Tag Archives: Munster

Connacht duo Jack Carty and Colby Fainga’a are among seven Irish-based players in the PRO14 Dream Team of the Season 2019. The nod at fly-half caps off an impressive year for Carty after winning his first international cap against Italy during the Guinness Six Nations while he also became Connacht’s record point-scorer. In total, 11 clubs are represented in a …

The sporting culture surrounding the New Zealand rugby team is not only one of winning, but one of consistency and constant improvement, and that is what Doug Howlett is instilling in the Cork hurlers, according to John Meyler. Howlett was announced as the “high-performance lead” for Meyler’s side in February and has been a regular feature in the dugout throughout …

Cork manager, John Meyler, has downplayed the significance of his side’s 1-26 to 1-19 win over Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds today, instead choosing to focus on their upcoming clash with Waterford. It was a vastly improved Cork performance from their heavy loss to Tipperary in Pairc Ui Chaoimh last week. Patrick Horgan was once again their top scorer with …

All-Ireland champions Limerick were defeated by a fighting Cork side at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday, losing out to the Rebels by 1-26 to 1-19. Let’s take a look at the main talking points as Cork bounce back from defeat last week to overcome Limerick. _____ Far From A Munster Classic This wasn’t exactly the Munster classic we were hoping …

Josh van der Flier has praised the Leinster medical staff for their role in helping him return to play in time for their PRO14 semi-final win over Munster in the RDS Arena. The 24-9 win was van der Flier’s first game for the province since January after suffering a groin injury in Ireland’s Six Nations clash with France. The 26-year-old …

Munster have named attacking duo Keith Earls and Joey Carbery in their starting XV for their PRO14 semi-final clash with Leinster in the RDS on Saturday. Neither player has featured for the province since their Heineken Champions Cup win over Edinburgh at the end of March. The other changes to the starting line-up sees Arno Botha and John Ryan return …

Six Irish players have been included in French publication Midi Olympique’s Champions Cup team of the tournament. Saracens were the victors in this season’s competition after they denied Leinster the chance to retain the crown beating them in Newcastle by 20-10 on Saturday. Despite finishing as runners up, Leo Cullen’s side managed three inclusions with Tadhg Furlong in at tighthead …

Former Grand Slam winning Welsh coach Mike Ruddock has been linked with a move to Munster as they look to fill the soon to be vacant coaching positions at the club. The Limerick Leader are reporting that Ruddock is on Munster’s shortlist to replace Jerry Flannery as forwards coach after the former Irish international turned down the offer of a …

Munster head coach, Johann van Graan, has insisted that he doesn’t need to see “pretty rugby” from his players in their PRO14 quarter-final with Benetton as long as they get the win.  A loss against the Italian side in Thomond Park on Saturday would bring Munster’s season to an end after they exited the Heineken Champions Cup at the hands …

Munster head coach, Johann van Graan, has confirmed that Conor Murray will be available for selection for their Guinness PRO14 quarter-final against Benetton on Saturday.  The scrum-half was forced to miss their final group game against Connacht last Saturday after he picked up a neck injury during the warm-up. Van Graan revealed afterwards that his withdrawal from the matchday squad …

The final interprovincial derbies of the regular PRO14 season will take place this weekend with Munster welcoming Connacht to Thomond Park while reigning champions, Leinster, travel to Kingspan Stadium to face Ulster.  It is a must-win game for Johann van Graan’s side in Limerick if they are to have any hope of topping PRO14 Conference A and qualifying directly for the …

Munster have confirmed that South African centre, Jaco Taute, will join Leicester Tigers at the beginning of the next season.  The announcement comes hours after the Premiership club confirmed the signing of Leinster centre, Noel Reid. Taute was first brought to the province in September 2016 as a replacement for the injured Francis Saili and made his debut the following …

Saracens face Munster in a highly-anticipated Heineken Champions Cup semi-final in Ricoh Arena in Coventry tomorrow (Kick-off 3pm). Both Mark McCall and Johann van Graan have named their sides for the clash with the Irish province having to do without the services of Joey Carbery and Keith Earls with Tyler Bleyendaal and Darren Sweetnam named instead. Meanwhile, captain, Brad Barritt, …

Munster have confirmed that Keith Earls will miss their Heineken Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens through injury, with Darren Sweetnam replacing him on the wing.  The 31-year-old, who scored a brace of tries against Edinburgh in the quarter-final, picked up an injury during the game and did not train during the week. Mike Haley was a late withdrawal in BT …

Tommaso Benvenuti has received a two-week ban for his high challenge on Stephen Archer during Munster’s 37-28 win over Benetton Treviso on Friday. The centre was reported by the Citing Commissioner in charge for an infringement of Law 9.20 – A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders. The player was shown a …

Gordon D’Arcy believes Conor Murray will need to stamp his authority in their Heineken Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens in order to fill the void left by Joey Carbery. Carbery has been deemed as “highly unlikely” to start the game after being withdrawn during their quarter-final win over Edinburgh after 36 minutes with the hamstring injury that prematurely ended his …

Munster head coach, Johann van Graan, has refused to rule out the possibility of Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell joining his coaching ticket at the province in the near future. The South African signed a contract extension with the province last week that will see him remain in his post until 2022, however, he has indicated that he may look …

Peter O’Mahony has warned that Munster will have to produce their best performance of the year in order to beat Saracens in the Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday.  The province edged past Edinburgh in the quarter-final last month thanks to two tries from Keith Earls. In the other match-up, Saracens registered 56 points against Glasgow, without the help of their …