Leinster vs Munster | Guinness PRO14 Final 2021

GUINNESS PRO14 FINAL 

CEO 

Martin Anayi 

Chairman 

Dominic McKay 

Tournament Director 

David Jordan 

Marketing Director 

Tom Lister 

Head of Operations 

Charl Crous 

Head of Broadcast & 

Communications 

Adam Redmond 

Head of Marketing 

Marc Fernandez 

Head of Insight 

Rob Balmer 

Tournament Manager 

Amy Monaghan 

Elite Referee Manager 

Greg Garner 

Events & Commercial 

Operations Manager 

Laura Ruhan 

Social Media Channels 

Manager 

Matthew Thoma 

Communications 

Executive 

Anna Egan 

Marketing Executive 

Alex Patel 

Finance Executive 

Alba Sarrias 

Office Management 

Aine O’Malley 

2 

STAY SOCIAL 

KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS AND ACTION 

PRO14 Rugby 

3rd Floor 

Millbank House 

Arkle Road 

Sandyford Industrial Estate 

D18 C6R3 

Ireland 

PRO14 Editors: Adam Redmond & Anna Egan 

Photos: INPHO | Marketing: Mark Fernandez | Content: Press Association 

Special thanks: Marcus O’Buachalla (Leinster) and Fiona Murphy (Munster). 

This programme was designed on behalf of Guinness PRO14 

by Julian Tredinnick at Ignition Sports Media. 

www.ignitionsportsmedia.com 

27|03|21 RDS ARENA | DUBLIN

FINAL LEINSTER V MUNSTER 

THE LINEUP 

14 

44 

20 

48 

5 

Welcome | Guinness 

6 

Match Preview 

10 

Head to Head Statistics 

13 

Leinster Season Statistics 

14 

Luke McGrath | Interview 

20 

Leo Cullen | Profile 

24 

Leinster Squad Profiles 

32 

Today’s Teams 

38 

Munster Squad Profiles 

44 

Johann van Graan | Profile 

48 

Damian De Allende | Interview 

41 

Munster Season Statistics 

56 

Ashton Hewitt | Spotlight 

58 

Eimear Considine | Spotlight 

60 

Chamionship Final Trivia 

66 

Man in the Middle 

27|03|21 RDS ARENA | DUBLIN 3


GUINNESS 

WELCOME 

The 2020/2021 GUINNESS PRO14 

season will come to a thrilling 

conclusion today, with a monumental 

encounter in store. It has been 

another epic season of rugby and has 

served as a glimmer of hope during 

these trying times. It is a pleasure 

to welcome both Leinster and 

Munster to the RDS for this eagerly 

anticipated final. This all-Ireland 

showdown pits two great provinces 

against each other, and will no doubt 

be full of passion and excitement 

as both teams vie for the hugely 

coveted GUINNESS PRO14 crown. 

This season has not been without its 

challenges. Teams have lined out in 

front of empty stadia since Round 1 

kicked off back in October, and while 

the roar of the crowd may have been 

missing this season, we remain hopeful 

that we will hear it once again very 

soon. We hope that wherever all the 

fans have been watching from, they 

were able to enjoy the magic of the 

GUINNESS PRO14. We’d like to send a 

massive congratulations to all involved 

in the smooth running of this 2020/ 

2021 season. 

This interprovincial clash will be the 

third time Leinster and Munster have 

gone head-to-head in the decider. 

In 2001, it was Leinster who came 

out on top at Lansdowne Road while 

Munster were the victors in 2011 at 

Thomond Park. Leo Cullen’s Leinster 

are looking for their fourth straight 

GUINNESS PRO14 title, and eighth 

overall. The Munstermen are hoping 

to stop them in their tracks and claim 

their fourth title overall – and their first 

TO THE 

FANS OF 

BOTH 

LEINSTER 

AND 

MUNSTER, 

WHEREVER 

YOU ARE 

WATCHING 

FROM, WE 

HOPE YOU 

ENJOY THIS 

GUINNESS 

PRO14 

FINAL. 

since 2011. While the recent record 

between the two old rivals is heavily 

swayed in Leinster’s favour, Munster 

will be invigorated by the return of 

their talisman, Joey Carbery in recent 

weeks. We are sure every Irish rugby 

fan has been delighted to see him take 

to the field once again after such a 

long absence. 

Congratulations to both teams on 

reaching the final here today, we 

have no doubt that you will do 

your provinces proud and provide a 

fantastic spectacle for us all. To the 

fans of both Leinster and Munster, 

wherever you are watching from, we 

hope you enjoy this GUINNESS PRO14 

final, as yet another historic chapter 

on one of rugby’s biggest rivalries is 

written. 

Oliver Loomes, 

Managing Director | DIAGEO IRELAND 

ENJOY THE GUINNESS PRO 14 FINAL 


MATCH PREVIEW 

LEINSTER VS 


LEINSTER AND 

MUNSTER CLASH 

IN THE GUINNESS 

PRO14 FINAL AT 

THE RDS ARENA 

ON SATURDAY 

WITH THE 

HOSTS GOING 

IN SEARCH 

OF A FOURTH 

CONSECUTIVE 

TITLE WHILE 

THEIR VISITORS 

CHASE THEIR 

FIRST IN A 

DECADE. 

6 



MUNSTER 

Every final in the competition’s history has featured 

at least one of these sides but this will be the first 

meeting between the two in the showpiece since 

2011, when Munster came out on top. 

Leinster earned their place by finishing seven points 

clear of Ulster at the summit of Conference A while 

Munster topped Conference B by 19 points from 

Connacht. 

The victors will become the 20th champions since 

the competition started life as the Celtic League in 

2001, with these sides also having contested the first 

final. Leinster were the champions on that occasion. 




WELCOME 

WHEN YOU SEE THE WORDS LEINSTER, 

MUNSTER AND FINAL IN THE SAME SENTENCE IT 

CONJURES UP AN OCCASION FOR THE HISTORY 

BOOKS AND DESPITE THE IRISH PROVINCES 

TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS, THIS IS ONLY THE 

THIRD TIME IN TWO DECADES THAT THEY HAVE 

MET IN OUR DECIDING GAME. 

These two icons of club rugby 

brought some fury and daring 

to the first-ever Celtic League 

Final in 2001 before some 

of those very same icons, 

such as Brian O’Driscoll, Paul 

O’Connell, Gordon D’Arcy and 

Ronan O’Gara, went head-tohead 

once again in 2011. 

Maybe these teams are destined 

only to meet in years that 

end in ‘1’ but before we talk 

about this enticing match-up, 

there are some very important 

acknowledgements I would like 

to focus on first. 

Since last August, we in Italy, 

Ireland, Scotland and Wales 

have been very fortunate to 

have been allowed by the 

respective governments to 

operate the Guinness PRO14. 

Every week you will have seen 

the players and match officials 

do their level-best to perform 

in the unusual environments of 

the pandemic, but there are an 

army of people that you do not 

see that have made it possible. 

At the tip of the spear has 

been our Medical Advisory 

Group and the medics around 

the tournament. The Advisory 

Group is comprised of the chief 

medical officers of the five 

competing unions involved in 

the Guinness PRO14 – the FIR, 

IRFU, SRU, SARU and WRU. 

It includes Dr James Robson 

(SRU), who only last weekend 

was on duty for this 250th 

Scotland international and Prav 

Mathema (WRU), both of whom 

have been part of the medical 

teams on various British & Lions 

tours. There has also been a 

wealth of experience provided 

by Dr Rod McLaughlin, the 

IRFU’s medical director 

for over seven years, Clint 

Readhead, SA Rugby’s senior 

medical manager since 2008 

and Dr Vincenzo Ieracitano, 

who has 10 years’ experience 

as the lead medic at the FIR. 

This group was also chaired 

by Dr Michael Dunlop, 

Edinburgh’s club doctor, and 

together they have steadily 

8 



navigated our tournament team 

on the journey from return 

to play to our second final in 

seven months. Their expertise, 

knowledge and careful 

handling of our relationships 

with local health authorities 

has been invaluable. While 

making clear calls around the 

safety of fixtures – including 

postponements – they have 

added knowledge from 

other sporting codes and 

have helped to improve our 

processes throughout this Covid 

experience. 

Each of their contributions have 

come despite the onus and 

responsibilities of their primary 

roles with their unions and clubs 

and the day-to-day pressures 

that we have all experienced. 

We are truly indebted to them 

for making it possible to play 

our games and allow us to 

get to another momentous 

occasion. 

Beyond the rivalry that Leinster 

and Munster are known for, 

there are some familiar faces 

who may not get to experience 

this fixture again. CJ Stander 

will hang up his boots at the 

end of the season, whose 

contribution to Munster and 

Ireland has been immense. 

We are hugely proud that he 

was able to forge his path to 

international rugby through 

his performances in our 

tournament. He will be joined 

by team-mate Billy Holland, the 

type of player that the Guinness 

PRO14 is built upon, and it is 

a credit to him that his best 

rugby is being played in his final 

season. 

No doubt, there are others who 

have not yet made their future 

plans public, but naturally there 

are so many other sub-plots to 

this game. Munster are seeking 

their first trophy in a decade 

since overturning Leinster in 

Thomond Park in 2011, while 

their opponents are seeking to 

win their fourth title in a row to 

claim their eighth overall. 

Without fans in the stadium 

the players will generate an 

atmosphere of their own, but 

for the rest of you we will allow 

our broadcasters, eir Sport, 

Premier Sports, TG4, DAZN and 

SuperSport to bring the game 

into your living rooms. 

I would also like to pay huge 

thanks to our title partners 

Guinness and our broadcasters 

for their perseverance and 

ingenuity during the past six 

months, in addition to Gilbert 

and Macron, who have ensured 

we have all the right equipment 

available on matchday. 

Enjoy the game, 

Martin Anayi 

CEO | Pro Rugby Championship 



PLAYED WON LOST DRAW 

16 14 2 0 

POINTS FOR 

POINTS AGAINST 

576 285 

(36 PER GAME) (17.8) 

TRIES FOR 

TRIES AGAINST 

82 33 

(5.1) (2.1) 

BIGGEST WIN THIS SEASON 

BIGGEST LOSS THIS SEASON 

63-8 24-35 

(ROUND 3 v ZEBRE) 

(ROUND 10 v CONNACHT) 

MOST POINTS SCORED THIS SEASON 

63 


MOST POINTS AGAINST THIS SEASON 

35 

(ROUND 10 v CONNACHT) 

TRY-SCORING 

14 BONUS POINTS LOSING 

1 

BONUS POINTS 

10 



PLAYED WON LOST DRAW 

16 14 2 0 

POINTS FOR 

POINTS AGAINST 

413 250 

(25.8 PER GAME) (15.6) 

TRIES FOR 

TRIES AGAINST 

49 26 

(3.1) (1.6) 

BIGGEST WIN THIS SEASON 

BIGGEST LOSS THIS SEASON 

52-3 10-15 


(ROUND 10 v ULSTER) 

MOST POINTS SCORED THIS SEASON 

52 


MOST POINTS AGAINST THIS SEASON 

27 

(ROUND 1 v SCARLETS 

& ROUND 4 v CARDIFF BLUES) 

TRY-SCORING 

6 BONUS POINTS LOSING 

2 

BONUS POINTS 


FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION ON 

PRO14.RUGBY 

YOUR GUINNESS 

PRO14 HOME 

LATEST NEWS, LIVE MATCH 

CENTRES, STATS & MORE 

VISIT NOW 

WWW.PRO14.RUGBY


2020/21 

STATISTICS 

TACKLE 

SUCCESS 

90 

PENALTIES 

CONCEDED 

172 

(10.75 per game) 

YELLOW CARDS 

[%] 

TURNOVERS 

WON 

8RED 

CARDS 

1 

71 


CARRIES 

2208 

METRES GAINED 

7570 

(138 per game) 




LUKE 

McGRATH 

LUKE McGRATH INSISTS THE WORD 

‘HISTORY’ WILL NOT BE MENTIONED 

DURING THE BUILD-UP TO 

LEINSTER’S GUINNESS PRO14 FINAL 

DATE WITH MUNSTER. 

14 



“ 

THEY’RE 

ALWAYS 

DIFFICULT 

GAMES 

BECAUSE 

THE PLAYERS 

KNOW EACH 

OTHER SO 

WELL 



So much will be at stake when the 

two Irish rivals meet at the RDS 

on Saturday - silverware as well as 

domestic bragging rights. 

Leinster want an eighth PRO14 crown 

and a fourth in succession while 

Munster are seeking their first in a 

decade after reaching the final for the 

first time in four years. 

Three successive semi-final defeats to 

Leinster have hurt Munster, who know 

another loss will create unwanted 

history from their perspective in a 

fixture which dates back to 1879. 

Five consecutive wins is the most 

managed by either side since the Irish 

inter-provincial championship began 

in 1946, yet Leinster find themselves 

within 80 minutes of a sixth straight 

success. 

“I don’t think anyone in our squad will 

be thinking about that,” McGrath said 

when suggested to him that Leinster 

are on the verge of creating Irish 

rugby history. 

“They’re always difficult games 

because the players know each other 

so well. 

“We might have won those games 

but they’re always close with usually a 

point here or there. 

“ 

IT’S GREAT 

TO WIN 

THESE 

GAMES 

BECAUSE 

THERE’S AN 

INCREDIBLE 

RIVALRY 

THERE 

GOING 

THROUGH 

THE YEARS 

“It was no different when we played 

them a couple of months ago and we 

came back to win it.” 

Munster took a 10-point lead at 

Thomond Park back in January when 

Tadhg Beirne crossed for an early try 

and JJ Hanrahan kicked five points. 

Jonny Sexton reduced the deficit with 

two penalties before Jordan Larmour’s 

late converted score broke Munster 

hearts. 

“It was another close game and we 

just got it over the line,” McGrath said. 



Virtual Mascots 

Name: Emily Doyle 

Age :4 

Name: Seb Keane 

Age: 10 

18 



“It’s great to win these games because 

there’s an incredible rivalry there 

going through the years. 

“It’s the big one for both teams. 

It’s not quite the intensity of 

international games but not far 

off.” 

The reshaping of the season to 

find space for the Rainbow Cup 

means the PRO14 final has an 

earlier March date. 

It falls between the final Guinness 

Six Nations round - and Ireland’s 

Dublin victory over England - and 

the resumption of the Heineken 

Champions Cup. 

Leinster have home advantage, 

too, at the RDS but McGrath said: 

“It’s different without a crowd. I 

don’t see a real advantage. 

“It’s different to have a final in March 

but exciting at the same time. 

“You’ve got guys coming back 

from being away with Ireland, so 

early in the week is going to be very 

important. 

“It’s a busy period as we’ve got Toulon 

the following week in the (Heineken) 

Champions Cup but it’s the same for 

Munster as well.” 

McGrath, capped 19 times and a 

member of Ireland’s 2019 World 

Cup squad, missed out on Six 

Nations selection this year. 

But the 28-year-old, who 

hopes to come up against 

Munster’s Conor Murray at 

the RDS, has not given up hope 

of winning more international 

honours. 

“I was disappointed not to be in the 

Ireland squad,” McGrath said. 

“There’s so much competition for that 

jersey in the international team and it’s 

always an honour to play. 

“But I’ve really enjoyed my time with 

Leinster when the international lads 

have been away. 

“The only thing you can do is keep 

working hard and playing well.” 



20 



LEO 

CULLEN 

AS THE ENGINEER BEHIND THE LEINSTER 

RUGBY MACHINE, LEO CULLEN NEVER 

SETTLES FOR SECOND BEST. 

The club’s relentless march towards 

silverware season after season says 

all you need to know about the 

standards he expects from his players 

every time they pull on the jersey. 

It’s why the Irish province stand on the 

brink of a fourth consecutive Guinness 

PRO14 title following another season 

in which they have been close to 

peerless. 

Though they have proved unable 

to match last season’s unbeaten 

campaign – losing against Connacht in 

January before their shock defeat to 

the Ospreys at the weekend – Leinster 

still had enough to top Conference A 

by seven points from Ulster. 

Only Munster now stand between 

them and making it four in a row. 

European success could yet follow, 

with Leinster hosting Toulon in the 

Heineken Champions Cup last 16 next 

month before a potential quarterfinal 

clash with Lyon or 2020 winners 

Exeter. 

Leinster were European champions 

in 2018 under Cullen, who has also 

been at the helm for the duration of 

their three-season domination of the 

PRO14. 

This all-encompassing drive for 

success would not be possible without 

the brains of Cullen, whose tendency 

to avoid the limelight often belies his 

influence. 

Cullen may possess an unassuming 

nature but make no doubt about it, he 

is also a winner – a characteristic he 

has imbued in the fabric of Leinster 

since taking over the top job. 

In fact, you only have to look at his 

list of achievements at Leinster as a 

player, and then head coach, to see 

why supporters of the Irish province 

worship the ground he walks on. 

The 43-year-old was already a threetime 

Heineken Cup-winning captain 

with the club before he was somewhat 

thrust into the role of coach in 2015. 


THANK YOU 

TO ALL OUR KEY WORKERS


Despite a turbulent start to his reign, 

he created history in 2018 by guiding 

Leinster to an unprecedented Guinness 

PRO14 and European double in just his 

third season in charge. 

By doing so, he also became the first man 

to lift the European Rugby Champions 

Cup both as a player and as a coach 

when Leinster edged out Racing 92 in 

Bilbao for their fourth European crown. 

But while his transition to head coach 

has proved to be a masterstroke, Cullen 

was initially wary about being suddenly 

parachuted into the role following the 

sacking of Matt O’Connor. 

Cullen was Leinster’s forwards coach at 

the time O’Connor was shown the door 

and it was far from smooth sailing for the 

Wicklow native after he was chosen as 

the club’s saviour. 

In his first season, Leinster lost five of 

six European pool games – including a 

humbling 33-6 defeat by Wasps at the 

RDS Arena – and looked unlikely to add 

to the three stars on their shirt. 

He went on to lead Leinster to a Guinness 

PRO12 final defeat to Connacht in that 

first season before turning his attention 

to transforming the club in a bid for 

future success. 

Cullen’s impact began to bear fruit in his 

second season in charge with two semifinals 

and the selfless decision to appoint 

former England head coach Stuart 

Lancaster to his coaching staff. 

Lancaster’s recruitment, along with 

Cullen’s faith in the province’s young 

talent, proved to be the final pieces 

of the jigsaw as Leinster completed a 

remarkable double in his third season. 

“ 

HE ALSO 

BECAME THE 

FIRST MAN 

TO LIFT THE 

EUROPEAN 

RUGBY 

CHAMPIONS 

CUP BOTH AS A 

PLAYER AND AS 

A COACH 

He followed up that success by guiding 

Leinster to Guinness PRO14 titles in the 

following two campaigns thanks to final 

victories over Glasgow Warriors and 

Ulster. 

News that Cullen turned down a two-year 

contract in favour of a rolling one-year 

deal this month may cause some Leinster 

fans to contemplate what life might be 

like without the mastermind behind their 

recent success pulling the strings at the 

RDS. 

But as long as he is at the helm keeping 

the engine purring, Leinster will remain a 

dominant force in club rugby. 



LEINSTER 

RUGBY 

[ 2020|21 SQUAD PROFILES ] 

Please note: appearances and points are PRO14 only. 

AGE 25 

HEIGHT 6’1’’ 

WEIGHT 

117KG 

2020/21 SEASON STATS 

PLAYED 0 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

VAKH ABDALADZE | PROP 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 107KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 5 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

RYAN BAIRD | LOCK 

AGE 34 


WEIGHT 

118KG 


PLAYED 13 

STARTED 11 

TRIES 3 

POINTS 15 

MICHAEL BENT | PROP 

AGE 27 


WEIGHT 109KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 3 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

ED BYRNE | PROP 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 108KG 


PLAYED 9 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

THOMAS CLARKSON | PROP 

AGE 28 


WEIGHT 

111KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JACK CONAN | NO. 8 

AGE 24 


WEIGHT 100KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

WILL CONNORS | BACK ROW 

AGE 34 


WEIGHT 102KG 


PLAYED 8 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

SEAN CRONIN | HOOKER 

AGE 24 


WEIGHT 108KG 


PLAYED 1 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

MAX DEEGAN | BACK ROW 

AGE 26 


WEIGHT 

111KG 


PLAYED 12 

STARTED 10 

TRIES 3 

POINTS 15 

PETER DOOLEY | PROP 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 106KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 3 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

CAELAN DORIS | BACK ROW 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 

110KG 


PLAYED 8 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JACK DUNNE | LOCK 

24 



AGE 36 


WEIGHT 

114KG 


PLAYED 12 

STARTED 8 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

SCOTT FARDY | FLANKER 

AGE 28 


WEIGHT 

125KG 


PLAYED 1 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

TADHG FURLONG | PROP 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 106KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

MARCUS HANAN | PROP 

AGE 33 


WEIGHT 

113KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

CIAN HEALY | PROP 

AGE 23 


WEIGHT 104KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

RONAN KELLEHER | HOOKER 

AGE 26 


WEIGHT 103KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

DAN LEAVY | BACK ROW 

AGE 24 


WEIGHT 

116KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

GREG MCGRATH | PROP 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 

115KG 


PLAYED 5 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

MICHAEL MILNE | PROP 

AGE 26 


WEIGHT 107KG 


PLAYED 14 

STARTED 9 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

ROSS MOLONY | LOCK 

AGE 26 


WEIGHT 105KG 


PLAYED 11 

STARTED 9 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

JOSH MURPHY | FLANKER 

AGE 20 


WEIGHT 

98KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

SEAN O’BRIEN | FLANKER 

AGE 25 


WEIGHT 

110KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

CIARAN PARKER | PROP 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 100KG 


PLAYED 11 

STARTED 10 

TRIES 9 

POINTS 45 

SCOTT PENNY | FLANKER 

AGE 25 


WEIGHT 

123KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

ANDREW PORTER | PROP 

AGE 30 


WEIGHT 

111KG 


PLAYED 10 

STARTED 9 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

RHYS RUDDOCK | BACK ROW 

AGE 24 


WEIGHT 

113KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

JAMES RYAN | LOCK 



AGE 22 


WEIGHT 107KG 


PLAYED 10 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 6 

POINTS 30 

DAN SHEEHAN | HOOKER 

AGE 20 


WEIGHT 100KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

ALEX SOROKA | LOCK 

AGE 34 


WEIGHT 124KG 


PLAYED 11 

STARTED 7 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

DEVIN TONER | LOCK 

AGE 29 


WEIGHT 106KG 


PLAYED 12 

STARTED 9 

TRIES 5 

POINTS 25 

JAMES TRACY | HOOKER 

AGE 27 


WEIGHT 104KG 


PLAYED 5 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

JOSH VAN DER FLIER | FLANKER 

AGE 26 


WEIGHT 

95KG 


PLAYED 0 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

ADAM BYRNE | CENTRE 

AGE 25 


WEIGHT 

93KG 


PLAYED 6 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 46 

ROSS BYRNE | FLY HALF 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 

88KG 


PLAYED 11 

STARTED 10 

TRIES 3 

POINTS 91 

HARRY BYRNE | FLY HALF 

AGE 19 


WEIGHT 

80KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

TIM CORKERY | FLY HALF 

AGE 23 


WEIGHT 

89KG 


PLAYED 6 

STARTED 6 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 14 

CIARAN FRAWLEY | OUTHALF 

AGE 29 


WEIGHT 

85KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 3 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK | SCRUM HALF 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 

86KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 11 

DAVID HAWKSHAW | FLY HALF 

AGE 27 


WEIGHT 

99KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 3 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

ROBBIE HENSHAW | CENTRE 

AGE 31 


WEIGHT 

91KG 


PLAYED 13 

STARTED 13 

TRIES 8 

POINTS 40 

DAVE KEARNEY | WINGER 

AGE 24 


WEIGHT 

91KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

HUGO KEENAN | FULL BACK 

AGE 26 


WEIGHT 

92KG 


PLAYED 9 

STARTED 9 

TRIES 6 

POINTS 30 

CIAN KELLEHER | FULL BACK 


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AGE 23 


WEIGHT 

88KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

JORDAN LARMOUR | WINGER 

AGE 28 


WEIGHT 

101KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 3 

POINTS 15 

JAMES LOWE | WINGER 

AGE 28 


WEIGHT 

82KG 


PLAYED 15 

STARTED 12 

TRIES 7 

POINTS 35 

LUKE MCGRATH | SCRUM HALF 

AGE 24 


WEIGHT 

90KG 


PLAYED 12 

STARTED 10 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 12 

JIMMY O’BRIEN | CENTRE 

AGE 25 


WEIGHT 

97KG 


PLAYED 0 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

CONOR O’BRIEN | CENTRE 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 

89KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 3 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

TOMMY O’BRIEN | CENTRE 

AGE 27 


WEIGHT 

94KG 


PLAYED 8 

STARTED 8 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

RORY O’LOUGHLIN | WINGER 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 

82KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 6 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

MAX O’REILLY | FULL BACK 

AGE 24 


WEIGHT 

75KG 


PLAYED 5 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

ROWAN OSBORNE | SCRUM HALF 

AGE 19 


WEIGHT 

95KG 


PLAYED 6 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

JAMIE OSBORNE | CENTRE 

AGE 23 


WEIGHT 

81KG 


PLAYED 8 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 2 

HUGH O’SULLIVAN | SCRUM HALF 

AGE 26 


WEIGHT 

95KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 3 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 7 

GARRY RINGROSE | CENTRE 

AGE 35 


WEIGHT 

92KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 10 

JOHNNY SEXTON | FLY HALF 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 

81KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

MICHAEL SILVESTER | FULL BACK 

AGE 20 


WEIGHT 105KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

ANDREW SMITH | WINGER 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 

89KG 


PLAYED 6 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

LIAM TURNER | CENTRE 



DECEMBER 15, 2001: The first-ever Celtic League Final is contested at Lansdowne Road in Dublin 

where Leinster and Munster play out a contest that will ignite their rivalry. Shane Horgan scores what 

is turns out to be the winning try as a 14-man Leinster team defeat a star-studded Munster team 24-20 

in front of a crowd of 30,000 in the Irish capital 

30 



MOMENT 

IN TIME 



LEINSTER 

RUGBY 

HUGO 

KEENAN 

15 

JORDAN 

LARMOUR 

14 

RORY 

O’LOUGHLIN 

13 

ROBBIE 

HENSHAW 

12 

DAVE 

KEARNEY 

11 

ROSS 

BYRNE 

10 

LUKE 

McGRATH [C] 

09 

CIAN 

HEALY 

01 

RÓNAN 

KELLEHER 

02 

Replacements 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

JAMES TRACY 

ED BYRNE 

TADHG FURLONG 

ROSS MOLONY 

RYAN BAIRD 

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 

JOHNNY SEXTON 

JAMES LOWE 

ANDREW 

PORTER 

RHYS 

RUDDOCK 

03 

06 

DEVIN 

TONER 

JOSH VAN 

DER FLIER 

04 

07 

SCOTT 

FARDY 

JACK 

CONAN 

05 

08 

32 



MIKE 

HALEY 

15 

ANDREW 

CONWAY 

14 

CHRIS 

FARRELL 

13 

MUNSTER 

RUGBY 

DAMIAN DE 

ALLENDE 

12 

KEITH 

EARLS 

11 

JOEY 

CARBERY 

10 

MATCH OFFICIALS 

REFEREE: 

MIKE ADAMSON 

(SRU) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: 

SEAN GALLAGHER 

(IRFU) 

CONOR 

MURRAY 

09 

JAMES 

CRONIN 

01 

NIALL 

SCANNELL 

02 

ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: 

CHRIS BUSBY 

(IRFU) 

TMO: 

JOY NEVILLE 

(IRFU). 

JOHN 

RYAN 

GAVIN 

COOMBES 

03 

06 

JEAN 

KLEYN 

04 

07 

PETER 

O’MAHONY [C] 

TADHG 

BEIRNE 

CJ 

STANDER 

05 

08 

Replacements 

KEVIN O’BYRNE 16 

DAVE KILCOYNE 17 

STEPHEN ARCHER 18 

BILLY HOLLAND 19 

JACK O’DONOGHUE 20 

CRAIG CASEY 21 

JJ HANRAHAN 22 

RORY SCANNELL 23 



MAY 28, 2011: A decade after their first meeting in a league decider the Munster-Leinster rivalry has 

hit its peak. Leinster visit Thomond Park fresh from sealing their second European Cup win to match 

their rival’s tally of two as both sides battle fiercely for that season’s Magners League crown. Munster 

freshness in this game is encapsulated in this moment where All Blacks legend Doug Howlett escapes 

the clutches of Leinster’s Brian O’Driscoll en route to a 19-9 win for the men in red 

34 



MOMENT 

IN TIME 


#ONECONSTANT 

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SHOP THE 

MUNSTER RUGBY NOW 

EXCLUSIVELY AT LIFESTYLESPORT.COM


MUNSTER 

RUGBY 

[ 2020|21 SQUAD PROFILES ] 

Please note: appearances and points are PRO14 only. 

AGE ?? 21 

HEIGHT 6’8’’ ?? 

WEIGHT 104KG ?? 


PLAYED ?? 6 

STARTED ?? 2 

TRIES ?? 1 

POINTS ?? 5 

??? THOMAS | Position AHERN | LOCK 

AGE 33 


WEIGHT 

113KG 


PLAYED 12 

STARTED 8 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

STEPHEN ARCHER | PROP 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 100KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

DIARMUID BARRON | HOOKER 

AGE 29 


WEIGHT 

112KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

TADHG BEIRNE | LOCK 

AGE 30 


WEIGHT 

91KG 


PLAYED 8 

STARTED 7 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

CHRIS CLOETE | FLANKER 

AGE 23 


WEIGHT 

110KG 


PLAYED 14 

STARTED 11 

TRIES 8 

POINTS 40 

GAVIN COOMBES | BACK ROW 

AGE 30 


WEIGHT 

118KG 


PLAYED 12 

STARTED 10 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

JAMES CRONIN | PROP 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 

101KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JACK DALY | BACK ROW 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 

117KG 


PLAYED 0 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JAMES FRENCH | PROP 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 103KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JOHN HODNETT | BACK ROW 

AGE 35 


WEIGHT 105KG 


PLAYED 12 

STARTED 9 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

BILLY HOLLAND | BACK ROW 

AGE 20 


WEIGHT 106KG 


PLAYED 1 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

CIAN HURLEY | BACK ROW 

38 



AGE 20 


WEIGHT 

105KG 


PLAYED 1 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

ALEX KENDELLEN | NO. 8 

AGE 32 


WEIGHT 

110KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

DAVE KILCOYNE | PROP 

AGE 27 


WEIGHT 

121KG 


PLAYED 11 

STARTED 9 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

JEAN KLEYN | LOCK 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 

115KG 


PLAYED 5 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

KEYNAN KNOX | PROP 

AGE 25 


WEIGHT 

119KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JEREMY LOUGHMAN | PROP 

AGE 28 ?? 

HEIGHT 6’0’’ ?? 

WEIGHT 104KG ?? 


PLAYED ?? 8 

STARTED ?? 4 

TRIES ?? 0 

POINTS ?? 0 

??? RHYS | Position MARSHALL | HOOKER 

AGE 29 


WEIGHT 100KG 


PLAYED 12 

STARTED 6 

TRIES 4 

POINTS 20 

KEVIN O’BYRNE | HOOKER 

AGE 25 


WEIGHT 

110KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

LIAM O’CONNOR | PROP 

AGE 33 


WEIGHT 100KG 


PLAYED 8 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

TOMMY O’DONNELL | FLANKER 

AGE 27 


WEIGHT 

97KG 


PLAYED 14 

STARTED 12 

TRIES 3 

POINTS 15 

JACK O’DONOGHUE | BACK ROW 

AGE 31 


WEIGHT 105KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 3 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

PETER O’MAHONY | FLANKER 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 100KG 


PLAYED 9 

STARTED 5 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JACK O’SULLIVAN | BACK ROW 

AGE 32 


WEIGHT 

118KG 


PLAYED 10 

STARTED 6 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JOHN RYAN | PROP 

AGE 23 


WEIGHT 

123KG 


PLAYED 5 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

ROMAN SALANOA | PROP 

AGE 28 


WEIGHT 107KG 


PLAYED 8 

STARTED 5 

TRIES 3 

POINTS 15 

NIALL SCANNELL | HOOKER 

AGE 26 


WEIGHT 120KG 


PLAYED 0 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

RG SNYMAN | LOCK 


30 % 

SALE OFF 

AVAILABLE AT SHOP.SCOTTISHRUGBY.ORG 

OR AT THE OFFICIAL SCOTTISH RUGBY STORE, BT MURRAYFIELD STADIUM 0131 346 5044


AGE 30 


WEIGHT 

112KG 


PLAYED 4 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

CJ STANDER | BACK ROW 

AGE 23 


WEIGHT 

115KG 


PLAYED 13 

STARTED 9 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

FINEEN WYCHERLEY | LOCK 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 105KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 3 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JOSH WYCHERLEY | PROP 

AGE 25 


WEIGHT 

87KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 15 

JOEY CARBERY | FLY HALF 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 

75KG 


PLAYED 11 

STARTED 9 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

CRAIG CASEY | SCRUM HALF 

AGE 29 


WEIGHT 

91KG 


PLAYED 5 

STARTED 5 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

ANDREW CONWAY | WINGER 

AGE 23 


WEIGHT 

87KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 3 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

LIAM COOMBES | WINGER 

AGE 28 


WEIGHT 

83KG 


PLAYED 1 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

NEIL CRONIN | SCRUM HALF 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 

88KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 2 

JACK CROWLEY | FLY HALF 

AGE 24 


WEIGHT 

92KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 7 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

SHANE DALY | CENTRE 

AGE 29 


WEIGHT 

101KG 


PLAYED 13 

STARTED 10 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

DAMIAN DE ALLENDE | CENTRE 



AGE 33 


WEIGHT 

86KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

KEITH EARLS | WINGER 

AGE 28 


WEIGHT 

110KG 


PLAYED 5 

STARTED 5 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

CHRIS FARRELL | CENTRE 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 

87KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

JAKE FLANNERY | FLY HALF 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 

92KG 


PLAYED 1 

STARTED 0 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

SEAN FRENCH | CENTRE 

AGE 24 


WEIGHT 

89KG 


PLAYED 6 

STARTED 5 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

MATT GALLAGHER | FULL BACK 

AGE 26 


WEIGHT 

95KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

DAN GOGGIN | CENTRE 

AGE 26 


WEIGHT 

89KG 


PLAYED 12 

STARTED 12 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 10 

MIKE HALEY | FULL BACK 

AGE 28 


WEIGHT 

90KG 


PLAYED 13 

STARTED 10 

TRIES 2 

POINTS 85 

JJ HANRAHAN | CENTRE 

AGE 21 


WEIGHT 

90KG 


PLAYED 13 

STARTED 6 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 77 

BEN HEALY | FLY HALF 

AGE 25 


WEIGHT 

82KG 


PLAYED 12 

STARTED 4 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

NICK MCCARTHY | SCRUM HALF 

AGE 23 


WEIGHT 

95KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

ALEX MCHENRY | CENTRE 

AGE 31 


WEIGHT 

93KG 


PLAYED 3 

STARTED 2 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

CONOR MURRAY | SCRUM HALF 

AGE 23 


WEIGHT 

90KG 


PLAYED 7 

STARTED 7 

TRIES 1 

POINTS 5 

CALVIN NASH | WINGER 

AGE 22 


WEIGHT 

78KG 


PLAYED 2 

STARTED 1 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 0 

PATRICK PATTERSON | SCRUM HALF 

AGE 27 


WEIGHT 

94KG 


PLAYED 13 

STARTED 10 

TRIES 0 

POINTS 2 

RORY SCANNELL | CENTRE 

AGE 27 


WEIGHT 

88KG 


PLAYED 9 

STARTED 6 

TRIES 3 

POINTS 15 

DARREN SWEETNAM | FULL BACK 



JOHANN 

VAN GRAAN 

MUNSTER’S CHOICE OF JOHANN VAN 

GRAAN COULD BE ABOUT TO PAY OFF 

HANDSOMELY AS THEY STAND ON THE 

BRINK OF A FIRST GUINNESS PRO14 

TITLE IN A DECADE. 

When he was handed the Thomond 

Park reins following the departure 

of Rassie Erasmus in 2017, some saw 

the South African as an outside-thebox 

appointment. 

With no top-level playing - or indeed 

head coaching - experience behind 

him, Van Graan’s route to the Munster 

top job stands in stark contrast to 

that of Leinster counterpart Leo 

Cullen, who will be his opposite 

number in Saturday’s final at the RDS. 

While Cullen enjoyed a distinguished 

playing career, winning four Celtic 

League/PRO12 titles, three Heineken 

Cups and a Challenge Cup with 

Leinster and the English Premiership 

with Leicester, Van Graan has 

followed an altogether different path. 

Having started out as a video analyst 

with the Blue Bulls team, where his 

father was CEO, Van Graan eventually 

took up a position as forwards and 

attack coach with the Currie Cup and 

Super Rugby sides, working under 

Heyneke Meyer - who once described 

Van Graan as “probably the best 

appointment I’ve ever made” - and 

Frans Ludeke. 

The Bulls won three Super Rugby 

titles with Van Graan on the staff – in 

2007, 2009 and 2010 - and he linked 

up with Meyer once again in 2012 

when his mentor was appointed as 

Springboks head coach. 

Known for his attention to detail 

and people skills, Van Graan again 

progressed from the role of technical 

adviser to that of forwards coach, 

helping guide South Africa into the 

2015 Rugby World Cup, when they 

finished third. 

Van Graan was the only member 

of the coaching staff to survive a 

shake-up following that tournament, 

continuing to work with the 

Springboks under new boss Allister 

Coetzee despite reported interest 

from Bath and his old side the Bulls. 

44 




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That was until Munster came calling in 

2017. 

With Erasmus heading in the opposite 

direction to become director of rugby 

and then head coach of the Springboks 

– going on to lift the World Cup trophy 

in 2019 – Van Graan was chosen as the 

man to fill his boots at Thomond Park. 

The frustration with which Coetzee had 

fielded questions about Van Graan’s 

future ahead of his departure from the 

South Africa fold spoke volumes of 

the regard in which he was held in his 

homeland. 

Munster had reached the PRO12 final in 

their final season under Erasmus, losing 

to Wayne Pivac’s Scarlets at the Aviva 

Stadium – their second runner-up finish 

in three seasons. 

Fans in Limerick would have hoped 

to see their side kick on from those 

near misses but Munster continued 

to fill the role of nearly men in Van 

Graan’s first few seasons at the helm 

and – discouragingly given their final 

opponents this time around – Leinster 

have been a consistent thorn in his side. 

Since Van Graan - contracted until 2022 

- took charge, Munster have reached 

three PRO14 semi-finals and lost all 

of them to Leinster, with two of those 

matches played at the RDS and the 

third at the Aviva. 

Munster have also reached the last four 

of the European Rugby Champions 

Cup twice under Van Graan, losing to 

Racing 92 and Saracens, but Saturday 

represents their first final appearance 

under the 41-year-old’s leadership, 

coming at the end of a campaign in 

which they have won all but two PRO14 

matches, matching Leinster’s record but 

finishing with seven fewer points. 

One of those defeats came at home to 

Leinster in January and Cullen’s men 

will be odds-on favourites to prevail on 

home soil in the final. 

But Van Graan’s rise to the Munster 

top job has shown the province to 

be unafraid of a gamble and, should 

they pull off an upset at the RDS on 

Saturday, there will be little question 

over whether their coaching bet has 

paid off. 

“ 

SATURDAY 

REPRESENTS 

THEIR FIRST 

FINAL 

APPEARANCE 

UNDER THE 

41-YEAR-OLD’S 

LEADERSHIP, 

COMING AT 

THE END OF 

A CAMPAIGN 

IN WHICH 

THEY HAVE 

WON ALL BUT 

TWO PRO14 

MATCHES 



“ 

THERE’S 

OBVIOUSLY 

EXTRA 

PRESSURE IN 

ANY FINAL 

BUT THAT 

DOESN’T 

MEAN WE 

CAN’T ENJOY 

THE OCCASION 

48 



DAMIAN DE 

ALLENDE 

DO NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE THE 

MEN FROM MUNSTER MEET THEIR 

GUINNESS PRO14 FINAL NERVES 

WITH THE WIDEST OF SMILES AND 

THE CALMEST OF DEMEANOURS. 


EVERY FIXTURE 

EVERY TRY 

EVERY TACKLE 

ALL IN 

ONE APP


Damian de Allende has told his 

Munster colleagues to reject the 

jitters, enjoy the entire week’s buildup 

and then embrace every moment 

of this big day itself. 

De Allende will arrive at Leinster’s RDS 

Arena with the words of his South 

Africa coach Rassie Erasmus ringing in 

his ears. 

Former Munster coach Erasmus told 

the Springboks that to worry about 

the 2019 World Cup final would be to 

act in selfish personal interest. 

Suddenly, days away from the biggest 

game of their lives, the South Africa 

squad latched onto that perspective 

and duly dispatched England 32-12 for 

the nation’s third global triumph. 

Now a firm Thomond Park fixture, 

World Cup-winner de Allende knows 

Munster can channel that homespun 

Springboks spirit against the reigning 

PRO14 champions. 

“There’s obviously extra pressure in 

any final but that doesn’t mean we 

can’t enjoy the occasion,” said de 

Allende. 

“We must enjoy the build-up, enjoy 

the week and we must enjoy the 

match itself. 

“ 

SOMETIMES 

YOU GET 

CAUGHT UP 

TOO MUCH IN 

RUGBY AND 

YOU MUST 

NOT FORGET 

TO ENJOY 

YOURSELVES 

“There’s a lot at stake but once you 

don’t enjoy the build-up to the game, 

things get tough and you almost get 

caught up in the moment. 

“In the week of the World Cup final, 

Rassie said ‘if you think this game is 

about you or about us, it’s very 

selfish’. 

“He said ‘there’s so much more at 

stake in South Africa than there is here 

personally for you’. 

“I think that says a lot about him as a 

coach and I learned a lot from that as 

well. 

“I don’t think I was even nervous for 

the final after that. 

“It was more just about making South 

Africa proud. And we knew that if 

we could make South Africa proud, 

the rest would take care of itself and 

fortunately on the day it did. That 

definitely took a level of pressure off. 


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Enjoy Responsibly


“And we can definitely take that 

attitude forward now in this 

match. 

“Sometimes you get caught 

up too much in rugby and 

you must not forget to enjoy 

yourselves and you can’t 

forget what you’ve achieved. 

“You might not achieve a lot in 

your career, I’m talking about 

trophies and things now, but if 

you look back and realise where 

you’ve come from and what you 

did to get to where you are, that’s 

a massive achievement in itself. 

“Sometimes as players you forget 

that. 

“When Rassie gave us that 

speech I know for me personally 

it hit home a lot and it just 

allowed me personally to be more 

myself and enjoy myself a bit 

more. 

“It doesn’t mean the hard work 

stops but it just gave me that 

little bit of extra confidence.” 

De Allende had few hesitations 

in joining Munster given his long 

association with Johann Van 

Graan, his former coach with 

the Springboks. 

The 29-year-old centre 

believes Van Graan will not 

settle for anything less than 

silverware in his Munster stint. 

“I know as a coach you teach a lot 

but I think it’s also important as a 

coach to also learn a lot from the 

players around you,” said de 

Allende. 

“And if you look at the guys he’s 

coached, I don’t want to name a 

few because there’s been far too 

many, I think he’s helped many, 

many players in his short coaching 

career so far. But I think he’s learned 

a lot as well. 

“He is still quite young but the 

knowledge he’s gained from 

the players he’s coached, and 

learning from those players, it’s 

been incredible.” 


FREE TO JOIN 

MEMBERSHIP 

START ENJOYING EXCLUSIVE 

MEMBER BENEFITS 

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2020/211 

STATISTICS 

TACKLE 

SUCCESS 

87 

[%] 

PENALTIES 

CONCEDED 

173 


YELLOW CARDS 

10 

RED 

CARDS 

0 

TURNOVERS 

WON 

89 


CARRIES 

1620 

METRES GAINED 

4762 





SPOTLIGHT 

Ashton 

HEWITT 

WHEN YOU DECIDE 

TO SPEAK OUT ON 

A SENSITIVE TOPIC, 

THERE IS OFTEN 

A FEAR OF HOW 

WHAT YOU SAY 

WILL BE RECEIVED 

BY BOTH PEOPLE 

YOU DO AND DO 

NOT KNOW. 

Whilst it’s not always easy to be 

confronted with opinions you 

do not agree with, as well as the 

overwhelming abuse dished out 

by Twitter trolls, I’m pleased to 

be able to say that the positivity 

that has come as a result of 

speaking out about racism 

outweighs the negativity. 

You may know me as a Dragons 

rugby player and, more recently, 

you may have seen conversations 

around racism that I have been 

encouraging on social media. 

Being a 25-year-old, mixed-race 

man, born and raised in Newport, 

with both Welsh and Jamaican 

heritage, you can imagine that the 

topic of racism is something that 

I am extremely passionate about. 

This passion was amplified by the 

Black Lives Matter movement and 

the recent peaceful protests that 

took place across the world. 

I’d like to take this opportunity to 

explain what ‘black lives matter’ 

means to me. It is 

a simple statement, 

calling for black 

people to be treated 

equally and for the social 

problem that is racism to 

be solved. Therefore, when 

myself, family, friends or 

teammates stand (or kneel) 

in support of black lives 

matter, it is the movement 

and not the organisation 

that is being supported. 

I support the movement 

because there are many 

people in my life that I 

care about who have far 

too often been victims of 

racism and knowing how 

it feels, it is something 

that has to be addressed. 

From a young age, I have 

experienced racism on 

the street and in sport. 

This has come as a shock 

to many of the people in 

the rugby community that I 

56 



have had conversations with on 

this topic – with many of them 

not expecting a player such as 

myself to be faced with racism. 

Even in the rugby environment, 

hearing racist nicknames and 

stereotypical jokes would make 

me feel isolated and unable to be 

myself in a space that I should be 

completely comfortable in. Some 

incidents occurred more when I 

was younger, but it never goes 

away entirely and that is what’s 

jarred most with people I speak 

to. 

Whether it be monkey chants 

targeted at me from the side-lines 

whilst I played as a child, to being 

stopped and searched countless 

times. These conversations often 

consist of them being able to 

count the number of encounters 

they’ve had with the police on 

one hand (or finger) and that 

they couldn’t even imagine being 

stopped and searched whilst 

walking their dog! 

This is one of the main positives 

that came as a result of speaking 

out. It encouraged these 

conversations that otherwise 

probably wouldn’t have 

happened, and helped others 

understand my experiences and 

how racism, in all of its different 

forms, has made me feel. 

I’m proud to say that these 

conversations have led to more 

positivity, with team-mates calling 

and texting to find out more and 

gain greater understanding of the 

deep-rooted social issue that they 

now recognise. Also, it’s not only 

players that have been supportive 

of everything I have been doing. 

I have to thank the Dragons as 

a club for the way they have 

supported me over the last few 

months. From David Buttress (our 

Chairman) to Dean Ryan (Director 

of Rugby) and James Chapron 

(General Manager), who have all 

been great in supporting me and 

allowing me to be myself. I know 

that this is not the case at every 

other organisation and in every 

other sector – with black people 

often concerned that they will 

face consequences for being so 

vocal on such a topic. 

I also have to extend my thanks 

to the community team at the 

Dragons, who I know are coming 

up with ways to actively improve 

inclusivity and diversity at the 

grassroots level by trying to 

engage with more black and 

minority children. 

Furthermore, I can’t express 

how encouraging the support 

from fans has been. It has truly 

shown how great the game 

of rugby is, with it not only 

being Dragons fans sending me 

positive messages and shutting 

down the trolls of Twitter in my 

defence, but rugby fans 

from all over (although 

some have wished for a bad 

performance when playing 

their team!). 

I’d also like to shed 

light on, and thank, 

Positive Futures for 

all of the work that 

they do within my 

community. Myself 

and team-mate Leon 

Brown (you know, the 

rather large tight 

head that enjoys 

finishing 30m tries) are proud 

ambassadors of the organisation 

that works with young people 

from disadvantaged backgrounds, 

trying to combine sport and 

education with rugby often being 

used to develop core values and 

encourage inclusivity. With racism 

and discrimination often being an 

issue that the young people they 

work with face in their day-to-day 

lives, Positive Futures actively do 

what they can to tackle the issue. 

I’d like to finish by saying that I 

don’t expect everybody to agree 

with absolutely everything that 

I say and I can’t force anybody 

to do so. But I’d like to think that 

most would agree to taking a 

stand against racism. I’d really 

love, and appreciate, if everybody 

just asked questions and gave 

a little time to learn a bit more 

about the issues and the 

ways in which they can 

be tackled. If you do, 

then please educate 

others – that is what is 

going to help others not 

to feel isolated because of 

their skin colour, wherever 

it may be - and encourage 

change. 

Thank you for reading. 

Ashton 



SPOTLIGHT 

Eimear 

CONSIDINE 

WHETHER IT’S INTERNATIONAL RUGBY OR LIVE BROADCASTING, 

NOBODY GETS PICKED UNLESS THEY’RE GOOD ENOUGH. EVERY 

TEAM I’VE BEEN ON HAS BEEN SELECTED SOLELY ON MERIT. 

It was no different when I was 

part of TG4’s all-female talent on 

their Round 7 Leinster v Cardiff 

Blues broadcast for the Guinness 

PRO14. Yes, it was historic to see 

an all-female team and we all felt 

great pride (and pressure!), but 

every person had proven they 

were right for the job. 

Quite rightly, TG4 has picked up 

a lot of positive attention and 

hopefully this is a step in the right 

direction towards a new normal, 

where fans get opinions, analysis 

and commentary from people 

who have the experience to 

provide the insights – regardless 

of gender. 

I can’t imagine what my young 

teenage self would have made 

of this. When I look back to that 

time in Ireland, I can only think 

58 

of Sonia O’Sullivan competing at 

the Olympics as a role model for 

girls. Now, women’s international 

sports have such a greater 

platform and aspiring female 

athletes today have so many stars 

to look up to. 

Twenty years ago, there were 

very few Katie Taylors, Emily 

Scarratts, Serena Williams or 

Megan Rapinoes like we have 

today – people who have become 

household names. 

None of this happens overnight. 

Women’s sport and female 

athletes have moved out of the 

shadows and into the same 

arenas and stadiums as their male 

counterparts through support 

from clubs, sports organisations, 

broadcasters and sponsors. 



For those of you from outside 

Ireland, TG4 are an Irishlanguage 

station that have 

been very progressive in their 

broadcasting of women’s sport 

and promoting female talent for 

over 20 years. Their support of 

Gaelic football has led to record 

attendances for women’s finals 

and they have been keen to put 

strong, capable women on their 

rugby broadcasts for a number 

of seasons now. In Ireland, they 

have certainly been part of the 

first waves of momentum we see 

today. 

An all-female line-up was not 

about courting publicity. I’ve been 

involved for three years with TG4 

and during that time they have 

assembled and developed the 

talent to make it work. 

Our leading host, Máire Treasa 

Ní Dubhbgaill is a hugely 

recognisable face in Irish sports 

broadcasting and she has been 

phenomenal at her job for over 

a decade. Deirbhile Níc Bháird 

has played in the backs and the 

forwards, played for Ireland, 

played Sevens and she has an 

insight that very few can provide. 

Jenny Murphy conducted 

interviews and provided analysis 

and she has an accomplished 

rugby CV having won a Grand 

Slam, played Sevens for Ireland 

and represented the Baa-Baas. 

Máire Ní Bhraonáin, who works 

at Gonzaga College where she 

gets to see the latest Leinster 

talent emerge, was our lead 

commentator and she has 

already got plenty of Guinness 

PRO14 games under her belt 

now. Our team at the RDS was 

well proven, that’s for sure. 

Earlier, I mentioned Emily 

Scarratt, who is the most 

talented player I’ve ever come 

across in rugby. When she won 

the Player of the Tournament 

award for the Six Nations, the 

announcement was made in 

tandem with Antoine Dupont’s 

win for the male award. Guinness’ 

decision to sponsor the Womens’ 

Six Nations has massively helped 

the profile of women’s rugby in 

Europe. 

We see it all the time now, 

especially with the England 

national team who play at 

Twickenham – usually on 

the same day as the mens’ 

team. Last year another Irish 

international, Louise Galvin, and 

myself were part of eir Sport’s 

World Cup coverage. 

I was fortunate to appear in a 

national TV advert alongside 

Tommy Bowe, Gordon D’Arcy 

and Peter Stringer – three icons 

of Irish rugby, and that again 

elevated the perception of 

female athletes. So much so, in 

fact, that because our training 

schedule for the national team 

limited our appearances – an 

expectancy was created and any 

time we were not involved, fans 

were asking about us. 

All of this visibility and support is 

making a real difference. 

My cousin’s daughter, Éowyn, 

has become obsessed with 

rugby because she can watch 

the women’s team play on 

TV. She can go see Munster 

and Ireland play live at proper 

stadiums that make it a great 

day out for families. Ahead of 

the men’s World Cup last year 

the national squad were doing 

an open training session in each 

province, but when she arrived 

at the event in Thomond Park 

she was distraught because it 

was the men’s team and not the 

women’s! 

That hits home because to her 

it’s normal to see women playing 

elite sport, it’s normal to see big 

crowds attending their games 

and it’s normal to see female TV 

analysts. 

In Ireland we have the 20x20 

campaign (#CantSeeCantBe) 

urging everyone involved in sport 

to find ways to play their part 

and it is great to see TG4 being 

such leaders in this space. 

We’ve also received great 

support from our provinces and 

sponsors but I would challenge 

everyone to ask what more can 

they do to raise the profile of 

women in sport? What other 

broadcasters and media outlets 

can follow this path? 

We’ve proven that if she can see 

it, she can be it… but we can’t 

and we won’t stop there. 



MOMENT IN TIME 

60 


SATURDAY, DEC 15 2001 

LEINSTER CELEBRATE 

CELTIC CUP WIN IN 2001 




GUINNESS 


CHAMPIONSHIP 

FINAL TRIVIA 

[ 2003 & 2013 ] 

47,128 

[ 2019 ] 

MOST PENALTY GOALS 

[6] RUAN PIENAAR 

ULSTER V LEINSTER 

[ 2013 ] 

3 MOST TRIES 

JOHNNY McNICHOLL 

[ 2018 ] 

SEAN CRONIN 

FIRST PLAYER 

TO SCORE IN 

THREE FINALS 

[ 2012, 2016 & 2018 ] 

JORDAN LARMOUR 

YOUNGEST EVER 

TRY SCORER 

[ 2018 ] 

NIGEL OWENS 

MOST FINALS 

REFEREED 

[ 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2019 ] 

[ 2013 ] 

SHANE 

JENNINGS 

QUICKEST TRY 

3 MINUTES 

62 



JOHNNY SEXTON 

MOST TIME PLAYED 

ALUN WYN JONES 

YOUNGEST 

CAPTAIN 

[ 2012 ] 

HIGHEST SCORE 

SCARLETS 46 v MUNSTER 22 

[ 2017 ] 

78 

JOHNNY 

SEXTON 

MOST 

POINTS 

CLOSEST MATCH [1] 

[ 2012 ] 

OSPREYS LEINSTER 

31 

30 

MAN OF THE MATCH 

IN THE FINAL 

2001/02 

SHANE HORGAN 

(LEINSTER) 

2002/03 

ALAN QUINLAN 

(MUNSTER) 

2009/10 

LEE BYRNE 

(OSPREYS) 

2010/11 

DAVID WALLACE 

(MUNSTER) 

2011/12 

ISA NACEWA 

(LEINSTER) 

2012/13 

SHANE JENNINGS 

(LEINSTER) 

2013/14 

SEAN CRONIN 

(LEINSTER) 

2014/15 

LEONE 

NAKARAWA 

(GLASGOW) 

2015/16 

JOHN MULDOON 

(CONNACHT) 

2016/17 

AARON SHINGLER 

(SCARLETS) 

2017/18 

JOHNNY SEXTON 

(LEINSTER) 

2018/19 

CIAN HEALY 

(LEINSTER) 

2019/20 

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 

(LEINSTER) 



SHANE 

WILLIAMS 

OLDEST POINTS 

& TRY SCORER 

[ 2012 ] 

35YRS 

90 DAYS 

FILO TIATIA 

OLDEST 

FINALIST 

38yrs 360days 

[ 2012 ] 

9 

LEE JARVIS 

MOST DROP 

GOALS 

JOHNNY 

SEXTON 

MOST 

CONVERSIONS 

[ 2010 ] 

MOST POINTS 

PER HALF 

1ST HALF 

2ND HALF 

29 22 

[ 2017 ] [ 2012 ] 

LEINSTER 40 + SCARLETS 32 

[ 2018 ] 

[ 2013 ] 

JOHNNY SEXTON 

MOST APPEARANCES 

[8] 

BROTHERS 

IN THE FINAL 

DAVE & ROB KEARNEY 

(LEINSTER 2012 & 2016) 

JAMES & JONATHAN DAVIES 

(SCARLETS 2017) 

RORY & NIALL SCANNELL 

(MUNSTER 2017) 

GEORGE & PETE HORNE 

(GLASGOW 2019) 

MATT & ZANDER FAGERSON 

(GLASGOW 2019) 

ED & BRYAN BYRNE 

(TWINS) (LEINSTER 2019) 

64 



SCARLETS 

TEAM TO 

SCORE THE 

MOST TRIES 

IN THE FINAL 

SCARLETS 46 

MUNSTER 22 

SCARLETS 46, MUNSTER 22 

JOHNNY SEXTON 

MOST PENALTY GOALS 

[20] 

LEINSTER 9, MUNSTER 19 

[ 2017 ] [ 2011 ] 

[ 2017 ] 

JACK McGRATH 

MOST APPEARANCES 

AS A REPLACEMENT 

MATTHEW MORGAN 

YOUNGEST EVER 

FINALIST 

[ 2012 ] 

4 

[ 2014 2015 ] 

JIMMY GOPPERTH 

LEINSTER V GLASGOW 

FINN RUSSELL 

GLASGOW V MUNSTER 

SCORED A TRY IN 

TWO SEPARATE 

FINALS 

GORDON D’ARCY 

(LEINSTER 2001 & 2014) 

SHANE JENNINGS 

(LEINSTER 2013 & 2014) 

DTH VAN DER MERWE 

(GLASGOW 2015 & SCARLETS 2017) 

KEITH EARLS 

(MUNSTER 2011 & 2017) 

JAMES LOWE 

(LEINSTER 2018 & 2020) 



MOMENT IN TIME 

66 


SATURDAY, DEC 15 2001 

MUNSTER CELEBRATE 

MAGNERS LEAGUE WIN IN 2011 




IN CASE 

OF A TIE 

EXTRA TIME AND PLACE 

KICKING COMPETITION 

(ABBREVIATED RULES) 

In the event of a tie at full time 

in the Guinness PRO14 Final 

then extra-time will be played, 

consisting of two periods, each 

of 10 minutes. If the score is still 

tied after extra-time, the Team 

that has scored the most tries in 

the match will be deemed the 

winner. 

REFEREE: 

MIKE ADAMSON 

(SRU, 51st Championship appearance) 

MAN 

IN THE 

MIDDLE 

Mike Adamson is the first Scottish match official to referee a 

Guinness PRO14 Final. This continues an impressive season for 

Adamson who refereed his first Guinness PRO14 Six Nations 

fixture in early February, overseeing England’s home win 

against Italy. 

In 2016, Adamson became the first man to both play and referee 

in the Celtic/PRO12 league upon making his PRO12 refereeing 

debut at Munster v Treviso on 26th November 2016. 

The 36-year-old has since refereed his 50th game in the 

Guinness PRO14 last month. A product of the elite referee 

pathway, Adamson has become a leading figure for Scotland’s 

match official programme, who also refereed at the 2016 Rio 

Olympics where he was appointed to the Semi-final between Fiji 

and Japan. 

The former Scotland 7s player is no stranger to a big occasion 

having taken charge of the 2019 Semi-final between these two 

teams before acting as assistant referee the following week for 

the 2019 Guinness PRO14 Final in Glasgow. 

68 

If the Teams are still tied on 

points and tries at the end of 

extra-time then the winner 

will be determined by a Place 

Kick Competition. In the event 

that a Place Kick Competition 

is required, each Team will 

nominate three goal kickers who 

will take six place kicks between 

them from different positions 

along the 22 metre and 10 metre 

lines. 

The Team with the most place 

kicks scored will be the winner. If 

the Teams are tied at the end of 

their six kicks, then sudden death 

will apply. Only players in the 

playing area at the final whistle 

of extra-time may be nominated 

for the Place Kick Competition. 

No substituted players or players 

who have been shown a red 

card may take part at any time 

including any player who has 

received a yellow card and who 

remains in the sin bin at the time 

of the final whistle of extra-time. 

The above sets out a summary of 

certain provisions of the Guinness 

PRO14 Rules for information 

purposes only. As such these 

provisions may not be relied 

upon and for a full and proper 

understanding of the provisions 

and rules of the Guinness PRO14, 

reference must be made to the 

Guinness PRO14 Rules in their 

existing and entire form. 


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