Munster cricket will enter one of the fastest-growing areas of the game next week when the province stages its first ever Over-50s fixture at The Mardyke.

The inaugural Munster Over-50s side will face Old Ignatians Cricket Club from Sydney on September 4, marking the latest step in the development of veterans’ cricket in Ireland.

Ireland and the other provinces have already begun establishing representative Over-50s teams and playing international and inter-provincial matches, and Munster now hope to follow the same path with a view to eventually competing in the Over-50 interpros.

Their first opponents could hardly provide a more fitting occasion.

Old Ignatians are celebrating their 50th anniversary with a five-match tour of Ireland which will also see them play Leinster Over-50s, the Leprechauns, Kerry Cricket Club and Pembroke.

The Sydney club is based around, although not exclusively made up of, former pupils of St Ignatius’ College, Riverview, and there is a strong Irish historical connection behind the visit.

The Jesuit school was established in 1880 by Waterford-born Fr Joseph Dalton SJ, who had himself been educated at Clongowes Wood College and St Stanislaus College. The tour to Ireland for the club’s 50th anniversary therefore provides a particularly appropriate nod to its roots.

Dubliner Ciaran Sharp will lead the touring Australian side, while Munster’s team will be captained by John Power.

The fixture will be played as an MCU President’s XI and President Jack Filen, himself from Victoria and now in his final year in the role, is delighted to see the veterans’ project finally get under way.

“I’m very happy to be involved in the first ever game for the Munster Over-50s,” said Filen.

“I played for Monivae College in Victoria, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, so it’ll certainly be interesting locking horns with our friends from Sydney!”

For Munster, the match is about more than simply adding another fixture to the calendar.

The province is hoping to build a sustainable veterans’ pathway and eventually take its place alongside the other regions in the Over-50 interprovincial programme, which staged its maiden fixtures this year with teams from the North and South.

Three Munster clubs are represented in the historic squad.

Alongside captain Power are Joe O’Mahony, Dave Peet, Bilal Ashan, Jon Russell, Dean Wilson, Mickey ffrench Davis, David Cooke, John Buss, Merrill Kahapola, Keith Banks and Ted Williamson.

With veterans’ cricket continuing to gather momentum both in Ireland and internationally, Munster’s first outing at The Mardyke could prove the starting point for something much bigger.