coventry could have a very exciting prospect on their hands.
“Daniel is a really exciting player, the feedback we had from Munster was very good and like a lot of quality Irish players he has found it incredibly tough to break from club rugby into the provinces.
“He’s hungry to come over and show everyone how good he is and we have no doubt we can help him with that.”
Okeke said he comes to England in search of game time in a good standard of rugby.
“I feel like Coventry will provide me with a good platform to develop my rugby,” he said.
“I am looking forward to meeting everyone there and really enjoying my rugby.
“Moving to England will be a great experience for me. I played 20 minutes against Harlequins for Munster but otherwise this will be my first experience of rugby in England.”
Okeke joins a strong back-row group at Coventry comprising former England flanker Matt Kvesic, 2023/24 player-of-the-year Tom Ball, British Army no.8 Tiki Nayalo and newly-signed former Premiership flanker Aaron Hinckley.
More announcements will follow regarding the make-up of the 2024/25 squad.
Season memberships for 2024/25 are available via this link: https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/membership/
