Munster Rugby v Connacht Rugby Match Programme
Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup Round 3 | Find out all you need to know ahead of Munster v Connacht. Check out your free copy of the official digital match programme.
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v CONNACHT | FRI 14 MAY 2021 | THOMOND PARK | 6PM<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
1
READY<br />
TO Rise<br />
Again<br />
A thousand voices.<br />
A thousand places.<br />
One club.<br />
© 2020 adidas AG<br />
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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME<br />
are few of our newer players who have yet to<br />
experience the atmosphere of a full Thomond<br />
Park, something that both players and all the<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> faithful are really looking forward to.<br />
I know I speak for you all when I wish Johann,<br />
all the coaching team and the entire squad the<br />
best of luck in tonight’s game.<br />
This evening we welcome Andy Friend and his<br />
team to Thomond Park for this Round 3 game<br />
in the Rainbow Cup.<br />
<strong>Connacht</strong> got off to a great start in this series<br />
with an away win over Ulster in Round 1 but<br />
suffered a loss to Leinster last weekend at<br />
the Sportsground. <strong>Munster</strong> on the other hand<br />
have two from two after their impressive<br />
performance and win against Ulster last Friday<br />
night.<br />
All interpro games are important but this one<br />
is a little more significant. For <strong>Connacht</strong>, a win<br />
would put them back in the mix at the top end of<br />
the table, while for <strong>Munster</strong> a home win could<br />
keep them in top spot, but that will depend<br />
on the result from the Benetton v Zebre game<br />
tomorrow night. It is all to play for and it’s a<br />
game that deserves a full Thomond Park crowd.<br />
For the moment, it is only the 1400+ portraits<br />
and all the club and school jerseys in the stand<br />
that will be there. The day is hopefully getting<br />
ever nearer to when we will be there in person<br />
once again. It is hard to believe that there<br />
Over the last short while, pictures of our young<br />
and thankfully now the not so young players<br />
out training is really positive. While there is a bit<br />
to go yet, hopefully we are on the home straight<br />
and normality resumes sometime soon. In the<br />
meantime, keep doing the right things, abide by<br />
the guidelines and we will get there.<br />
Our congratulations to Conor Murray and<br />
Tadhg Beirne on their Lions selection and to<br />
all our <strong>Munster</strong> players involved in the Ireland<br />
U20s and 7s series.<br />
Our sympathies and thoughts to the family<br />
of Martin Breen who sadly passed away<br />
last week. Martin from Waterpark RFC was<br />
President of the <strong>Munster</strong> Branch in 1998/99.<br />
May he rest in peace.<br />
Once again, our thanks to our main sponsor<br />
Bank of Ireland, our kit supplier adidas and all<br />
our sponsors for their continued support.<br />
Stay strong, stay positive and stay safe.<br />
Seán McCullough<br />
President <strong>Munster</strong> Branch IRFU<br />
President: Sean McCullough | Vice President: Ger McNamara | Junior Vice President: Michael Carroll<br />
Hon. Secretary: Muiris Mahon| Hon. Treasurer: Tom Kinirons<br />
Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Ian Flanagan | Head Coach: Johann van Graan | Team Manager: Niall O’Donovan<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
3
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MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
5
MUNSTER v CONNACHT<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> and Benetton will put their 100 per cent records on the line this week as the Guinness PRO14<br />
Rainbow Cup prepares for an action-packed Round 3.<br />
The Irish side and Italian challengers are the<br />
only two northern section teams with unbeaten<br />
records after two matches, opening a threepoint<br />
gap on their closest rivals the Dragons.<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> host <strong>Connacht</strong> at Thomond Park on<br />
Friday while Benetton are in derby mode again<br />
when they play at home to Zebre 24 hours later.<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> have lost just once in their last five<br />
matches on home soil - against Heineken<br />
Champions Cup opponents Toulouse.<br />
<strong>Connacht</strong> launched their Rainbow Cup<br />
campaign with an impressive 26-24 victory over<br />
RAINBOW CUP ROUND 3 PREVIEW<br />
Ulster but they have not won successive away<br />
games since February and gone more than<br />
three years since last beating <strong>Munster</strong>.<br />
Elsewhere, Leinster and Ulster face off in<br />
Dublin tonight, Cardiff Blues and Scarlets play<br />
tomorrow afternoon followed by Benetton v<br />
Zebre and Edinburgh v Glasgow Warrior. On<br />
Sunday, Dragons play Ospreys.<br />
The competition's intensity is underlined by the<br />
fact that 10 of the 12 northern sides have won at<br />
least one game, with only Zebre and Ulster yet<br />
to get off the mark.<br />
Gavin Coombes<br />
powers through<br />
the Ulster defence<br />
POS TEAM PL W D L PF PA DIFF TF TA TB LB Points<br />
1 <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> 2 2 0 0 65 13 52 9 1 1 0 9<br />
2 Benetton <strong>Rugby</strong> 2 2 0 0 71 39 32 9 5 1 0 9<br />
3 Dragons 2 1 0 1 68 49 19 8 7 1 1 6<br />
4 Ospreys 2 1 0 1 42 36 6 6 3 1 0 5<br />
5 Leinster <strong>Rugby</strong> 2 1 0 1 53 48 5 8 5 1 0 5<br />
6 Scarlets 2 1 0 1 54 58 -4 6 7 1 0 5<br />
7 Glasgow Warriors 2 1 0 1 48 65 -17 7 9 1 0 5<br />
8 <strong>Connacht</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> 2 1 0 1 47 74 -27 6 12 1 0 5<br />
9 Edinburgh <strong>Rugby</strong> 2 1 0 1 43 47 -4 6 6 0 0 4<br />
10 Cardiff Blues 2 1 0 1 31 52 -21 4 7 0 0 4<br />
11 Zebre <strong>Rugby</strong> Club 2 0 0 2 38 49 -11 4 6 0 2 2<br />
12 Ulster <strong>Rugby</strong> 2 0 0 2 34 64 -30 5 10 1 1 2<br />
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Mike Haley is<br />
presented with the<br />
Guinness Player of<br />
the <strong>Match</strong> award by<br />
Peter O'Mahony after<br />
the Ulster game last<br />
weekend<br />
HEAD TO HEAD<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> wins<br />
32 5 1<br />
<strong>Connacht</strong> wins<br />
Draw<br />
Abraham Papali’i<br />
in action last<br />
weekend<br />
MATCH FACTS<br />
• <strong>Munster</strong>’s only defeat at Thomond Park in<br />
their last five matches was to Toulouse in<br />
the Round of 16 of the European Champions<br />
Cup.<br />
• <strong>Connacht</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>’s only win in their last six<br />
matches was 26-24 at Ulster in the opening<br />
round of the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup.<br />
• <strong>Connacht</strong> have not won successive away<br />
games since February.<br />
• <strong>Munster</strong> have won their last seven matches<br />
against <strong>Connacht</strong> since <strong>Connacht</strong>’s 20-16<br />
victory at the Sportsground in October 2017.<br />
• <strong>Connacht</strong> have won only once at Thomond<br />
Park since 1986: 18-12 in November 2015.<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
7
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MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
9
THE INSIDE<br />
TRACK<br />
JOHANN VAN GRAAN<br />
On the performances over the last few weeks…<br />
“Feather in the cap of all players and management<br />
involved. We didn’t change so much, we entered<br />
the Champions Cup to do very well, the same with<br />
the PRO14, we lost in that final, we lost against a<br />
very good Toulouse team in an excellent game of<br />
rugby. We were just short in the end. Everybody<br />
just knuckled down, and we just stuck to our<br />
processes. I thought we really played well in our<br />
last two games. Now it showed on the scoreboard,<br />
that win against Leinster away and I was very<br />
happy with our performance on Friday night<br />
against a very good Ulster side.”<br />
On the most satisfying part of the win last<br />
weekend from a coaching perspective?<br />
“It is nice to get a complete performance. I thought<br />
our mindset was very good going into the game.<br />
We conceded that penalty to go down 3-0 but<br />
we stuck to the processes, we converted our<br />
opportunities. I thought our breakdown work was<br />
excellent on both sides of the ball. That’s a big part<br />
of our DNA and it is something we will keep going<br />
back to. I thought some of our phase attack and<br />
some of our options were very, very good. The one<br />
thing that we shouldn’t miss if you look at our last<br />
two games is our defence. We conceded 3 points<br />
against Leinster and 10 points against Ulster. So in<br />
our last two games against two sides in the PRO14<br />
who also won 14/16 in the league phase, the same<br />
as ourselves. We conceded 13 points in the last<br />
160 minutes so, a lot to be positive about from<br />
a coaches’ perspective or from a coaching staff<br />
perspective. We made nine changes to the team.<br />
We will make some changes to the team again this<br />
weekend and once we know what’s happening to<br />
the rest of the tournament, we will keep backing our<br />
squad. We said as a group before this competition<br />
is we can only control our performance and would<br />
like to perform in this part of the season, and let’s<br />
keep backing the squad. All credit to the players<br />
they got stuck into every training session and we<br />
have had two really good games and now we have<br />
another interpro coming up.”<br />
On playing <strong>Connacht</strong> this evening…<br />
“We just keep focussing on ourselves and we<br />
would like to perform again on Friday evening.<br />
I know the games against <strong>Connacht</strong> have been<br />
really tough over the last season. We were up by<br />
quite a bit in the Sportsground just after Christmas<br />
and they came back. I think we finished the game<br />
with 13 men on our own goal line. The next game<br />
we saw as a quarter final at Thomond Park - I think<br />
it was at the end of February if I’m not mistaken.<br />
That was really tight with a few minutes to go so<br />
it’s another interpro. There’s a lot of pride at stake.<br />
If we look at the competition, a lot of sides are still<br />
in this competition. If it’s only going to be 5 rounds,<br />
you can’t afford to lose twice. So obviously they<br />
have got a lot to play for and so have we, so we are<br />
really looking forward to Friday night. But it’s still a<br />
time of Covid and for us it’s great to play another<br />
game of rugby. The conditions have been good<br />
over the last two games and hopefully we can get<br />
another good game on Friday night with some<br />
good conditions.”<br />
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CRAIG CASEY<br />
On having the opportunity to learn from Conor<br />
Murray and the reaction to his Lions selection…<br />
“Obviously, he’s buzzing, it’s great for the club, for<br />
himself and Tadhg to be with the Lions. I know it’s<br />
Mur’s third tour which is an incredible achievement<br />
for him in fairness. It’s a credit to the work he puts<br />
in. He has been buzzing for the last week obviously.<br />
I thought he did a very good job on Friday night, he<br />
put the Lions announcement past him and played<br />
well. Learning off him for the past few years has<br />
been great. I keep coming back to this - when I was<br />
coming out of school, I knew I needed to work on<br />
my kicking game and who better to have the best<br />
kicking 9 in the world to work off so, he has given<br />
me a lot of tips. It’s a competitive environment…<br />
I’m always trying to up him and he’s always trying<br />
to up me, same with Nick (McCarthy), Patsy<br />
(Patterson) and Ethan (Coughlan) at the minute<br />
so it’s been great, a competitive environment is<br />
brilliant so like I’ve said it’s been class.”<br />
bounds being able to play quicker from the fitness<br />
and lockdown and stuff. It has been good.”<br />
On how <strong>Munster</strong> are playing at the moment…<br />
“I think it shows the resolve in the squad that we<br />
have bounced back from the two defeats, they<br />
were very disappointing obviously. I think it has<br />
been good to bounce back the last two games<br />
against tough oppositions, Leinster and Ulster. I<br />
just think it clicked the last two weeks to be honest.<br />
I think we have been building nicely over the last<br />
few months. Our attack has been going well so I<br />
think we have showed that in the last two weeks<br />
definitely, scoring over 60 points. So yeah, we are<br />
taking our opportunities.”<br />
On his strengths as a player…<br />
“I like to play with a massive tempo. My passing<br />
game is probably what I call my point of difference,<br />
so I like to whip out passes and play at high tempo<br />
and try and make decisions at a high pace. That’s<br />
probably what I would base my game around.”<br />
On his ambition to get more game time in the<br />
Irish jersey in light of the announcement of<br />
summer fixtures…<br />
“100%, it’s definitely a goal of mine to be involved<br />
in those two games and make the most out of them<br />
but I think my focus lies on this weekend and the<br />
games coming up because I have to play my best<br />
to even get on the squad. So I’m looking forward<br />
to the next few games hopefully putting a run of<br />
a few games together and potentially getting on<br />
that squad.”<br />
On how his game has progressed over the past<br />
year…<br />
“I think it has come on leaps and bounds.<br />
Obviously, we went into lockdown, it was<br />
definitely a chance to work on my fitness and<br />
my robustness. I think the first lockdown helped<br />
me put on a bit of robustness and put games<br />
together and once you’re playing back-to-back, the<br />
consistency comes and you’re more confident out<br />
on the field and things happen. I think it has come<br />
on leaps and bounds. Steve as well has given me<br />
lots of tips, a few ‘work-ons’ that I needed to bring<br />
into my game, so I think it has come on leaps and<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
11
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MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
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NEWSROUND<br />
RAINBOW CUP FIXTURES CONFIRMED<br />
The remaining fixtures for the Northern and Southern Rainbow Cup competitions have been put<br />
in place with kick-off times and broadcast details confirmed.<br />
Following Friday night’s fixture against <strong>Connacht</strong>,<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> will face Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park<br />
on Friday, May 28 at 7.35pm before a clash away<br />
to Zebre on Friday, June 11 (6pm Irish time).<br />
Across the remaining five rounds of action, four<br />
will see action taking place in both hemispheres<br />
as with fixtures taking place every week right<br />
through the weekend of June 12.<br />
Meanwhile the South African sides will play a<br />
total of six games across seven weeks and take<br />
a bye weekend on May 28. Supporters in Ireland<br />
and Britain can watch all the Rainbow Cup SA<br />
action on eir Sport and Premier Sports.<br />
Teams in the northern Guinness PRO14 Rainbow<br />
Cup will play a total of five games across six<br />
rounds prior to the final while teams previously<br />
scheduled to host a South African team will<br />
receive a bye week between Rounds 4 to 6.<br />
IRELAND 7S SQUADS<br />
ANNOUNCED<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>’s Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe, Emily<br />
Lane and Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird are in action<br />
this weekend for the Ireland 7s team at the<br />
International <strong>Rugby</strong> 7s where they will go head<br />
to head with the hosts Great Britain and France.<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>’s Alex Kendellen, Conor Phillips<br />
and Jack Crowley have been selected for the<br />
Ireland Men’s 7s squad playing at the same<br />
event in St. George’s Park. The side continue<br />
their preparations for the World <strong>Rugby</strong> Sevens<br />
Repechage event and were this week drawn in<br />
Pool A alongside Samoa, Tonga, Zimbabwe and<br />
Mexico for the repechage in Monaco. The final<br />
qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games<br />
takes place on 19-20 June.<br />
Emily Lane<br />
Mike Haley and JJ Hanrahan in action<br />
against Cardiff in February<br />
IRELAND U20s CONTINUE SIX<br />
NATIONS PREPARATION<br />
Ireland U20s continue their preparation for the<br />
postponed 2021 Six Nations with a three-day<br />
camp at the IRFU’s High Performance Centre in<br />
Dublin.<br />
A group of 37 players participated in the<br />
camp as preparations for the postponed 2021<br />
Six Nations Championships begin to take<br />
shape. The coaching group of Richie Murphy,<br />
Denis Leamy, Colm Tucker and Tom Tierney<br />
oversaw five pitch sessions and off-field team<br />
organisational work.<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> players in attendance:<br />
Mark Donnelly (Garryowen FC) NTS<br />
Alan Flannery (Shannon RFC) NTS<br />
John Forde (Cork Constitution FC) <strong>Munster</strong> PTS<br />
Jack Kelleher (UCC RFC) <strong>Munster</strong> PTS<br />
Aaron Leahy (CBC) NTS<br />
Daniel Okeke (Shannon RFC) NTS<br />
Jamie Shanahan (Garryowen FC) <strong>Munster</strong> PTS<br />
Cian Whooley (UCC RFC) <strong>Munster</strong> PTS<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK 15
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GREENCORE MUNSTER<br />
RUGBY ACADEMY NEWS<br />
It has been a busy past month for the Greencore <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Academy.<br />
Ian Costello was appointed to the role of<br />
Academy Manager in April and will return to<br />
the province in the summer having worked in<br />
England for the past five years with Nottingham<br />
and then Wasps. See full details HERE.<br />
We can confirm that former <strong>Munster</strong> player<br />
Andi Kyriacou also rejoins the province as Elite<br />
Player Development Officer (Forwards). Andi<br />
has previously coached at Cardiff Blues, Sale<br />
Sharks, Russia <strong>Rugby</strong> and Nottingham.<br />
Ben Healy made a further two appearances for<br />
the senior side over the past month and has<br />
now featured in 16 of <strong>Munster</strong>’s 22 games so<br />
far this season.<br />
There have been 43 senior appearances for<br />
Academy players across the Guinness PRO14,<br />
Champions Cup and Rainbow Cup in the 2020/21<br />
campaign.<br />
Academy trio Jack<br />
Crowley, Alex<br />
Kendellen and Conor<br />
Phillips have been<br />
training with the<br />
Ireland 7s team and<br />
have been named<br />
in their squad for this weekend’s International<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> 7s tournament. See full details HERE.<br />
On the injury front, Eoin O’Connor (knee), John<br />
Hodnett (achilles), James French (hamstring),<br />
Jonathan Wren (hamstring), Cian Hurley<br />
(thumb), Scott Buckley (knee) and Thomas<br />
Ahern (knee) are continuing to rehab.<br />
The future continues to be bright with an<br />
expected highest representation of academy<br />
graduates in over eight years in the squad next<br />
season with 66% of the senior squad having<br />
come through the ranks.<br />
Fifteen players commenced the 2020/21 season<br />
with two additional players, Cian Hurley and<br />
Conor Phillips, joining in January 2021. See the<br />
full Academy squad HERE.<br />
Nine players from the current group will advance<br />
to senior contracts ahead of the 2021/22 season<br />
– Thomas Ahern, Jack Crowley, Jack Daly, Jake<br />
Flannery, James French, Seán French, Ben<br />
Healy, John Hodnett and Josh Wycherley.<br />
Eoghan Clarke has completed his time with the<br />
academy and linked up with Championship side<br />
Jersey Reds at the end of March.<br />
Seven academy players made their Guinness<br />
PRO14 debuts this season – Thomas Ahern, Jack<br />
Crowley, Jack Daly, Seán French, Cian Hurley,<br />
Alex Kendellen and Josh Wycherley. Young<br />
prop Wycherley also made his Champions Cup<br />
debut this season.<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
19
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THE LOWDOWN<br />
THE FORM GUIDE<br />
<strong>Connacht</strong> had a strong start to their interpro<br />
clash with Leinster at the Sportsground last<br />
Saturday night, leading 16-0 early in the first<br />
half after Caolin Blade and Peter Sullivan both<br />
touched down. However, Leinster’s reaction<br />
was fierce, touching down five times in a 20<br />
minute period which put them 33-16 ahead at<br />
the break. Another Sullivan try in the second<br />
half was not enough to stop Leinster with the<br />
visitors winning 21-50.<br />
In Round 1 of the Rainbow Cup, <strong>Connacht</strong><br />
impressed in their two point win over Ulster at<br />
Kingspan Stadium with Caolin Blade scoring a<br />
brace of tries and Peter Sullivan’s 80th minute<br />
effort securing the win.<br />
<strong>Connacht</strong> bowed out of the Challenge Cup<br />
on April 3 last, going down 48-32 to Leicester<br />
Tigers at Welford Road despite tries from Kieran<br />
Marmion, Eoghan Masterson, Alex Wootton<br />
and Paul Boyle and 12 points from the boot of<br />
Jack Carty.<br />
<strong>Connacht</strong> finished second in Conference B<br />
behind <strong>Munster</strong> with 8 wins from 16 but scored<br />
the most tries in the conference with 53.<br />
Jack Carty is the club’s top scorer with 115<br />
points in all competitions this season. Alex<br />
Wootton is the top try scorer with 11 tries.<br />
Bundee Aki will represent the province this<br />
summer in South Africa as he was named on<br />
the British & Irish Lions squad last week.<br />
THE COACHING TICKET<br />
We welcome back Andy Friend and his coaching<br />
team to Thomond Park. Friend has been with<br />
the province since 2018 and the Australian<br />
had previous stints with the Waratahs and the<br />
Brumbies. He joined Harlequins in 2005 as<br />
Head Coach where he spent three seasons, and<br />
subsequently returned to the Brumbies as Head<br />
Coach where he remained until 2011. Friend<br />
also worked as a head coach in Japan for four<br />
seasons. On the international stage he worked<br />
as part of Eddie Jones’ Wallabies coaching<br />
team and guided the Australian U21 team to the<br />
final of the World Championships in 2005. Prior<br />
to making the move to Galway, Friend was Head<br />
Coach of the Australian Sevens team. <strong>Connacht</strong><br />
recently announced that former Stade Francais<br />
and Grenoble coach Dewal Senekal will join the<br />
province as forwards coach next season.<br />
ONE TO WATCH<br />
Position: Scrum half<br />
Age: 27<br />
Born: Galway<br />
Appearances: 14<br />
Tries: 5<br />
Clean breaks: 11<br />
Metres: 270<br />
Carries: 62<br />
Tackles: 35<br />
*2020/21 PRO14 & RC<br />
CAOLIN BLADE<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
21
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Prop<br />
29.01.88<br />
H: 1.88m<br />
W: 120.91kg<br />
Hons: Ire (2 caps)<br />
Hooker<br />
06.08.99<br />
H:1.83m<br />
W: 98kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
DIARMUID BARRON<br />
TADHG BEIRNE<br />
Lock / Back Row<br />
08.01.92<br />
H: 1.98 m<br />
W: 113.18 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (22 caps)<br />
Flanker<br />
15.02.91<br />
H: 1.76 m<br />
W: 98 kg<br />
Hons: ~<br />
CHRIS CLOETE<br />
Back Row<br />
11.12.1997<br />
H: 1.98m<br />
W: 110kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
GAVIN COOMBES<br />
JAMES CRONIN<br />
Prop<br />
23.11.90<br />
H: 1.80 m<br />
W: 113 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (3 caps)<br />
Lock / Back Row<br />
03.08.85<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 111 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (1 cap)<br />
BILLY HOLLAND<br />
DAVE KILCOYNE<br />
Prop<br />
14.12.88<br />
H: 1.83 m<br />
W: 112 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (43 caps)<br />
JEAN KLEYN<br />
Lock<br />
26.08.93<br />
H: 2.03 m<br />
W: 125 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (5 caps)<br />
Prop<br />
06.04.99<br />
H: 1.85m<br />
W: 115kg<br />
Hons: ~<br />
KEYNAN KNOX<br />
Prop<br />
22.07.95<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 120 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
JEREMY LOUGHMAN<br />
Hooker<br />
12.10.92<br />
H: 1.84 m<br />
W: 108 kg<br />
Hons: NZ U20<br />
RHYS MARSHALL<br />
Hooker<br />
16.04.91<br />
H: 1.80 m<br />
W: 107 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U19<br />
KEVIN O’BYRNE<br />
Prop<br />
13.07.95<br />
H: 1.78 m<br />
W: 110 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
LIAM O’CONNOR<br />
TOMMY O’DONNELL<br />
Back Row<br />
21.05.87<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 107 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (12 caps)<br />
JACK O’DONOGHUE<br />
Back Row<br />
08.02.94<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 107 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (2 caps)<br />
PETER O’MAHONY<br />
Back Row<br />
17.09.89<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 106 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (75 caps)<br />
Back Row<br />
01.10.98<br />
H: 1.88m<br />
W: 100kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
JACK O’SULLIVAN<br />
JOHN RYAN<br />
Prop<br />
02.08.88<br />
H: 1.83 m<br />
W: 117 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (23 caps)<br />
Prop<br />
28.10.97<br />
H:1.83m<br />
W: 123.18kg<br />
Hons: USA U20<br />
ROMAN SALANOA<br />
NIALL SCANNELL<br />
Hooker<br />
08.04.92<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 109 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (20 caps)<br />
RG SNYMAN<br />
Lock<br />
29.01.95<br />
H: 2.06 m<br />
W: 116 kg<br />
Hons: SA (23 caps)<br />
CJ STANDER<br />
Back Row<br />
05.04.90<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 114 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (51 caps)<br />
Lock<br />
11.12.97<br />
H:1.93 m<br />
W: 111.82 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
FINEEN WYCHERLEY<br />
FORWARDS<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Squad - 2020/21 Season<br />
22 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
JOEY CARBERY<br />
Fly Half<br />
01.11.95<br />
H: 1.83 m<br />
W: 85kg<br />
Hons: Ire (22 caps)<br />
Scrum Half<br />
19.04.99<br />
H: 1.65 m<br />
W: 75kg<br />
Hons: Ire (1 cap)<br />
CRAIG CASEY<br />
ANDREW CONWAY<br />
Full Back / Wing<br />
11.07.91<br />
H: 1.80 m<br />
W: 89 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (24 caps)<br />
LIAM COOMBES<br />
Full Back / Wing<br />
01.05.97<br />
H: 1.91m<br />
W: 89 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
Scrum Half<br />
08.12.92<br />
H: 1.73 m<br />
W: 83 kg<br />
Hons: Ire Clubs<br />
NEIL CRONIN<br />
Wing / Centre<br />
19.12.96<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 91 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (1 cap)<br />
SHANE DALY<br />
DAMIAN DE ALLENDE<br />
Centre<br />
25/11/1991<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 105 kg<br />
Hons: SA (47 caps)<br />
KEITH EARLS<br />
Universal Back<br />
02.10.87<br />
H: 1.78 m<br />
W: 90 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (93 caps)<br />
CHRIS FARRELL<br />
Centre<br />
16.03.93<br />
H: 1.93 m<br />
W: 110 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (14 caps)<br />
Full Back<br />
26.10.96<br />
H:1.85m<br />
W: 95 kg<br />
Hons: Eng U20<br />
MATT GALLAGHER<br />
Centre<br />
10.12.94<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 100 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
DAN GOGGIN<br />
Full Back<br />
28.06.94<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 93 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (1 cap)<br />
MIKE HALEY<br />
RORY SCANNELL<br />
CALVIN NASH<br />
CONOR MURRAY<br />
ALEX MCHENRY<br />
NICK MCCARTHY<br />
JJ HANRAHAN<br />
Fly Half / Centre<br />
27.07.92<br />
H: 1.83 m<br />
W: 93 kg<br />
Hons: Emerging Ireland<br />
Scrum Half<br />
25.03.95<br />
H: 1.8m<br />
W: 84 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
Centre<br />
07.10.97<br />
H: 1.88m<br />
W: 95kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
Scrum Half<br />
20.04.89<br />
H: 1.88 m<br />
W: 94 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (89 caps)<br />
Wing<br />
08.08.97<br />
H: 1.78 m<br />
W: 90 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
Centre<br />
22.12.93<br />
H: 1.80 m<br />
W: 98 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (3 caps)<br />
Wing<br />
05.05.93<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 95 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (3 caps)<br />
DARREN SWEETNAM<br />
BACKS<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
23
MUNSTER RUGBY<br />
STARTING XV<br />
James Cronin Rhys Marshall John Ryan Jean Kleyn Billy Holland<br />
Gavin Coombes<br />
Peter<br />
O'Mahony (C)<br />
CJ Stander<br />
Craig Casey<br />
Ben Healy<br />
Shane Daly<br />
Damian de<br />
Allende<br />
Dan Goggin<br />
Andrew Conway<br />
Matt Gallagher<br />
#MUNvCON<br />
JOIN THE CONVERSATION<br />
Replacements<br />
16. Niall Scannell 17. Dave Kilcoyne 18. Stephen Archer 19. Tadhg Beirne<br />
20. Jack O'Donoghue 21. Conor Murray 22. Joey Carbery 23. Keith Earls<br />
24 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
CONNACHT RUGBY<br />
STARTING XV<br />
Paddy McAllister<br />
Shane Delahunt<br />
Dominic<br />
Robertson-McCoy<br />
Niall Murray<br />
Ultan Dillane<br />
Cian Prendergast<br />
Conor Oliver<br />
Abraham Papali’i<br />
Kieran Marmion<br />
Conor Fitzgerald<br />
Alex Wootton<br />
Tom Daly (C)<br />
Sean O’Brien<br />
Sammy Arnold<br />
John Porch<br />
MATCH OFFICIALS<br />
Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)<br />
AR1: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)<br />
AR2: Peter Martin (IRFU)<br />
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)<br />
Replacements<br />
16. Dave Heffernan 17. Denis Buckley 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Eoghan Masterson<br />
20. Sean Masterson 21. Caolin Blade 22. Jack Carty 23. Peter Sullivan<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
25
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GIVING GIRLS A CHANCE TO TRY<br />
Former <strong>Munster</strong> player and Ireland international Amanda Greensmith in her current role as the<br />
IRFU’s Women’s Development Manager has reflected on the strides the women’s game has made<br />
in recent years in an interview with Irish <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
Greensmith, who represented Ireland over 20<br />
times and also played for her province for 13<br />
seasons, initially took up a role as Women’s<br />
Community <strong>Rugby</strong> Officer with <strong>Munster</strong> in 2010.<br />
During that time, the Ballyhea native experienced<br />
first-hand the growth of girls and women’s rugby<br />
in the province before applying her acquired<br />
knowledge at the national level in her current<br />
role with the IRFU.<br />
“Those years with <strong>Munster</strong> really generated<br />
huge excitement around the women’s game<br />
for me,” Greensmith said. “When you see first<br />
hand the work being done in clubs and schools,<br />
and the impact that has on young girls, is<br />
remarkable. You remember every conversation<br />
with a teacher, coach or parent when they tell<br />
you one of the girls has come out of their shell<br />
or has never been so engaged with PE or a sport<br />
before, and that’s what it’s all about.<br />
“Being part of the pathways that help players get<br />
into Provincial and National jerseys is of course<br />
fantastic, but there’s also that joy of helping<br />
a person find their fit. Be it at schools, club or<br />
international level. Providing those opportunities<br />
for girls to fulfil whatever their ambition is. That’s<br />
our job.”<br />
The holistic approach to coaching which is<br />
adopted throughout the province at underage<br />
level has yielded dividends in recent years with<br />
many clubs experiencing a growth in numbers in<br />
their respective girls and women’s programmes.<br />
Ennis RFC’s women’s team will be hoping to play<br />
their inaugural competitive match later this year<br />
after their debut season was cut short due to the<br />
pandemic.<br />
Equally as important, the emergence of new role<br />
models at the highest level of the game continue<br />
to act as a source of inspiration for the younger<br />
generation. With the recently concluded 2021<br />
Women’s Six Nations, Cork native Emily Lane<br />
and Tipperary native Amee Leigh Murphy-<br />
Crowe both made their international 15s debuts<br />
while the likes of Dorothy Wall, Eimear Considine<br />
and Ireland captain Ciara Griffin, to name but a<br />
few, continue to perform on the biggest stage.<br />
“You’re always proud of the players who go on<br />
to achieve their ambitions, whether that’s with<br />
their club, their province or with Ireland, but to<br />
give young girls the opportunity to get active<br />
and try rugby is massive.<br />
“The key thing for me is simply<br />
giving someone the chance to<br />
find their sport, or find their fit.<br />
To say, this is where I feel most<br />
comfortable and I’m most<br />
happy. It’s that opportunity to<br />
be around friends, team-mates<br />
and to Give It A Try, because<br />
you just don’t know where it<br />
will take you, and I certainly<br />
didn’t know where rugby<br />
would take me either.”<br />
New programmes have been set up – Dolphin<br />
RFC in Cork City have recently set up a brand<br />
new girls and women’s rugby programme while<br />
If your club is interested in participating in girls’ rugby please contact <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Women’s Development Officer Ken Imbusch at kenimbusch@munsterrugby.ie<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
27
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Celebrating 40 years in Ireland, Marks & Spencer is delighted to have<br />
Peter O’Mahony as its first Irish sports ambassador.<br />
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MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
29
RUGBY DEVELOPMENT NEWS<br />
TAG RUGBY RETURNS FOR SUMMER OF FUN<br />
The IRFU <strong>Rugby</strong> Development Department<br />
have come together with the four provinces to<br />
announce a new strategy for the roll out of tag<br />
rugby in the domestic game.<br />
Now in its 15th year, the IRFU Tag <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
programme will be operated at provincial level<br />
in <strong>Connacht</strong>, Leinster, <strong>Munster</strong> and Ulster for<br />
the first time. The move is designed to give noncontact<br />
rugby a greater footprint at grassroots<br />
level in 2021 and beyond while strengthening<br />
the relationship between provinces and clubs in<br />
the running of participation programmes. The<br />
IRFU will continue to drive the programme with<br />
training, education and strategic support.<br />
Tag <strong>Rugby</strong> matches are set to be permitted<br />
again in the Republic of Ireland on June 7, under<br />
the easing of current government restrictions.<br />
Further announcements will be made at<br />
provincial level in the coming weeks with<br />
exciting opportunities for clubs to get involved<br />
and for players to get back on tag rugby pitches.<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> clubs around the province got back<br />
in action this week with the announcement<br />
that outdoor training for adults in pods of a<br />
maximum of 15 people could return, including<br />
contact training. Outdoor contact training for<br />
those under the age of 18 in pods of a maximum<br />
of 15 people has also returned.<br />
CONTACT TRAINING RETURNS<br />
As of last Monday, training can be contact,<br />
non-contact or a blend of both. This is strictly<br />
on an opt-in basis and should be based on the<br />
feedback of each individual playing group.<br />
Please note, all clubs and schools who wish to<br />
play structured contact rugby must undergo a<br />
minimum of four weeks of contact readiness<br />
training.<br />
Commercial activities operated by clubs<br />
including bar and cafe facilities are subject to<br />
relevant sector guidelines.<br />
The Kerry Development Squad<br />
in training<br />
30 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
AGE-GRADE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME RESUMES<br />
With the easing of Covid restrictions and the<br />
resumption of underage non-contact sport,<br />
the <strong>Rugby</strong> Development Department recommenced<br />
the age-grade player development<br />
programme, inviting identified players from<br />
clubs and schools into county training centres.<br />
In total, 12 centres are running across the six<br />
counties in <strong>Munster</strong>. Speaking about the return,<br />
Coach and Player Development Manager Keith<br />
Murphy said:<br />
“We are delighted to resume our age-grade<br />
player development programme. We have<br />
invited back the 2003-2005 born players who<br />
were with us last summer. Having spent the last<br />
four months doing weekly Zoom meetings and<br />
Individual Conditioning & Skills <strong>Programme</strong>s at<br />
home, it is great for the players and coaches to<br />
get back on the pitch.”<br />
The player development programme is<br />
designed to support players by focussing on<br />
their technical, tactical and physical capacities<br />
and adding to their holistic rugby experience.<br />
The <strong>Munster</strong> age-grade player development<br />
pathway commences with U16 players coming<br />
from clubs and schools throughout the province<br />
and delivers programmes at U17 clubs and<br />
schools, U18 clubs and schools, culminating<br />
with an U19 combined squad.<br />
The current programme, which will run across<br />
a six-week period, is based out of 12 venues<br />
throughout the province. The extra venues,<br />
as Murphy explains, is to ensure that a safe<br />
environment is provided to all under the current<br />
government guidelines.<br />
The <strong>Rugby</strong> Development Department are<br />
currently supporting clubs and schools with<br />
their #ReadyFor<strong>Rugby</strong> programmes. If you are<br />
looking for support, please feel free to contact<br />
your designated <strong>Rugby</strong> Development Officer<br />
or coach and Player Development Officer.<br />
Resources to assist coaches can be accessed<br />
through our coaching site HERE<br />
Sunday’s Well RFC recently announced that<br />
former <strong>Munster</strong> and Ireland international<br />
Denis Hurley has been appointed as the<br />
club’s new senior head coach.<br />
HURLEY TO LEAD THE WELL<br />
Denis made his final <strong>Munster</strong> appearance<br />
away to Stade Francais in January 2016<br />
and amassed 166 caps where he helped the<br />
province to a Heineken Cup title in 2008,<br />
PRO12 titles in 2009 and 2011, and a famous<br />
win over Australia at Thomond Park in 2010.<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
31
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32 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
VIRTUAL MUNSTER MASCOTS<br />
CALUM BURKE<br />
Age: 6<br />
School: Firmount NS, Donoughmore, Co. Cork<br />
Hobbies: Reading, colouring, outdoor play<br />
Favourite player: Peter O’Mahony<br />
NATHAN FLYNN<br />
Age: 8<br />
School: Scoil Iosaf, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork<br />
Hobbies: <strong>Rugby</strong>, cycling, hurling, football<br />
and reading<br />
Favourite players: Peter O’Mahony &<br />
CJ Stander<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
33
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Gilbert x <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Programme</strong> Advert_165x12mm_5mm Bleed.pdf 1 06/10/2020 10:07<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
35
THE PRIDE OF MUNSTER<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>’s Tadhg Beirne is set to go on his first Lions tour this summer alongside his <strong>Munster</strong> and<br />
Ireland teammate Conor Murray, who will tour for the third time with the Lions.<br />
Beirne has enjoyed a superb season for his province and country, picking up three Player of the<br />
<strong>Match</strong> awards in ten appearances for <strong>Munster</strong> and capping off an impressive Six Nations campaign<br />
by being nominated for Player of the Tournament. He won two Player of the <strong>Match</strong> awards and<br />
started all five of Ireland’s games, scoring two tries in the process.<br />
Conor Murray has been in exceptional form this season, showing his class again in recent weeks<br />
with three tries in his last two appearances for <strong>Munster</strong>.<br />
The 32-year-old Limerick man is just one match away from his 150th appearance for <strong>Munster</strong> and<br />
one match away from his 90th cap for Ireland. He has played 12 times for the Lions, scoring three<br />
tries. He was the starting scrumhalf for all three test matches in the last tour.<br />
We caught up with Tadhg and Conor shortly after they were announced in Warren Gatland’s squad…<br />
TADHG BEIRNE<br />
“I found out when everybody else found out, I<br />
watched it with Harriet. I remember from last time<br />
watching it they did it alphabetically but when they<br />
said they are doing backs first, I was like, oh I’m<br />
going to have to wait now, and then when they did<br />
the forwards, I was first out, so it was nice to get<br />
announced early in the forwards group, that’s for<br />
sure. I called my Mum, she was on Facetime, well<br />
she was with my sister and they were on Facetime<br />
to both of my sisters over in Australia watching it.<br />
So I rang them, there was a lot of excitement there<br />
and then I rang my Dad straight after.<br />
“It is something you just kind of watch as you are<br />
growing up as a kid and it’s the biggest honour you<br />
could get as a rugby player after playing for your<br />
country. So I’m massively proud and as I’ve said<br />
I’m still a bit in shock you know. I don’t think that<br />
this time last year I would have been anywhere<br />
close to it if they were selecting it, so timing is<br />
everything and I’m delighted to be involved that’s<br />
for sure.<br />
“It wasn’t really on my mind too much at the start<br />
because I was coming back from injury and my<br />
main thing at the start of the season was to just<br />
try get back into the Irish set-up. Then through<br />
the Autumn, I probably wasn’t being selected as<br />
first choice so going into the Six Nations it was<br />
more to just be in the squad and try to get in a<br />
few appearances. But obviously it went different<br />
to that and I managed to start all the games. That’s<br />
what probably put me in this position obviously<br />
alongside playing well for <strong>Munster</strong>. I wouldn’t<br />
have gotten back into that Irish squad if it wasn’t<br />
for that, so I’ve be pretty lucky in terms of being<br />
able to put in decent performances in big games<br />
and that’s probably why I’ve have the privilege of<br />
being selected for the Lions.<br />
“I don’t think I had ever planned on achieving this<br />
much to be honest. It was just at a certain point it<br />
was just to become a professional rugby player -<br />
make it my occupation and I was lucky to be able<br />
to do that. But to achieve what I have achieved in<br />
the past few years - you know I’ll probably look<br />
back some day and I’ll have to pinch myself to<br />
believe it happened. So at the moment I’m just<br />
going to enjoy it and I can’t wait. For now, my<br />
focus will obviously be on <strong>Munster</strong> and hopefully<br />
we can finish with a bit of silverware towards the<br />
end of the year.”<br />
36 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
CONOR MURRAY<br />
“I’m very shocked. You obviously think you are<br />
in with a shout. I suppose the time leading up to<br />
it, doubt probably starts to creep in a little bit no<br />
matter how much you think you have a chance,<br />
there’s always that chance that it might go to plan<br />
so. My partner Joanna was in the house and the<br />
dog and everything. So I think my name came out<br />
quite early in the backs announcement.<br />
“I’m over the moon. It’s an incredible feeling. A<br />
bit of relief too because your family are on to you<br />
wondering if you’ve heard anything, and you're<br />
kind of sick of telling them that you don’t know,<br />
you literally don’t know, you find out along with<br />
everyone else. But yeah, it’s an unbelievable<br />
feeling, really, really special time and really<br />
grateful for the opportunity to go and represent<br />
that special club again.<br />
“It’s pretty special to be going to South Africa. We<br />
were there in 2016 with Ireland. Incredibly special<br />
country, rugby mad, world champions. You<br />
know the storyline, it’s going to build up nicely.<br />
Obviously Rassie and Jacques are involved still,<br />
and it will be nice to get reacquainted with them.<br />
I suppose from a personal point of view, having<br />
been on two tours, after the one in New<br />
Zealand in 2017, you’re trying to map it<br />
out, what age you will be and do you<br />
have a chance. There was always that<br />
outside chance. The body feels great, I feel fit,<br />
I feel in form, playing in a great team here with<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>. I think we are a really happy squad. We<br />
are a really content squad and I think that makes<br />
an awful difference to how you play on the pitch.<br />
You can see it in our performances this season.<br />
So I’m very grateful for that, to be involved in a<br />
club like this and that probably puts you in the<br />
shop window and puts you in with a chance. It’s<br />
incredible to cap it off. And I’m not going to lie, I<br />
really did want to be involved in the third one, it<br />
was a big carrot, and thankfully it went my way.<br />
“With the buzz of the game the day after the<br />
announcement, it was quite hard to refocus the<br />
mind and get ready for a game. I think that was<br />
the most challenging part. You have people<br />
texting you to stay fit, and ‘make sure you don’t<br />
get injured.’ That’s the worst thing to have in your<br />
head. You just have got to go out and play fully and<br />
commit to everything your involved in. We are still<br />
trying to win a cup. We aren’t far off at all. I suppose<br />
as an older <strong>Munster</strong> player, we have been saying<br />
that for years, ‘We aren’t far off, we aren’t far off’,<br />
but this squad is genuinely really, really close to<br />
achieving something. Especially with the youth<br />
injection, the coaching, the experienced players<br />
we do have. So there is<br />
a nice blend there to do<br />
something special. That’s<br />
the aim at the moment.<br />
We will park everything<br />
else that’s coming down<br />
the line in<br />
the summer<br />
and really<br />
go for this.”<br />
Conor Murray has been<br />
selected for the Lions<br />
for the third time<br />
Tadhg Beirne in action<br />
against Harlequins in<br />
December<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
37
STAND UP<br />
AND FIGHT<br />
38 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MUNSTER RUGBY<br />
SUMMER CAMPS 2021<br />
Registration is now open for the Bank of Ireland <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Summer Camps, taking place in 22 venues throughout the province.<br />
Summer Camps will be offered on a modified<br />
basis and there will be changes to the rugby<br />
activities offered as necessary in accordance with<br />
Government and HSE guidelines at the time of the<br />
camp.<br />
Our key focus however remains to provide a safe<br />
and fun environment for children and coaches<br />
alike.<br />
VENUES & DATES<br />
Week 1: Mon 5-Fri 9 Jul:<br />
Bandon RFC, Ennis RFC, Garryowen<br />
FC<br />
Week 2: Mon 12-Fri 16 Jul:<br />
Highfield RFC, Tralee RFC<br />
Week 3: Mon 19-Fri 23 Jul:<br />
Castleisland RFC, Dungarvan RFC,<br />
Midleton RFC<br />
Week 4: Mon 26-Fri 30 Jul:<br />
Clanwilliam FC, Cobh Pirates RFC,<br />
Killarney RFC<br />
Week 5: Mon 2-Fri 6 Aug:<br />
Bruff RFC, Kanturk RFC, Kinsale RFC<br />
Week 6: Mon 9-Fri 13 Aug:<br />
Ballincollig RFC, Fermoy RFC, W.I.T.<br />
Carriganore<br />
Week 7: Mon 16-Fri 20 Aug:<br />
Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, Cork;<br />
Nenagh Ormond RFC<br />
Week 8: Mon 23 Aug- Fri 27 Aug:<br />
Muskerry RFC, Old Crescent RFC,<br />
Skibbereen RFC<br />
A daily Covid-19 Health Declaration form must be<br />
completed for all attendees.<br />
The camps will be managed and run by fully<br />
accredited IRFU Mini <strong>Rugby</strong> coaches. All Summer<br />
Camp staff have undertaken the National Garda<br />
Vetting process required to comply with the IRFU<br />
policy regarding recruitment and vetting to work<br />
in age-grade rugby.<br />
After booking your child’s place you will be<br />
emailed an Information Pack outlining all relevant<br />
details and procedures for attending your camp,<br />
including Covid-19 protocols.<br />
• Camp places are available for boys and girls<br />
from 6 years old to 12 years old.<br />
• Each camp takes place over one week (Monday<br />
through to Friday inclusive) between 9:30am<br />
and 1pm.<br />
• The cost is €80 per child.<br />
All bookings must be completed online. There<br />
will be no walk-in bookings this year. To book your<br />
preferred venue, you will be asked to register with<br />
Easy Payments Plus to ensure secure payment.<br />
Please click here for more details or click the<br />
button below.<br />
For any more information please<br />
contact camps@munsterrugby.ie<br />
Click here for Terms & Conditions<br />
• Each participant will receive an official<br />
Summer Camp Pack comprising an adidas<br />
Summer Camp T-Shirt, draw-string bag and<br />
mouth guard.<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT ULSTER | 07.05.21 | 14.05.21 | THOMOND | PARK PARK<br />
39
40 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
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MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
41
42 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE<br />
1
SCANNELL<br />
RORY<br />
Age: 27<br />
Born: Cork<br />
Position: Centre<br />
Season appearances: 17<br />
Tries: 2<br />
Passes: 75<br />
Metres: 239<br />
Tackles: 75<br />
Try assists: 3<br />
Bagging two tries in <strong>Munster</strong>’s 38-10 win over Ulster last weekend, and setting up Andrew<br />
Conway’s try, it was a good night for Corkman Rory Scannell. He has made 17 appearances in<br />
red this season and is just six matches away from reaching the 150 appearances milestone. Rory<br />
has worked his way up through the ranks, in a career that started in the <strong>Munster</strong> sub-Academy<br />
before being promoted to the Academy ahead of the 2013/14 season. He made his <strong>Munster</strong> senior<br />
debut in August 2013 against London Irish. The former Young Player and Academy Player of the<br />
Year won his first Irish senior cap against USA on the 2017 Summer tour. He became the youngest<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> player to reach 100 <strong>Munster</strong> appearances at the age of just 25 when starting the March<br />
2019 clash away to Scarlets.<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
43
RECOVER LIKE A PRO<br />
Supporting the Red Army<br />
On & Off the Field<br />
Available in Leading Pharmacies Nationwide<br />
PROUDLY SUPPORTING MUNSTER RUGBY<br />
Medicare First Aid and Physiologix Sports Supports are<br />
the official medical supplies and sport support partner to<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
@Medicarefirstaid<br />
@PhysiologixSports<br />
@Physiologix_<br />
44 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
FIXTURES & RESULTS 2020/21<br />
Date Fixture Venue<br />
Sat 3 Oct Scarlets 27-30 <strong>Munster</strong> Parc y Scarlets<br />
Sat 10 Oct <strong>Munster</strong> 25-23 Edinburgh <strong>Rugby</strong> Thomond Park<br />
Mon 26 Oct <strong>Munster</strong> 38 - 27 Cardiff Blues Thomond Park<br />
Sun 1 Nov Dragons 16 - 28 <strong>Munster</strong> Rodney Parade<br />
Sun 15 Nov <strong>Munster</strong> 38-22 Ospreys Thomond Park<br />
Mon 23 Nov Glasgow Warriors 13-27 <strong>Munster</strong> Scotstoun Stadium<br />
Mon 30 Nov <strong>Munster</strong> 52-3 Zebre <strong>Rugby</strong> Club Thomond Park<br />
Sun 13 Dec <strong>Munster</strong> 21-7 Harlequins Thomond Park<br />
Sat 19 Dec Clermont Auvergne 31-39 <strong>Munster</strong> Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin<br />
Sat 02 Jan Ulster 15-10 <strong>Munster</strong> Kingspan Stadium<br />
Sat 09 Jan <strong>Connacht</strong> 10-16 <strong>Munster</strong> The Sportsground<br />
Sat 23 Jan <strong>Munster</strong> 10-13 Leinster Thomond Park<br />
Sat 30 Jan Benetton <strong>Rugby</strong> 16-18 <strong>Munster</strong> Stadio Comunale Monigo<br />
Sat 20 Feb Edinburgh 10-22 <strong>Munster</strong> Murrayfield Stadium<br />
Fri 26 Feb Cardiff Blues 11-20 <strong>Munster</strong> Cardiff Arms Park<br />
Fri 5 Mar <strong>Munster</strong> 20-17 <strong>Connacht</strong> Thomond Park<br />
Fri 12 Mar <strong>Munster</strong> 28-10 Scarlets Thomond Park<br />
Fri 19 Mar <strong>Munster</strong> 31-17 Benetton <strong>Rugby</strong> Thomond Park<br />
Sat 27 Mar Leinster 16-6 <strong>Munster</strong> The RDS<br />
Sat 3 Apr <strong>Munster</strong> 33-40 Stade Toulousain Thomond Park<br />
Sat 24 Apr Leinster 3-27 <strong>Munster</strong> The RDS<br />
Fri 7 May <strong>Munster</strong> 38-10 Ulster Thomond Park<br />
Fri 14 Mar | 6pm <strong>Munster</strong> v <strong>Connacht</strong> Thomond Park<br />
Fri 28 May | 7.35pm <strong>Munster</strong> v Cardiff Blues Thomond Park<br />
Fri 11 Jun | 6pm (Irish Time) Zebre v <strong>Munster</strong> Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi<br />
JJ Hanrahan is congratulated<br />
by his team mates after<br />
scoring a try against Ulster<br />
last weekend<br />
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
45
46 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
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MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
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MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 14.05.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
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