Tag Archives: munster rugby

Sean McMahon reporting from the Ricoh Arena  EPCR have released a statement after a fan confronted Billy Vunipola when the England star was completing his lap of honour after Saracens’ 32-16 victory over Munster in today’s semi-final of the Heineken Champions Cup.  The fan, wearing a Munster jersey, approached Vunipola and EPCR have condemned the incident. “EPCR does not condone …

Saracens 32 Munster 16 Sean McMahon reporting from the Ricoh Arena  Munster fell to another semi-final defeat, for the third consecutive season, as they had no answer to a powerful Saracens performance at the Ricoh Arena this afternoon. Munster only trailed by three points at the break but they conceded 13 points in the first 10 minutes of the second …

Sean McMahon reports from Coventry For Peter O’Mahony and his team, it all comes down to this.  A semi-final against a lethal and powerful Saracens side awaits them this afternoon. It will be their third successive last-four appearance in this competition, a sign of their consistency, but it will count for little if they cannot finally get over that hurdle …

If CJ Stander needs to harness painful European Cup memories to provide motivation for Saturday’s clash with Saracens, then he has plenty of options to choose from.  In Stander’s second season with the southern province, he started in their semi-final defeat to Toulon in 2014 as Jonny Wilkinson kicked 21 points en route to a 24-16 victory. Three years later, …

Sean McMahon reports from Coventry Johann van Graan has backed Jack O’Donoghue to deliver as Munster take on Saracens in the semi-final of the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday. For the most part and depending on injuries, van Graan has stuck with the same team throughout the Champions Cup as he looks to reward the players who have brought the …

Sean McMahon reports from Coventry Munster head coach Johann van Graan has said that he and his staff gave Keith Earls every opportunity this week to prove his fitness but ultimately, they had to decide to leave him out as he was not 100%. Van Graan was speaking alongside Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander at a sun-kissed Ricoh Arena in …

We’re just two days away from the eagerly anticipated clash between Saracens and Munster in the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final.  These two sides have faced off many times before in the past and there will be no shortage of familiarity with players on both sides having played against each other on the international stage in addition to being on the …

Head coach Johann van Graan confirmed that Joey Carbery is “highly unlikely” to be available for Munster’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final showdown with Saracens on Saturday.  The talented out-half pulled up with a hamstring injury in the first half of the quarter-final win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield less than three weeks ago. It was a recurrence of the same injury …

Munster and Ulster have named their respective sides as they both enter crucial matches in the Guinness PRO14 on Friday night.  Both provinces are hoping to finish off the season strongly with Munster battling it out for a home semi-final while Ulster will look to improve their chances of securing a home quarter-final. Munster are currently battling on domestic and …

Munster have confirmed that winger Ronan O’Mahony has retired from rugby with immediate effect.  O’Mahony broke his leg and dislocated his ankle in a clash with Treviso in April 2017 and he has now been advised to retire on medical grounds despite making appearances for Munster in the interim. Commenting on the announcement O’Mahony said, “I’m heartbroken to be finishing …

Munster head coach Johann van Graan has confirmed today that out-half Joey Carbery is a doubt for the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final clash with Saracens at the Ricoh Arena in two week’s time.  Carbery was removed from the fray with a hamstring injury in the opening half of Munster’s quarter-final victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield and the southern province will …

Huge news coming out of Munster this morning as it has been confirmed that head-coach, Johann van Graan has extended his contract for a further two years and will now remain in the province until 2022. The news was confirmed by Munster Rugby this morning. The South African native joined the provincial side in 2017 after leaving his role as …

There are just two regular season rounds remaining in this season’s Guinness PRO14 campaign and the race for a coveted playoff position looks set to go down to the wire.  The top three teams in each conference qualify for the PRO14 playoffs. In terms of European qualification, the three highest ranked European sides from each conference will qualify for the …

EPCR have confirmed that Wayne Barnes and Jerome Garces will take charge of the two Heineken Champions Cup semi-finals which take place in two week’s time.  EPCR’s selection committee have confirmed that Garces will take charge of the first semi-final between Saracens and Munster at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on Saturday, 20 April (KO 3 pm). Barnes will be the man …

Conor Murray admits that the criticism he received throughout Ireland’s disappointing Six Nations campaign hasn’t affected him.  The Munster and Ireland star was speaking this week as brand ambassador for Pinergy and he believes that such has been Ireland’s success over the last 18 months, any dip in form is always going to be met with a strong reaction. “It …

A six-man shortlist for Supporters’ Player Of The Year have been announced by Rugby Players Ireland, the representative body for professional rugby players in Ireland.  Each of the Irish provinces have representatives among the nominees who have been selected by a panel of experts. The six players are; Tadhg Beirne (Munster), James Lowe (Leinster), Will Addison (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), …

Munster and Ulster have named their sides for their respective clashes in the Guinness PRO14 on Friday night.  Munster, buoyed by their come-from-behind victory against Edinburgh in the Champions Cup, will be looking to keep the pressure on the Glasgow Warriors at the top of Conference A when they welcome the Cardiff Blues to Irish Independent Park in Cork. Johann …

There was no shortage of controversial moments from Munster’s come-from-behind Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Saturday.  Johann van Graan’s side emerged 13-17 winners to secure a tie with Saracens in the last four with two tries from Keith Earls proving the difference against Richard Cockerill’s side. Both of Munster’s tries had some interesting moments. For the …