Munster Rugby v Wasps Match Programme
Heineken Champions Cup Round 4 | In this week's programme we mark Dave Kilcoyne's rise as he becomes the 12th player to join Munster's '200 club'. No doubt Sunday will be a special occasion for the Limerick prop as he runs out at a packed Thomond Park in front of home support. We take a look at today's opposition and break down the next steps of the competition with Munster qualified for the Round of 16 in April. There are interviews with Senior Coach Stephen Larkham and the province's most capped prop Stephen Archer, while on the contract front we highlight the great work that has been done to-date with 18 player contracts already extended ahead of next season.
Heineken Champions Cup Round 4 | In this week's programme we mark Dave Kilcoyne's rise as he becomes the 12th player to join Munster's '200 club'. No doubt Sunday will be a special occasion for the Limerick prop as he runs out at a packed Thomond Park in front of home support.
We take a look at today's opposition and break down the next steps of the competition with Munster qualified for the Round of 16 in April.
There are interviews with Senior Coach Stephen Larkham and the province's most capped prop Stephen Archer, while on the contract front we highlight the great work that has been done to-date with 18 player contracts already extended ahead of next season.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
FRONT PAGE<br />
v WASPS<br />
THOMOND PARK<br />
23 Jan 2022 | 3.15PM<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
1
POWERED BY NATURE<br />
CRAFTED FOR YOU<br />
TISSOTWATCHES.COM<br />
TISSOT, INNOVATORS BY TRADITION<br />
2 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
PRESIDENT'S WELCOME<br />
other’ are not just words - they have a deep meaning<br />
for all the <strong>Munster</strong> family.<br />
I’m sure you will join me in wishing Johann, his<br />
coaching team and the entire squad our best wishes<br />
and success in tonight’s game and into the rest of<br />
the season ahead.<br />
It is my pleasure on behalf of <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> to<br />
extend a warm welcome to all attending Thomond<br />
Park for today’s final pool game in the Heineken<br />
Champions Cup.<br />
We also extend a welcome <strong>Wasps</strong> head coach Lee<br />
Blackett, his squad of players and all the travelling<br />
supporters.<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> come into this round with three wins from<br />
three, and sitting in 3rd place in Pool B, while <strong>Wasps</strong><br />
have one win and a draw and sit in 8th place. For the<br />
neutrals watching this, it’s a perfect game, as both<br />
sides have a lot to play for with vital placings in the<br />
table at stake. For <strong>Munster</strong> who are already qualified<br />
for the Round of 16, it’s a matter of getting as close<br />
to the top spot as possible for home advantage later<br />
in the competition. We have all the makings of an<br />
extremely exciting and competitive game in store.<br />
The domestic game has restarted after the<br />
Christmas break and is in full swing. Thankfully,<br />
Covid cancellations are at a minimum with the<br />
Competitions Committee, Clubs and Schools<br />
working tirelessly to make sure that the best option<br />
is always there for games to go ahead. The work<br />
behind the scenes is never-ending, and there is great<br />
credit to all involved in getting as many players onto<br />
the field as possible in these extremely uncertain<br />
times. We must think positive, as the signs are that<br />
this wave is on a downward slope and that we are<br />
on the way back to some sort of normality once<br />
again - something we all look forward to.<br />
Enjoy the game wherever you are watching it from.<br />
Once again, thank you to Bank of Ireland our main<br />
sponsor, Adidas our kit supplier and all our sponsors.<br />
Your continued support is much appreciated.<br />
To the brave and faithful nothing is impossible.<br />
Sean McCullough<br />
President, <strong>Munster</strong> Branch IRFU<br />
On a positive note, today’s game was set for a 5,000<br />
and after the announcement by the government<br />
on Friday evening, we are back to full capacity.<br />
Great news for everyone and I’m sure that <strong>Munster</strong><br />
faithful that will be in attendance will be heard loud<br />
and clear before, during and after the game. To all<br />
our supporters, we thank you for your continued<br />
support at home and away. For players to hear the<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> roar at games definitely gives them a boost<br />
when needed. Our motto, ‘we rise by lifting each<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 WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
3
4 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
EPCR WELCOME<br />
A warm welcome to this Heineken<br />
Champions Cup pool stage match as we<br />
anticipate once again elite clubs and top<br />
players producing the brilliance and drama<br />
which have for long been the trademarks of<br />
our truly world-class tournament.<br />
The two fixtures this month will determine<br />
the eight clubs in each pool which will<br />
qualify for the knockout stage and continue<br />
on the road to the Marseille finals weekend,<br />
so the stakes are high.<br />
We can then look forward to an innovative<br />
Round of 16 with home and away legs,<br />
followed by traditional quarter-finals and<br />
semi-finals which will guarantee a further<br />
series of compelling matches culminating<br />
in the 2022 showpiece final at the Stade<br />
Vélodrome on Saturday, 28 May.<br />
In addition, the three clubs ranked ninth to<br />
11th in each pool will have the opportunity<br />
to compete for silverware by qualifying for<br />
the knockout stage of the EPCR Challenge<br />
Cup.<br />
range of linear and OTT platforms which<br />
broadcast the Heineken Champions Cup<br />
globally.<br />
We recognise that these are particularly<br />
challenging times for players, club staff<br />
and supporters, however, rest assured that<br />
we are continuing to work with the leagues<br />
and unions so that as many fixtures as<br />
possible can be played safely.<br />
We remain optimistic that this season’s<br />
tournament will be completed successfully,<br />
and on behalf of all at EPCR, enjoy the<br />
match and best wishes to you, the fans,<br />
as well as to your club’s players and staff<br />
for what promises to be a compelling<br />
conclusion to the pool stage.<br />
Yours in rugby,<br />
Dominic McKay,<br />
EPCR Chairman (interim)<br />
We are delighted to be joined on this<br />
season’s journey to Marseille by our longstanding<br />
title partner, Heineken, as well<br />
as by our newest official partner, DHL,<br />
who are providing customised logistics<br />
solutions for both the Heineken Champions<br />
Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup, and<br />
we would also like to thank Tissot, the<br />
Financial Times, Gilbert and Kappa for their<br />
continuing support.<br />
We acknowledge the superb coverage<br />
provided by our TV partners BT Sport,<br />
beIN SPORTS, France Télévisions, Channel<br />
4, Virgin Media, S4C and Sky Italia whose<br />
output is complemented by the wide<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
5
6 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
NEWSROUND<br />
JP FERREIRA MOVE CONFIRMED<br />
JP Ferrer<br />
It was announced earlier this week that<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Defence Coach JP<br />
Ferreira will depart the province at the<br />
end of the current season. Ferreira, who<br />
joined the province in December 2017,<br />
will join Johann van Graan in making the<br />
move to Premiership outfit Bath <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
JP Ferreira said, “This has not been an<br />
easy decision to make as my family<br />
and I have thoroughly enjoyed our life<br />
in Limerick and are part of a very closeknit<br />
community. I have been in this role<br />
for five seasons and during this time I<br />
have enjoyed every minute of coaching<br />
at this incredible club.<br />
“The experience I have gained and the<br />
friendships that I have made along the<br />
way will forever stay with me. The way<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> opened their arms to<br />
my family and I throughout my tenure<br />
has been outstanding and we are<br />
forever grateful to everyone that has<br />
made this journey memorable and<br />
possible.<br />
“I’m very proud of what this group<br />
has achieved, and I’m excited for the<br />
months ahead as we remain focused<br />
on the task at hand, committed to<br />
delivering success with this group of<br />
players and staff.”<br />
IRELAND SIX NATIONS<br />
SQUAD ANNOUNCED<br />
LONDON DINNER SET FOR MARCH<br />
Preparations are continuing for the 2022 <strong>Munster</strong><br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> London Dinner at the Dorchester Hotel on<br />
Tuesday, March 15.<br />
The <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> London Dinner has been one<br />
of the most prestigious occasions in our rugby<br />
calendar since it was first held in 2014.<br />
Tadhg Beirne, Andrew Conway, Keith Earls and<br />
Conor Murray during the Autumn Nations Series<br />
Andy Farrell named a 37-man squad on<br />
Wednesday for the upcoming Six Nations.<br />
Nine <strong>Munster</strong> players are included - Joey Carbery,<br />
Craig Casey, Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Conor<br />
Murray, Tadhg Beirne, Gavin Coombes, Dave<br />
Kilcoyne and Peter O’Mahony.<br />
The squad will be captained by Johnny Sexton<br />
who earned his 100th cap for his country against<br />
Japan during the November international window.<br />
Keith Earls is just four caps shy of that milestone.<br />
Places are still available for the event with a very<br />
special silent auction also taking place on the night<br />
with exciting and exclusive packages up for grabs.<br />
The most recent London Dinner took place in 2019<br />
and was a fantastic success. Read more about the<br />
event here.<br />
For more information and to book your place,<br />
please contact our Business Development Manager<br />
Anthony Morrissey by email anthonymorrissey@<br />
munsterrugby.ie or on +35387 6202530.<br />
Prices start from £395 + VAT.<br />
Ireland will host Wales, Italy and Scotland in<br />
Dublin and will play France and England away<br />
from home.<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
7
Every great match<br />
starts with 0.0<br />
8 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
NEWSROUND<br />
MATCH TICKETS ON SALE<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>’s next home game in the United <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Championship sees league leaders Edinburgh visit<br />
Limerick on Friday 18 February with tickets now<br />
available. There are places available in both Stands and<br />
the Terraces. Buy tickets here. Under new head coach<br />
Mike Blair, Edinburgh have made a flying start to the<br />
season with six wins and a draw in eight URC games.<br />
Musgrave Park plays host to the Ireland U20s in their Six<br />
Nations campaign which begins on February 4 against<br />
Wales. Tickets are on sale via the links below.<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>'s George Coomber in action for the<br />
Ireland U20s earlier this month<br />
Friday, Feb 4: Ireland v Wales, Musgrave Park, 8pm<br />
Buy tickets here<br />
Fri, Feb 25: Ireland v Italy, Musgrave Park, 8pm<br />
Buy tickets here<br />
Sun, Mar 20: Ireland v Scotland, Musgrave Park, 5pm<br />
Buy tickets here<br />
BECOME A REFEREE<br />
The search for new referees is underway across the<br />
province and the next course for new members of the<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> Association of Referees has been set for<br />
29TH JANUARY 2022<br />
The course will be held online and you can<br />
register by emailing olly.hodges@irfu.ie<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> referees have the best seat in the house, and if keeping fit<br />
(referees run six miles in an 80 minute match), travelling, taking<br />
part in a lively social scene or getting an adrenaline rush is your<br />
idea of a great pastime, rugby refereeing could be for you.<br />
As well as the obvious benefits, a referee’s constant study of<br />
the game enriches the enjoyment of this lifetime sport.<br />
If you’re interested in taking the next steps and want to join<br />
the referee pathway, please register your interest with<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> Referee Development Manager Olly Hodges.<br />
9 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
9
“With Vodafone’s mobile broadband<br />
solution, we can do business<br />
from anywhere.”<br />
Oliver Kirwan, Co-Founder,<br />
Elite Event Management.<br />
Talk to us today about our<br />
technology solutions across<br />
broadband, mobile and cloud.<br />
Search Vodafone<br />
Business<br />
10 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
Supporting the<br />
Red Army<br />
On & Off the Field<br />
@medicarefirstaid<br />
@physiologix_sports<br />
Official Medical & Sports Injury Partner to <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Official Travel Partner of<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
RUGBYTRAVELIRELAND.COM<br />
OTP Travel Services Ltd (497583) T/A <strong>Rugby</strong> Travel Ireland is Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TO 0260.<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
11
Shaye - The next generation of support<br />
WHEN WE<br />
STAND<br />
TOGETHER<br />
NOTHING IS<br />
IMPOSSIBLE<br />
Eimear Considine – Flying full-back Peter O’Mahony – The Warrior<br />
12 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
STEPHEN LARKHAM<br />
THE<br />
INSIDE<br />
TRACK<br />
On <strong>Munster</strong>’s style of play…<br />
“I think you've got to be realistic when you look<br />
at our game. We know that we are not the team<br />
that kicks the most in most games. I know we've<br />
been criticised for kicking too much in the past,<br />
but the stats just don't add up. We feel we've got<br />
a very balanced game we play the game that<br />
we want to play. We feel that when there's an<br />
opportunity on the table, we would like to think<br />
that we are going to take those opportunities. I<br />
think we have a very sound game, we are looking<br />
for improvement every week. Some weeks the<br />
game just doesn't come together because of the<br />
conditions or different circumstances, but we<br />
certainly have enough variety in our game.”<br />
On playing <strong>Wasps</strong> this afternoon….<br />
“I wouldn't take too much away from that<br />
performance last month. Remember, they got<br />
a red card early in that game and they were<br />
very difficult to play against, even with 14 men.<br />
Their breakdown contest and their ball carries<br />
– they are a dangerous side, there is no doubt<br />
about that. I think you have probably seen that<br />
with their more recent results – Leicester and<br />
Toulouse – good victories there, particularly<br />
when down to 14 men against Toulouse. We<br />
were very conscious of how good they were<br />
going into our last game against them, so there's<br />
nothing has changed on those lines.”<br />
On the recent news that RG Snyman will stay<br />
with <strong>Munster</strong>…<br />
“I'm certainly excited by that prospect. We've seen<br />
glimpses of RG on the field, and we've seen a lot<br />
more of him at training and around the place and<br />
he adds a lot to this organisation so it’s exciting. In<br />
terms of where RG is at, we are expecting he will<br />
make a full recovery. There's a tremendous team<br />
around him at the moment and building him back<br />
up. We have got full confidence in that process.”<br />
On the ongoing contracting process…<br />
“We certainly haven't secured a full roster for<br />
next year and that's a process that is always<br />
ongoing. Throughout the 12 months of the year<br />
there's always contract negotiations and top<br />
ups and those discussions happening, so it's no<br />
different at the moment. We are just kind of in the<br />
in the heat of it at the moment, just trying to get<br />
a number of guys signed, so you’ll have to wait<br />
and see.”<br />
On the carrot of securing home advantage in the<br />
knockout stages…<br />
“We have spoken about that, that's definitely a<br />
goal for us. I guess if you look at it from a <strong>Wasps</strong>’<br />
perspective, they have got a bit to fight for, but<br />
we've certainly got a lot to fight for. It makes a<br />
massive difference, getting those home games,<br />
so we've spoken about that early in the week.<br />
That will be a little focus in the back of our mind.<br />
It's like every other game - we go out there, we<br />
get our prep right leading into the game and we<br />
are trying to put on our best performance on the<br />
field.”<br />
MUNSTER V CASTRES OLYMPIQUE | 18.12.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
13
STEPHEN ARCHER<br />
On the environment within the squad at the<br />
moment…<br />
“The vibes are very good. It’s a very competitive<br />
environment, particularly on the field and like any<br />
of the good teams I’ve been involved in, there’s<br />
a lot of competition there. Fellas are trying to<br />
get better every day. There’s a good work ethic<br />
around the place. Even the young guys coming<br />
through – they push on the likes of myself. You<br />
know that if you don’t show up and not do your<br />
best every week you won’t get selected.”<br />
On what he is expecting from <strong>Wasps</strong>…<br />
“They have had two massive performances<br />
in the last few weeks, particularly the last day<br />
with 14 men against Toulouse. It was a very<br />
impressive performance from them. We are<br />
expecting a big battle. We expect the battle<br />
up front, particularly their back row. Barbeary,<br />
Shields and Willis – they are a good unit so I'm<br />
expecting a massive battle there and they will be<br />
very hungry to progress to the knockout stages.”<br />
On the news that JP Ferreira will depart at the<br />
end of the season….<br />
“JP is great fella. It is disappointing that he is<br />
moving on, but we are kind of used to it at this<br />
stage. A lot of coaches come and go, especially<br />
during my time, so there's nothing new there.<br />
We will miss JP and particularly over the last<br />
few years, our defence has been the fulcrum of<br />
our game and always has been. We will continue<br />
to work hard over the next few months and<br />
fingers crossed we will send him off with good<br />
memories and some silverware.”<br />
On his personal goals…<br />
“My main thing is trying to keep looking forward.<br />
The body feels good, and touch wood, I haven’t<br />
had any injuries in the last few years. I try to look<br />
after my body a lot and week to week try and<br />
stay healthy and at the weekends get stuck in.”<br />
On working with Graham Rowntree…<br />
“He's a great fella. He came in two years ago and<br />
he has rejuvenated me anyway, just his style of<br />
thinking and he's a very personable guy. He is<br />
not afraid to tell you and is very honest to tell you<br />
what’s what. You always know where you stand.<br />
He'll tell you exactly what to do just to improve<br />
ourselves and to improve the team, so I'm really<br />
delighted he's staying for the next two years.<br />
When he first came here we just sat down and<br />
he gave me a few things to work on - nothing<br />
major – I worked on them for a few months and<br />
they just noticed big improvements in my game.<br />
It was very helpful.”<br />
14 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
#KEEPPERFORMING<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
15<br />
Photos © Pressesports
Meet our<br />
new fly half...<br />
We’re making it easy for you to book your perfect holiday from<br />
Shannon Airport. With great speed, efficiency and handling<br />
ability, paired with a vision to see all options, flyshannon.ie<br />
has the expert skills to kick start your perfect sun holiday or<br />
city break. Let us do the hard work so you can enter into full<br />
holiday mode as soon as you visit Flyshannon.ie.<br />
Book Now<br />
061 575 490<br />
flyshannon.ie<br />
Find & Book at<br />
16 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
ROUND 4 - MATCH STATS<br />
HEAD TO HEAD<br />
3 0 2<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> wins Draw <strong>Wasps</strong> wins<br />
LAST 3 MEETINGS<br />
12.12.21 - <strong>Wasps</strong> 14-35 <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
09.01.08 - <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> 19-3 <strong>Wasps</strong><br />
10.11.07 - <strong>Wasps</strong> 24-23 <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
TOP PERFORMERS<br />
MUNSTER RUGBY<br />
WASPS<br />
Andrew Conway (3 matches) 164 Metres 132 Thomas Young (2 matches)<br />
Andrew Conway (3) 4 Line Breaks 2 Thomas Young (2)<br />
Damian de Allende (2) 12 Defenders Beaten 10 Alfie Barbeary (2)<br />
Ben Healy (1) 4 Offloads 3 Dan Frost (2)<br />
Jack Crowley (2) 18 Tackles 21 Dan Frost (2)<br />
Peter O’Mahony (3) 26 Lineouts 10 Tim Cardall (2)<br />
Peter O’Mahony (3) 8 Turnovers 3 Alfie Barbeary (2)<br />
Tadhg Beirne (3) 20 Carries 21 Alfie Barbeary (2)<br />
MATCH FACTS<br />
• <strong>Munster</strong> have won three of their five games<br />
against <strong>Wasps</strong> in the Heineken Champions<br />
Cup (L2), including each of their last two<br />
clashes.<br />
• <strong>Munster</strong> have only lost two of their 26<br />
home games against Premiership clubs in<br />
the pool stage of the Heineken Champions<br />
Cup (W24). Their last such defeat was<br />
against Leicester Tigers in 2015/16 (19-31).<br />
• <strong>Wasps</strong> won their last away game in the<br />
tournament (24-8 v Dragons in 2020/21)<br />
after losing their previous seven games<br />
away from home. Their last win in Ireland<br />
was against Leinster (33-6) in December<br />
2015.<br />
• Only Bordeaux-Bègles (11) have made<br />
more lineout steals than <strong>Munster</strong> (9) in this<br />
tournament this season.<br />
• <strong>Munster</strong> hooker Scott Buckley has made<br />
15/15 lineout throws in the tournament this<br />
season, the most of any player to maintain<br />
a 100% lineout success rate.<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
17<br />
17
looking after you always<br />
The Official Health<br />
and Wellbeing<br />
Partner to<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Always a beat ahead<br />
layahealthcare.ie<br />
18 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
PROUDLY SUPPORTING<br />
MUNSTER RUGBY<br />
ai16334501095_<strong>Munster</strong> 110 x 165 3mm Bleed - Gilbert.pdf 1 05/10/2021 17:08:32<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Balls<br />
Available Now<br />
gilbertrugby.com<br />
The oval MUNSTER trim design is V a WASPS registered | trademark 23.01.22 of | Gilbert THOMOND <strong>Rugby</strong>. PARK<br />
19
Currys.ie<br />
Proud to be an official supplier<br />
to <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
We are proudly providing a range of technology<br />
that will help to assist and analyse the<br />
performances of teams across <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
Currys PC World Tralee Currys PC World Cork Currys PC World Limerick Currys PC World Waterford<br />
20 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
DAVE KILCOYNE TO JOIN<br />
‘200 CLUB’<br />
This afternoon, Dave Kilcoyne is set to join<br />
just 11 other players in <strong>Munster</strong>’s history to<br />
reach 200 caps for the province.<br />
Kilcoyne turned 33 last month and has<br />
started in eight of <strong>Munster</strong>’s 10 games so<br />
far this campaign.<br />
He is the second-most capped player in the<br />
current squad behind Stephen Archer (236).<br />
The Limerick native and Ardscoil Ris alum<br />
made his <strong>Munster</strong> debut against Connacht<br />
in Thomond Park in December 2011,<br />
lining out against Racing Metro in his first<br />
European match in October 2012.<br />
A product of the Greencore <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Academy, Kilcoyne moved to a senior<br />
contract ahead of the 2012/13 season.<br />
In his 199 appearances for <strong>Munster</strong>, he has<br />
scored 21 tries.<br />
He won the first of his 45 international caps<br />
against South Africa in November 2012 and<br />
featured in all five of Ireland’s games at the<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> World Cup in Japan in 2019.<br />
Kilcoyne will be hoping to continue<br />
racking up the appearances having signed<br />
a three-year contract extension in March<br />
2020 that keeps him at <strong>Munster</strong> until at<br />
least June 2023.<br />
MUNSTER 200 CLUB<br />
Anthony Foley (201)<br />
Alan Quinlan (212)<br />
Peter Stringer (232)<br />
Ronan O’Gara (240)<br />
John Hayes (217)<br />
David Wallace (203)<br />
Marcus Horan (223)<br />
Mick O’Driscoll (207)<br />
Donncha O’Callaghan (268)<br />
Billy Holland (247)<br />
Stephen Archer (236)<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
21
SHARP ALL SEASON<br />
FORMAL WEAR PARTNERS TO MUNSTER RUGBY<br />
PATRICK ST & CRESCENT SHOPPING CENTRE, LIMERICK • O’CONNELL ST, CLONMEL<br />
CONNOLLYMAN.COM<br />
mrbinman.com 1890 92 92 40<br />
THE NAME YOU CAN TRUST FOR<br />
QUALITY<br />
SERVICE<br />
& BEST VALUE<br />
PROUDLY SUPPORTING<br />
MUNSTER RUGBY<br />
22 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM<br />
DHL Express Ireland is proud to start the 2021-2022<br />
season as the Official Logistics Partner of <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
Together we celebrate the passion and teamwork required<br />
for delivering excellence on and off the pitch, and we look<br />
forward to supporting the club as the TEAM behind the TEAM.<br />
24 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
VIRTUAL MUNSTER MASCOT<br />
LEWIS FAN<br />
Age: 7<br />
School: Seafield National School, Co. Waterford<br />
Hobbies & Interests: Soccer, rugby - all sports that<br />
involve a ball! Wrestling and Lego.<br />
Favourite player: Jack O’Donoghue<br />
PADRAIG BEASLEY<br />
Age: 10<br />
School: Scoil Realta na Maidine,<br />
Listowel, Co. Kerry<br />
Hobbies: Gaming, reading<br />
Favourite player: Jack O’Donoghue<br />
FLASHING LIGHTS!<br />
Please note that there may be flashing and fast-moving<br />
SSW <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Halfpage.pdf 1 17/09/2021 11:15<br />
lights at Thomond Park ahead of kick-off.<br />
Please seek assistance from a steward if you feel unwell.<br />
Please wear a face<br />
covering at all times<br />
WITH ED & VALERIE<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
25
MUNSTER RUGBY<br />
Lock<br />
22.02.00<br />
H: 2.06m<br />
W: 116.82kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
THOMAS AHERN<br />
STEPHEN ARCHER<br />
Prop<br />
29.01.88<br />
H:1.88m<br />
W: 118.18kg<br />
Hons: Ire (2 caps)<br />
Hooker<br />
06.08.98<br />
H: 1.93 m<br />
W: 98.18 kg<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 (25 caps)<br />
JOEY CARBERY<br />
Flyhalf<br />
01.11.95<br />
H: 1.93m<br />
W: 85.91kg<br />
Hons: Ire (27 caps)<br />
Scrum Half<br />
19.04.99<br />
H: 1.65 m<br />
W: 75.91 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (4 caps)<br />
CRAIG CASEY<br />
Back Row<br />
15.02.91<br />
H: 1.75 m<br />
W: 105.91 kg<br />
Hons: ~<br />
CHRIS CLOETE<br />
ANDREW CONWAY<br />
Full Back/Wing<br />
11.07.91<br />
H: 1.8 m<br />
W: 90 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (27 caps)<br />
Back Row/Lock<br />
11.12.97<br />
H: 1.98 m<br />
W: 110 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (2 caps)<br />
GAVIN COOMBES<br />
Wing<br />
01.05.97<br />
H: 1.91m<br />
W: 89.09kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
LIAM COOMBES<br />
Scrum Half<br />
06.12.92<br />
H: 1.73 m<br />
W: 83.18 kg<br />
Hons: Ire Clubs<br />
NEIL CRONIN<br />
Fly Half<br />
13.01.00<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 89.09 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
JACK CROWLEY<br />
Back Row<br />
12.08.98<br />
H: 1.83 m<br />
W: 106.82 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
JACK DALY<br />
Centre<br />
19.12.96<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 91.82 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (2 caps)<br />
SHANE DALY<br />
DAMIAN DE ALLENDE<br />
Centre<br />
25.11.91<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 105 kg<br />
Hons: SA (53 caps)<br />
KEITH EARLS<br />
Universal Back<br />
02.10.87<br />
H: 1.78 m<br />
W: 86.82 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (96 caps)<br />
CHRIS FARRELL<br />
Centre<br />
16.03.93<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 110 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (15 caps)<br />
Fly Half<br />
07.06.99<br />
H: 1.83m<br />
W: 89.09kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
JAKE FLANNERY<br />
Prop<br />
22.11.98<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 120.91 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
JAMES FRENCH<br />
Universal Back<br />
14.08.99<br />
H:1.88m<br />
W: 99.09 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
SEAN FRENCH<br />
Full Back<br />
26.10.96<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 95.91 kg<br />
Hons: Eng U20<br />
MATT GALLAGHER<br />
DAN GOGGIN<br />
Centre<br />
10.12.94<br />
H: 1.88 m<br />
W: 86.82 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20, 7s<br />
Full Back<br />
28.06.94<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 93.18 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (1 cap)<br />
MIKE HALEY<br />
Fly Half<br />
29.06.99<br />
H:1.91 m<br />
W: 96.82 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
BEN HEALY<br />
26 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
SQUAD 2021/22<br />
Back Row<br />
10.01.99<br />
H: 1.83 m<br />
W: 105kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
JOHN HODNETT<br />
Lock<br />
02.12.95<br />
H: 2.03 m<br />
W: 124.09kg<br />
Hons: SA (1 cap)<br />
JASON JENKINS<br />
DAVE KILCOYNE<br />
Prop<br />
14.12.88<br />
H: 1.83 m<br />
W: 110.91 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (45 caps)<br />
JEAN KLEYN<br />
Lock<br />
26.08.93<br />
H: 2.03m<br />
W: 120.91 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (5 caps)<br />
Prop<br />
06.04.99<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 115 kg<br />
Hons: ~<br />
KEYNAN KNOX<br />
Prop<br />
22.07.95<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 118.18 kg<br />
Hons: ~<br />
JEREMY LOUGHMAN<br />
LIAM O'CONNOR<br />
KEVIN O'BYRNE<br />
CALVIN NASH<br />
CONOR MURRAY<br />
DECLAN MOORE<br />
ALEX MCHENRY<br />
Centre<br />
07.10.97<br />
H: 1.88 m<br />
W: 95 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20, 7s<br />
Hooker<br />
20.04.89<br />
H: 1.84 m<br />
W: 112 kg<br />
Hons: ~<br />
Scrum Half<br />
20.04.89<br />
H: 1.88 m<br />
W: 93.18 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (92 caps)<br />
Wing<br />
08.08.97<br />
H: 1.78 m<br />
W: 90 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
Hooker<br />
16.04.91<br />
H:1.8m<br />
W: 105 kg<br />
Hons: ~<br />
Prop<br />
13.07.95<br />
H: 1.78 m<br />
W: 110 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
JACK O'DONOGHUE<br />
Back Row<br />
08.02.94<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 109.09 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (2 caps)<br />
PETER O'MAHONY<br />
Back Row<br />
17.09.89<br />
H: 1.91 m<br />
W: 106.82 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (79 caps)<br />
Back Row<br />
01.10.98<br />
H: 1.88 m<br />
W: 100 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
JACK O'SULLIVAN<br />
Scrum Half<br />
03.11.96<br />
H: 1.7m<br />
W: 78.18kg<br />
Hons: Ire Sch<br />
ROWAN OSBORNE<br />
JOHN RYAN<br />
Prop<br />
02.08.88<br />
H: 1.83 m<br />
W: 120 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (24 caps)<br />
Prop<br />
28.10.97<br />
H: 1.83 m<br />
W: 123.18 kg<br />
Hons: USA U20<br />
ROMAN SALANOA<br />
NIALL SCANNELL<br />
Hooker<br />
08.04.92<br />
H: 1.85 m<br />
W: 110.91 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (20 caps)<br />
RORY SCANNELL<br />
Centre<br />
22.12.93<br />
H: 1.78 m<br />
W: 95.91 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (3 caps)<br />
RG SNYMAN<br />
Lock<br />
29.01.95<br />
H: 2.06 m<br />
W: 116.82 kg<br />
Hons: SA (23 caps)<br />
Lock/Back Row<br />
11.12.97<br />
H: 1.93 m<br />
W: 111.82 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (1 cap)<br />
FINEEN WYCHERLEY<br />
Prop<br />
22.07.99<br />
H: 1.83 m<br />
W: 108.18 kg<br />
Hons: Ire U20<br />
JOSH WYCHERLEY<br />
SIMON ZEBO<br />
Wing<br />
16.03.90<br />
H: 1.88 m<br />
W: 99.09 kg<br />
Hons: Ire (35 caps)<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
27
MUNSTER RUGBY<br />
STARTING XV<br />
Dave Kilcoyne<br />
Diarmuid<br />
Barron<br />
Stephen Archer<br />
Jean Kleyn<br />
Tadhg Beirne<br />
Peter<br />
O'Mahony (C)<br />
Jack<br />
O’Donoghue<br />
Gavin Coombes<br />
Conor Murray<br />
Ben Healy<br />
Keith Earls<br />
Rory Scannell<br />
Chris Farrell<br />
Andrew<br />
Conway<br />
Mike Haley<br />
Replacements<br />
16. Scott Buckley 17. Jeremy Loughman 18. John Ryan 19. Fineen Wycherley<br />
20. John Hodnett 21. Craig Casey 22. Jack Crowley 23. Simon Zebo<br />
#MUNvWAS<br />
JOIN THE CONVERSATION<br />
28 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
WASPS<br />
STARTING XV<br />
Tom West<br />
Tom Cruse<br />
Elliot Millar-Mills<br />
Elliott Stooke<br />
James Gaskell<br />
Brad Shields (C)<br />
Thomas Young<br />
Nizaam Carr<br />
Dan Robson<br />
Charlie Atkinson<br />
Josh Bassett<br />
Ryan Mills<br />
Paolo Odogwu<br />
Marcus Watson<br />
Ali Crossdale<br />
Replacements<br />
16. Gabriel Oghre 17. Rodrigo Martinez 18. Pieter Scholtz 19. Tim Cardall<br />
20. Ben Morris 21. Will Porter 22. Rob Miller 23. Sam Spink<br />
MATCH OFFICIALS<br />
Referee: Tual Trainini (FRA)<br />
AR1: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy (FRA)<br />
AR2: Cédric Marchat (FRA)<br />
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FRA)<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
29
WASPS 14-35 MUNSTER<br />
Sunday 12 December 2021<br />
Coventry Building Society Arena<br />
Champions Cup, Pool B, Round 1<br />
RECENT HISTORY<br />
MUNSTER 19-3 WASPS<br />
Saturday 19 January 2008<br />
Thomond Park<br />
Champions Cup, Pool 5, Round 6<br />
Patrick Campbell celebrates<br />
his try with Andrew Conway<br />
in last month's clash<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>’s opening game of this season’s Heineken<br />
Champions Cup had everything in it as the men in<br />
red not only survived an action-packed afternoon<br />
of rugby but produced a fantastic bonus point 32-<br />
14 win against <strong>Wasps</strong> in Coventry. Twelve players<br />
made their <strong>Munster</strong> debuts in the clash including<br />
Greencore <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Academy hooker Scott<br />
Buckley who was named Heineken Star of the<br />
<strong>Match</strong> and, along with Patrick Campbell, was one<br />
of two <strong>Munster</strong> players to score their first <strong>Munster</strong><br />
tries on their debuts.<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>’s other tries came from Keith Earls and<br />
Andrew Conway with Joey Carbery kicking three<br />
conversions and three penalties. Brad Shields’<br />
red card in the 25th minute saw the home side<br />
play the majority of the game with 14 men, but<br />
they continued to challenge with No. 8 Alfie<br />
Barbeary getting over the whitewash at the half<br />
hour mark. Their cause wasn’t helped by a yellow<br />
card for Dan Frost late in the first half. <strong>Munster</strong> led<br />
7-13 at the break after Earls touched down on 34<br />
minutes. As <strong>Munster</strong> extended their lead in the<br />
second half with tries from Campbell, Conway and<br />
Buckley, seven debutants came off the bench and<br />
acquitted themselves well. <strong>Wasps</strong> hit back when<br />
Michael Le Bourgeois picked a good line to score<br />
on the 63rd minute from close range to reduce<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>’s lead but a Carbery penalty made it 35-<br />
14 after 67 minutes, which was the final score of<br />
the game.<br />
Mick O'Driscoll is tackled<br />
by Lawrence Dallaglio in<br />
January 2008<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> advanced to the quarter-finals with<br />
an impressive 19 – 3 victory over the 2007<br />
Champions London <strong>Wasps</strong>, topping Pool 5 with<br />
19 points securing them a place in the knockout<br />
stages.<br />
Danny Cipriani opened the scoring with a<br />
penalty after 4 minutes with Ronan O’Gara<br />
getting on the board 8 minutes later and adding<br />
two more penalties in the first half to ensure<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> led 9-3 at half-time, despite being<br />
without Denis Leamy for a ten-minute spell<br />
in the second quarter after he was issued a<br />
yellow card. <strong>Wasps</strong> went into the break with 14<br />
men after Simon Shaw was yellow carded 35<br />
minutes into the first half.<br />
O’Gara added another penalty on the 55th<br />
minute after captain Lawrence Dallaglio was<br />
sent to the sin bin and also converted Leamy’s<br />
try in the 74th minute.<br />
It was a masterclass in control from Ronan<br />
O’Gara who pulled the strings while Man of<br />
the <strong>Match</strong> Donncha O’Callaghan disrupted the<br />
<strong>Wasps</strong> lineout giving <strong>Munster</strong> the edge in this<br />
tightly fought pool game.<br />
30 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
THE GREATEST WEEKEND IN RUGBY<br />
27-28 MAY, STADE VÉLODROME<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
31
Age: 32<br />
Position: Back row<br />
Height: 1.91m<br />
Weight: 107kg<br />
Total <strong>Munster</strong> Appearances: 154<br />
Honours: Ireland (79 caps)<br />
2021/22 HCC STATS<br />
Appearances: 3<br />
Lineouts won: 26<br />
Lineout steals: 5<br />
Turnovers: 8<br />
Tackles: 17<br />
IN FORM<br />
PETER<br />
O'MAHONY<br />
The <strong>Munster</strong> captain has been in devastating form this season, proving a handful for the opposition<br />
in both the URC and Heineken Champions Cup.<br />
In this season’s Heineken Champions Cup he has won 26 lineouts, which includes 5 steals, in the<br />
three matches to date.<br />
He also tops the stats in this tournament for turnovers, with 8 turnovers this season so far.<br />
Peter has captained <strong>Munster</strong> since 2013 and toured with the Lions in 2017. He featured in all three<br />
of Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series matches.<br />
32 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
If exceptional tries are what you like, you can<br />
always count on ASM Clermont Auvergne wing,<br />
Damian Penaud, to deliver. Fans witnessed<br />
some great scores in Round 1 of the Heineken<br />
Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup<br />
including Penaud’s spectacular effort against<br />
Ulster <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
“Great break from JJ Hanrahan to expose the<br />
opposition front row and beat him one-on-one,<br />
followed by a perfectly-timed pass to Penaud,<br />
who has the kick accuracy, speed and a worldclass<br />
finish to score a superb try,” was how BT<br />
Sport’s Sam Waburton described the score.<br />
Warburton’s verdict, combined with the public’s<br />
votes, determined the winner, and although<br />
Penaud fully deserved the accolade, it was<br />
a close call between his effort and Anthony<br />
Jelonch’s memorable try for Stade Toulousain<br />
against Cardiff <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
For the sixth season in a row, the Try of the<br />
Round activation is launched on the Monday<br />
after each round, and fans will also be able to<br />
vote for the Try of the Season immediately after<br />
the Finals Weekend next May.<br />
Cheslin Kolbe won the award for the best try<br />
last season, Juan Imhoff topped the poll in<br />
2019/20, then it was Maxime Médard in 2018/19,<br />
Tadhg Beirne in 2017/18, and first of all, Nick<br />
Abendanon back in 2016/17.<br />
Who will succeed all these great names of<br />
European club rugby? You can make the<br />
difference by voting for your favourite!<br />
EPCRUGBY.COM/TOTR<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
33
34 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MUNSTER RUGBY<br />
SHOP THE<br />
2021/22 RANGE<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
35
<strong>Munster</strong> face <strong>Wasps</strong> this weekend in their<br />
fourth and final fixture in the Pool stages<br />
of this year’s Champions Cup and there is<br />
plenty at stake for both teams.<br />
Both sides are in line to qualify for the Round<br />
of 16 with <strong>Munster</strong> aiming to secure four<br />
wins from four to secure a high seeding with<br />
<strong>Wasps</strong> eager to ensure they finish in the top<br />
eight and qualify for the knockout stages.<br />
The Round of 16 will see the top eight from<br />
both Pools face off in two-legged fixtures in<br />
mid-April.<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> were 35-14 winners when the<br />
sides faced off in Coventry in December in a<br />
thrilling encounter.<br />
WHAT'S AT STAKE<br />
Click here for highlights.<br />
Coming into this round, Johann van Graan’s<br />
side were third in the table, one point<br />
behind Harlequins and Leciester Tiger, and<br />
one point above Bristol Bears.<br />
Since December’s clash between the side,<br />
<strong>Wasps</strong> had their away game with Toulouse<br />
postponed with the game declared a 0-0<br />
draw and defeated the French side 30-22<br />
last weekend in an outstanding performance<br />
from 14-man <strong>Wasps</strong>.<br />
That victory moved Lee Blackett’s side into<br />
the top eight in Pool B of the Champions<br />
Cup and <strong>Wasps</strong> need a win to guarantee<br />
their place in the knockout stages.<br />
ROUND OF 16 QUALIFICATION<br />
At the end of the Pool stages, the eight highest-ranked clubs in Pool A and the eight highestranked<br />
clubs in Pool B will qualify for the Round of 16 matches which will be played over<br />
two legs on a home and away basis as follows:<br />
R16 1: Number 1-ranked club in Pool A v Number 8-ranked club in Pool B<br />
R16 2: Number 2-ranked club in Pool A v Number 7-ranked club in Pool B<br />
R16 3: Number 3-ranked club in Pool A v Number 6-ranked club in Pool B<br />
R16 4: Number 4-ranked club in Pool A v Number 5-ranked club in Pool B<br />
R16 5: Number 4-ranked club in Pool B v Number 5-ranked club in Pool A<br />
R16 6: Number 3-ranked club in Pool B v Number 6-ranked club in Pool A<br />
R16 7: Number 2-ranked club in Pool B v Number 7-ranked club in Pool A<br />
R16 8: Number 1-ranked club in Pool B v Number 8-ranked club in Pool A<br />
NB The clubs ranked numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 from Pool A and Pool B will play the<br />
second leg of their Round of 16 matches at home.<br />
• The three clubs ranked 9 to 11 in each of the pools will qualify<br />
for the Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.<br />
• The Round of 16 games are scheduled to take place the<br />
weekends of 8/9/10 April and 15/16/17 April 2022.<br />
• After the Round of 16, the next round in the Heineken<br />
Champions Cup will be the quarter-finals, with four matches<br />
to take place.<br />
POOL STANDINGS<br />
Click HERE to see the latest pool standings<br />
Andrew<br />
Conway<br />
36 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
Get closer<br />
Get your hands on the best rugby analysis, match reports,<br />
and interviews from our expert team of writers including<br />
Stuart Barnes, Peter O’Reilly and Stephen Jones.<br />
Subscribe today at thetimes.ie/join<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
37
THE LOWDOWN<br />
THE SQUAD<br />
Capped 69 times for England, <strong>Wasps</strong> captain<br />
Joe Launchbury has been sidelined since April<br />
2021 with an ACL injury, however he is due to<br />
make his return to action in the coming weeks.<br />
New Zealand born back row Brad Shields has<br />
featured as captain this season, and joined<br />
<strong>Wasps</strong> from the Hurricanes in 2018. The<br />
side includes former Leinster outhalf Jimmy<br />
Gopperth who played 59 times in blue and<br />
scored 350 points before joining <strong>Wasps</strong> in 2015.<br />
Last month, <strong>Wasps</strong> announced that World Cup<br />
winning South African international tightheadprop<br />
Vincent Koch will join the club next season<br />
from Saracens. The uncapped Alfie Barbeary<br />
was named as part of Eddie Jones' 36-man<br />
England squad earlier this week ahead of the<br />
upcoming Six Nations.<br />
THE FORM GUIDE<br />
<strong>Wasps</strong> come to Limerick on the back of a 30-22<br />
win over champions Toulouse in Round 3 last<br />
weekend, with <strong>Wasps</strong> reduced to 14 men from<br />
the 33rd minute after full-back Jacob Umaga<br />
was shown a red card. <strong>Wasps</strong> tries were scored<br />
by Biyi Alo, Brad Shields and Alfie Barbeary<br />
while Jimmy Gopperth found his mark off the<br />
tee with three conversions and three penalties.<br />
<strong>Wasps</strong> suffered a home defeat to <strong>Munster</strong><br />
in Round 1 while their Round 2 clash away to<br />
Toulouse did not go ahead. <strong>Wasps</strong> currently sit<br />
in 8th position in the Premiership table, with<br />
five wins from twelve matches. Their last three<br />
games in the Premiership saw them defeat<br />
London Irish 38-30 at home on December 26,<br />
go down 26-18 to Sale Sharks on New Year’s<br />
Day and defeat Leicester Tigers 16-13 at home<br />
on January 9 last.<br />
Lee Blackett<br />
THE COACHING TICKET<br />
Head coach Lee Blackett joined <strong>Wasps</strong> as<br />
backs coach ahead of the 2015/16 season from<br />
Rotherham Titans where he had been the<br />
youngest head coach in English rugby’s top two<br />
flights for the previous two seasons. A former<br />
wing/centre and captain of Rotherham, he<br />
became <strong>Wasps</strong> head coach in 2020. Forwards<br />
coach Richard Blaze joined during the 2019/20<br />
season and is a former lock with <strong>Wasps</strong> and<br />
Leicester. Attack coach John Mitchell re-joined<br />
the club last year having previously been<br />
with the club during the 1999/00 season. The<br />
former All Blacks head coach also coached<br />
the USA national team and was defence coach<br />
for England from 2018-2021. Transition coach<br />
Matt Everard is a former Academy and <strong>Wasps</strong><br />
A coach. The former England U20 backrow<br />
played with Leicester and <strong>Wasps</strong> before retiring<br />
in 2017. Scrum coach Neil Fowkes is a former<br />
prop forward with Nottingham who went on<br />
to coach their forwards before becoming head<br />
coach in 2018. He joined <strong>Wasps</strong> on a full-time<br />
basis in 2020. Skills coach Ed Robinson joined<br />
the club from Jersey Reds in 2021 where he<br />
was the backs coach.<br />
ALFIE BARBEARY<br />
Age: 21<br />
Born: Banbury, England<br />
Position: Hooker/Back row<br />
Height: 1.85m<br />
Weight: 116kg<br />
Honours: England U18s,<br />
U19s U20s<br />
Total <strong>Wasps</strong><br />
Appearances: 21<br />
2021/22 SEASON<br />
Appearances: 7<br />
Tries: 4<br />
Tackles: 36<br />
Carries: 91<br />
Defenders beaten: 28<br />
ONE TO WATCH<br />
38 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
YOUR ACCESS TO THE HEART OF EUROPEAN<br />
RUGBY HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER<br />
HEINEKENCHAMPIONSCUP.COM<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
#HeinekenChampionsCup<br />
39
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
CM<br />
MY<br />
CY<br />
CMY<br />
K<br />
40 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
41
RG Snyman<br />
KEY PLAYERS COMMIT TO MUNSTER<br />
It has been a busy but positive time for the<br />
province on the contract front as eighteen<br />
players to date have finalised their contracts<br />
in recent weeks including Greencore <strong>Munster</strong><br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> Academy players Alex Kendellen and<br />
Scott Buckley who will both step up to the<br />
senior ranks next season.<br />
In his second year of the Academy, 20-yearold<br />
Kendellen will advance to the senior ranks<br />
having signed a two-year contract. A product of<br />
PBC, the UCC back-row forward has made five<br />
appearances to date – including a Champions<br />
Cup debut against Castres – with his first start<br />
coming against Connacht recently.<br />
Hooker Buckley has also signed a two-year deal.<br />
A product of Kinsale RFC and CBC, Scott plays<br />
his AIL rugby with UCC and was a try-scoring<br />
Player of the <strong>Match</strong> on his <strong>Munster</strong> debut in the<br />
Champions Cup win over <strong>Wasps</strong> last month.<br />
Conor Murray has signed a new two-year<br />
IRFU contract, which will see him at <strong>Munster</strong><br />
until at least 2023. The scrumhalf has won 92<br />
caps for Ireland, winning three Six Nations<br />
Championships and is a three-time tourist with<br />
the Lions. Conor has appeared 154 times for<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>, scoring 170 points including 31 tries.<br />
World Cup-winning Springbok RG Snyman<br />
has signed a two-year deal. Despite enduring<br />
a difficult time with injuries since arriving at the<br />
province in the summer of 2020, the 26-year-old<br />
is highly regarded across the squad and already<br />
in four short appearances he has managed to<br />
display his athleticism and skill set, including<br />
a first try scored against the Stormers in<br />
Thomond Park.<br />
Ireland international Joey Carbery has made<br />
30 appearances in red, scoring 264 points<br />
since joining in 2018. Although the out-half has<br />
been unlucky with injuries he has returned to<br />
show his quality on each occasion. Carbery has<br />
signed a two-year deal, keeping him at <strong>Munster</strong><br />
until at least 2024.<br />
With four tries in 10 appearances, Liam<br />
Coombes is a product of Skibbereen and CBC.<br />
The 24-year-old Coombes plays his AIL rugby<br />
with Garryowen and has lined out on the<br />
wing and outside centre for the province. An<br />
Academy graduate, he has also signed a twoyear<br />
contract.<br />
Ireland international centre Chris Farrell has<br />
scored eight tries in 54 <strong>Munster</strong> appearances.<br />
Farrell has won 15 international caps since<br />
moving to <strong>Munster</strong> from Grenoble and has<br />
been an ever-present for the province since<br />
returning from an abdomen injury late last year.<br />
Farrell set to stay with the province until at least<br />
the summer of 2024.<br />
Ireland international lock Jean Kleyn is closing<br />
in on a century of <strong>Munster</strong> appearances,<br />
scoring 12 tries in 98 games since joining from<br />
the DHL Stormers in 2016. Kleyn has been one<br />
of the province’s most consistent performers<br />
42 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
“A RETURN TO LIFE AS IT<br />
WAS WOULD BE DEVASTATING<br />
FOR OUR CLIMATE”<br />
PILITA CLARK, FT BUSINESS COLUMNIST<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
43
KEY PLAYERS COMMIT TO MUNSTER<br />
continued…<br />
over recent seasons and has agreed a two-year<br />
contract.<br />
Back-row forward Jack O’Sullivan has put pen<br />
to paper on a two-year contract. He has scored<br />
two tries in 21 <strong>Munster</strong> appearances. A product<br />
of PBC, the 23-year-old UCC clubman made<br />
his Champions Cup debut in January 2020 and<br />
made 10 appearances last year after graduating<br />
from the Academy.<br />
Hooker Diarmuid Barron has signed a new twoyear<br />
contract and has made 21 appearances for<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> to date, including his Champions Cup<br />
debut against Castres last month. The 23-yearold<br />
Tipperary native is a product of Cashel RFC<br />
and Rockwell College and has also lined out for<br />
Garryowen in the AIL.<br />
Castleisland RFC flanker Jack Daly has signed<br />
a two-year contract extension having made<br />
four appearances for the province to date.<br />
A Garryowen clubman, Daly is a former<br />
Ireland U20s international and has made two<br />
appearances so far this term.<br />
Ben Healy has signed a one-year contract<br />
extension with the 22-year-old Tipperary out-half<br />
scoring 144 points in 27 <strong>Munster</strong> appearances<br />
to date. A product of Nenagh Ormond and<br />
Glenstal Abbey, Healy has also lined out for<br />
Garryowen in the AIL and is enjoying a strong<br />
first year in the senior squad having won the<br />
province’s Greencore Academy Player of the<br />
Year award last season.<br />
Loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman has signed<br />
a new two-year deal having scored four tries in<br />
58 <strong>Munster</strong> appearances since joining from the<br />
Leinster Academy in 2017. He made his 50th<br />
appearance against Ulster last year.<br />
Tighthead prop Keynan Knox has signed on<br />
for two more years at <strong>Munster</strong> having scored<br />
two tries in 20 appearances for the province.<br />
The 22-year-old South Africa native and Young<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> clubman spent three years in the<br />
Academy before moving up to the senior squad<br />
last season.<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>’s all-time leading try-scorer with 62<br />
tries, Simon Zebo has signed a new two-year<br />
deal having scored two tries in four appearances<br />
since returning to the province from Racing<br />
92 last summer. The Ireland international and<br />
former Lion is a product of the Academy and<br />
has made 148 <strong>Munster</strong> appearances since his<br />
debut in 2010.<br />
The province’s most-capped prop Stephen<br />
Archer has penned a one-year contract<br />
extension. The 33-year-old is the most recent<br />
player to reach 200 caps in 2019, joining an<br />
illustrious group of 12 players to reach the<br />
milestone. The tighthead prop has now featured<br />
in 236 games and has been a vital member of<br />
the squad since his debut in October 2009.<br />
Loosehead prop Liam O’Connor has signed a<br />
one-year contract extension having made 32<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> appearances since his 2016 debut in a<br />
Champions Cup clash against Stade Français. A<br />
product of Dolphin and CBC, the former Ireland<br />
U20s international plays his AIL rugby with Cork<br />
Constitution and graduated from the Academy<br />
to the senior squad in 2018.<br />
Tighthead prop Roman Salanoa has signed on<br />
for three more years at <strong>Munster</strong> after one try in<br />
eight appearances for the province to date. A<br />
former USA U20 international, the Hawaiian is<br />
a Shannon RFC clubman and joined the Leinster<br />
Academy in 2018 before making the move to<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> in 2020.<br />
Keynan Knox<br />
44 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
45
46 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MARKS AND SPENCER<br />
PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THE MUNSTER<br />
COMMUNITY RUGBY<br />
PROGRAMME<br />
The Big Hitters in<br />
Data Intelligence<br />
tqsintegration.com<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
47
RUGBY DEVELOPMENT NEWS<br />
MUNSTER RUGBY SCHOOL OF EXCELLENT RETURNS<br />
The <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> School of Excellence is set<br />
to return in Summer 2022 (subject to Covid-19<br />
guidelines) providing a premium rugby<br />
experience for boys and girls aged 13-16. Please<br />
note that places are strictly limited.<br />
Players will partake in a week-long structured<br />
rugby development programme which<br />
will include core skill development, game<br />
understanding, position-specific training,<br />
appropriate strength and conditioning training<br />
and teamwork.<br />
Throughout the week the players will receive<br />
top class coaching from <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
coaches, while guest speakers will present<br />
education modules on athletic development,<br />
mental skills and wellbeing, nutrition, and rugby<br />
performance, which are all vital for the stars of<br />
the future.<br />
This will all take place in an enjoyable but<br />
challenging environment where players are<br />
encouraged to develop their all-round rugby<br />
ability and to learn the values that make <strong>Munster</strong><br />
unique in the rugby world.<br />
The ongoing impact of Covid-19 means that our<br />
camps will be run under Government and HSE<br />
guidelines. Our key focus is providing a safe and<br />
fun environment for children and coaches alike.<br />
Booking information including cost, dates and<br />
venues will be announced in the coming weeks<br />
but for any parent looking to register their child’s<br />
interest, please email camps@munsterrugby.ie.<br />
48 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
BANK OF IRELAND AGE-GRADE COMPETITIONS<br />
The Bank of Ireland <strong>Munster</strong> Clubs age-grade<br />
boys’ competitions are continuing throughout<br />
the province with no shortage of exciting games<br />
being held every weekend.<br />
For Phase 1 of the boys’ competitions, there<br />
were 41 U18 teams and 44 U16 teams competing<br />
across seven conferences in each age-grade<br />
with 212 fixtures completed by the end of<br />
November. Based on how teams finished in<br />
their respective conferences, they were placed<br />
in either Cup, Plate or Bowl groups for Phase 2<br />
which kicked off in December. The top two teams<br />
from each of the seven conferences in Phase 1,<br />
in addition to the four best third-placed teams,<br />
qualified for the Phase 2 Cup competitions. The<br />
remaining teams were classified as Plate or<br />
Bowl for Phase 2.<br />
PHASE 2 FORMAT AND KNOCKOUT<br />
STAGE QUALIFICATION<br />
U18 Cup: 18 teams in three groups of six.<br />
Top two of each group and two best thirdplaced<br />
teams qualify for the quarter-finals. The<br />
remaining 10 teams will play in the Development<br />
Cup competition.<br />
U18 Plate: 14 teams in two groups of seven.<br />
Top four in each group qualify for quarterfinals.<br />
The remaining six teams will play in the<br />
Development Plate competition.<br />
U18 Bowl: 11 teams in two groups. Top<br />
four in each group qualify for quarter-finals.<br />
The remaining three teams will play in the<br />
Development Plate competition.<br />
U16 Cup: 18 teams in three groups of six.<br />
Top two of each group and two best thirdplaced<br />
teams qualify for the quarter finals. The<br />
remaining 10 teams will play in the Development<br />
Cup competition.<br />
U16 Plate: 14 teams two groups of seven.<br />
Top four in each group qualify for quarterfinals.<br />
The remaining six teams will play in the<br />
Development Plate competition.<br />
U16 Bowl: 14 teams. Top four in each group<br />
qualify for the quarter-finals. The remaining<br />
six teams will play in the Development Plate<br />
competition.<br />
The Phase 2 playoffs are expected to be held on<br />
the weekend of February 19 with the knockout<br />
stages and development competitions to take<br />
place thereafter.<br />
For fixtures, results and tables for the Bank<br />
of Ireland <strong>Munster</strong> Clubs Age-Grade boys’<br />
competitions, please click here.<br />
Click here for information on the Bank of Ireland<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> Girls U16 and U18 Cup competitions.<br />
Bandon RFC who were winners of the U16 Cup at the<br />
Bank of Ireland <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Age-Grade Finals at<br />
Musgrave Park in 2019<br />
#<strong>Munster</strong>StartsHere<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
49
50 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
51
FIXTURES & RESULTS 2021/22<br />
Date Fixture/Result Venue<br />
Irish KO times<br />
Sat, Sep 25 - W <strong>Munster</strong> 42-17 Cell C Sharks Thomond Park<br />
Sat, Oct 2 - W <strong>Munster</strong> 34-18 DHL Stormers Thomond Park<br />
Sun, Oct 10 - W Scarlets 13-43 <strong>Munster</strong> Parc y Scarlets<br />
Sat, Oct 16 - W <strong>Munster</strong> 20-18 Connacht Thomond Park<br />
Sat, Oct 23 - L Ospreys 18-10 <strong>Munster</strong> Liberty Stadium<br />
Sun, Dec 12 - W <strong>Wasps</strong> 14-35 <strong>Munster</strong> Coventry Building Society Arena<br />
Sat, Dec 18 - W <strong>Munster</strong> 19-13 Castres Olympique Thomond Park<br />
Sun, Dec 26 - PP <strong>Munster</strong> P-P Leinster Thomond Park<br />
Sat, Jan 1 - L Connacht 10-8 <strong>Munster</strong> The Sportsground<br />
Sat, Jan 8 - W <strong>Munster</strong> 18-13 Ulster Thomond Park<br />
Fri, Jan 14 - W<br />
Castres Olympique 13-16 <strong>Munster</strong> Stade Pierre Fabre<br />
Sun, Jan 23 - 15:15 <strong>Munster</strong> v <strong>Wasps</strong> Thomond Park<br />
Sat, Jan 29 - 17:00 Zebre v <strong>Munster</strong> Stadio Lanfranchi<br />
Fri, Feb 18 - 19:35 <strong>Munster</strong> v Edinburgh Thomond Park<br />
Sat, Mar 5 - 17:15 <strong>Munster</strong> v Dragons Thomond Park<br />
W/E Mar 11 - TBC Vodacom Bulls v <strong>Munster</strong> TBC<br />
W/E Mar 18 - TBC Emirates Lions v <strong>Munster</strong> TBC<br />
Fri, Mar 25- 19:35 <strong>Munster</strong> v Benetton Musgrave Park<br />
Sat, Apr 2 - 19:00 Leinster v <strong>Munster</strong> Aviva Stadium<br />
Fri, Apr 22 - 19:35 Ulster v <strong>Munster</strong> Kingspan Stadium<br />
Fri, April 29 - 19.35 <strong>Munster</strong> v Cardiff Musgrave Park<br />
W/E- May 21 - TBC Glasgow v <strong>Munster</strong> Scotstoun Stadium<br />
52 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
53
54 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
RUGBY.<br />
DELIVERED.<br />
TEAMWORK. SPEED. DELIVERY. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE<br />
OFFICIAL LOGISTICS PARTNER. DHL.<br />
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
55
MUNSTER V WASPS | 23.01.22 | THOMOND PARK<br />
56