#Munster Rugby

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Duncan Casey.png
SDuncan Casey: When you can hear voices on the pitch amid 35,000, something is wrong
Munster v Gloucester - Investec Champions Cup
No miracles, no magic pills to accelerate Munster rebuild
Saturday’s bonus-point victory on Leeside was far from ideal fare.

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Munster Rugby v Gloucester Rugby - Investec Champions Cup - SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh
'The internationals are going to have a break' - Clayton McMillan to rotate Munster squad
But the Munster head coach joked he would not dare diminish his hand for the December 27 sold-out derby at Thomond Park against Leinster.

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Tadhg Beirne after the game 13/12/2025
S Donal Lenihan: Munster flattered by scoreline in game without spark
Head coach McMillan will likely be frustrated with many aspects of Munster's display against Gloucester, not least a continuation of the unforced handling errors

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Rugby Podcast Special: Munster and Leinster's imperfect wins 
Rugby Podcast Special: Munster and Leinster's imperfect wins 
Simon Lewis and Brendan O’Brien talk through Munster and Leinster’s imperfect wins in round 2 of the Champions Cup pool stages.

 Listen | Sun, 14 Dec, 2025

 Listen |
Clayton McMillan ahead of the match 13/12/2025
Munster head coach Clayton McMillan: 'We could have been a lot better'
Skipper and try scorer Tadhg Beirne shared his boss’s assessment of the Munster performance.

Sat, 13 Dec, 2025

Munster Rugby v Gloucester Rugby - Investec Champions Cup - SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Munster get Champions Cup campaign back on track with bonus-point win over Gloucester
It was a far from vintage performance as Munster played their first competitive game at the home of Cork GAA in front of more than 36,000 supporters.

Sat, 13 Dec, 2025

Michael Ala'alatoa celebrates Ruadhan Quinn's try 13/12/2025
Munster v Gloucester, Champions Cup, as it happened
Clayton McMillan's side was in action in Pairc Ui Chaoimh and looking to bounce back after their opening loss to Bath last weekend

Sat, 13 Dec, 2025

Michael Ala'alatoa 9/12/2025
Munster face 'must-win' night in Cork after Bath blowout
Clayton McMillan said there are "lots of little lessons" for Munster from the defeat to Bath. Though he added they do not need to start looking for problems where there are none

Sat, 13 Dec, 2025

Ireland Rugby Squad Training and Media Conference
Dave Kilcoyne on retirement, Christmas traditions and Munster rugby heroes
What is it like for professional athletes to retire? Manon Gilbart talks to former Munster and Ireland player Dave Kilcoyne to find out

Sat, 13 Dec, 2025

Munster v Edinburgh - United Rugby Championship
Jack O'Donoghue: Páirc Uí Chaoimh fitting stage for dual star Ben O'Connor's first Champions Cup start
O’Donoghue, 31, has some hurling pedigree himself, winning age-grade Waterford county medals with the mighty Ballygunner as a teenager before elite-level rugby came calling.

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Munster v Edinburgh - United Rugby Championship
Munster hit reset for Gloucester after 'bordering on embarrassing' loss
Munster head coach Clayton McMillan has made nine changes to his side to face Gloucester from the one which lost heavily to Bath in the Champions Cup last week

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Jack Crowley 9/12/2025
Munster make nine changes for Gloucester Champions Cup clash at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Meanwhile Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his team for their Challenge Cup meeting with Georgian side Black Lion at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday (8pm).

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Andrew Smith arrives 5/4/2025
S Ronan O'Gara: Suffering on safari, Munster fans' blind loyalty, me in my box
Our intrepid columnist finds himself in reflective mood after another brush with authority, admiring Munster's support from afar and, all the while, mixing with the wildlife on South Africa's most southerly tip

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Alex Nankivell 9/12/2025
Alex Nankivell hails Martyn Vercoe's quiet influence as Munster gear up for Gloucester
The 29-year-old knew what to expect but he has been impressed by their instant impact at Munster.

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Alex Kendellen wins a line-out 6/12/2025
S Donal Lenihan: The Champions Cup has lost its magic — but Irish rugby still treats it with respect
The Champions Cup once gripped rugby supporters across Europe, but weakened squads, format changes and shrinking ambition have drained its energy

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Bath v Munster - Investec Champions Cup
Mike Prendergast: 'When they changed the rules they probably didn't realise it was going to come to this'
Prendergast says World Rugby’s aerial contest directive has led to more box kicks, more scrums and a noticeable decline in match quality

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Munster v DHL Stormers - United Rugby Championship
Craig Casey pens two-year contract extension with Munster
The contract extenion will keep him in Munster until at least 2028.

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Ross Byrne 7/12/2025
Thomond schooling guides Byrne into Páirc Uí Chaoimh showdown
Byrne knows he will be viewed by Munster supporters through the prism of his Leinster allegiances this weekend, even though he has moved on to Gloucester.

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Michael Ala'alatoa dejected after the match 6/12/2025
S Donal Lenihan: Michael Ala’alatoa the only bright spark for Munster on chastening night
This was just about the worst possible launchpad for a campaign of this calibre, but Munster are more than capable of responding against Gloucester at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

Ted Hill 6/12/2025
S Bath pummelling puts Euro ambition in sharp perspective
Now Munster have to regroup ahead of this Saturday’s visit to Cork’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where Gloucester will arrive sensing blood in the water.

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

Michael Milne 1/12/2025
'Silver linings' for McMillan as Milne likely to be fit for Páirc Uí Chaoimh
The loosehead prop picked up a knock in the warm-up in Bath.

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

Munster dejected after conceding their fourth try of the match 6/12/2025
As it happened: Early blitz carries Bath past Munster in Champions Cup opener 
No joy for Munster at The Rec.

Sat, 06 Dec, 2025

Northampton Saints v Union Bordeaux-Begles - Investec Champions Cup 2024/2025 Final
S Ronan O'Gara: Don't judge until you've walked a mile in my moccasins
With injuries mounting, disciplinary hearings looming and a punishing run of fixtures ahead, Ronan O’Gara reflects on Pau and the European road

Sat, 06 Dec, 2025

JJ Hanrahan 1/12/2025
Leamy backs Munster’s road-hardened smarts for Bath Champions Cup test 
Munster face Bath in their opening game of the Champions Cup knowing they will need their best performance of the season to leave the the Rec with something meaningful

Sat, 06 Dec, 2025

JJ Hanrahan 1/12/2025
McMillan backs experienced JJ Hanrahan to deliver on big European stage 
With Jack Crowley's absence through an ankle injury confirmed early on Friday, McMillan's choice for the vacant No. 10 jersey pitted JJ Hanrahan against Tony Butler, and given the magnitude of the game, the head coach and his coaching staff felt opting for the experience of 33-year-old Hanrahan was the right choice for the occasion.

Sat, 06 Dec, 2025

Tom Farrell is tackled by Warrick Gelant 29/11/2025
Munster’s Tom Farrell calls for ‘complete performance’ ahead of clash with Bath
Tom Farrell says Munster must hit every mark — attack, defence and set-piece — as they open Europe away to resurgent Bath

Sat, 06 Dec, 2025

Munster v DHL Stormers - United Rugby Championship
'A fairly strong chance that he'll be available': Munster's Jack Crowley likely to be fit for Páirc Uí Chaoimh showdown with Gloucester
Crowley has missed out on selection for the competition opener against Premiership leaders Bath.

Fri, 05 Dec, 2025

Munster v DHL Stormers - United Rugby Championship
McMillan makes five Munster changes as Crowley ruled out of Champions Cup opener
Michael Ala’alatoa is set for his Munster debut as a replacement after joining until the end of the season from Clermont Auvergne. 

Fri, 05 Dec, 2025

Clayton McMillan with Johann van Graan 12/9/2025
S Duncan Casey: Munster need everything onside at The Rec - including some good old grudge
You can’t argue with what Van Graan has achieved since the move to Bath - they were a basket case when he arrived but have gone from strength to strength since

Fri, 05 Dec, 2025

Your sport on TV this week: Champions and Challenge Cup, provincial finals and Premier League
Your sport on TV this week: Champions and Challenge Cup, provincial finals and Premier League
It is another action packed weekend of sport on TV - here's all you need to know.

Fri, 05 Dec, 2025

A view of the Investec Champions Cup trophy and match ball 24/5/2024
S Champions Cup 2025-26 pool-by-pool guide: Form teams to dark horses
The European blue riband club tournament kicks off, once more, this weekend. 

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Munster Rugby Squad Training
John Hodnett: 'We just have to be better, it doesn't matter who we are playing'
The upcoming Pool 2 meeting will provide something of an acid test for the Clayton McMillan's early progress to restore silverware to the province’s trophy cabinet

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Thirty years of Champions Cup has given us the beastly, beautiful and bizarre
Thirty years of Champions Cup has given us the beastly, beautiful and bizarre
Bloodgate, the ‘Hand of Back’ and a drop goal off ‘someone’s arse’ are among the tournament’s delightful eccentricities - and Munster’s contribution to European history is also impossible to overlook

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Munster Rugby Squad Training
'Great acquisition' Alaalatoa can 'change pictures' for Munster
After the Munster scrum was demolished by the Stormers, Denis Leamy knows Bath will target a perceived weak link

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Jack Crowley scores a try 29/11/2025
Munster 'very hopeful' on Jack Crowley fitness as Bath Champions Cup trip looms
Munster were boosted by the arrival on Monday of Samoan Test tighthead Michael Alaatoa. The 34-year-old will come straight into the selection mix for this weekend's clash with English champions Bath. 

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Dr. Jamie Kearns and Jack O'Donoghue 29/11/2025
Munster confirm Jack O'Donoghue will miss Champions Cup opener in Bath
Munster could be set to hand Samoan tighthead prop Michael Alaalatoa a debut at The Rec  following a move from ASM Clermont Auvergne

Mon, 01 Dec, 2025

Tadhg Beirne dejected after the match 29/11/2025
Skipper Beirne says Munster have 'uphill battle' after second-half collapse against Stormers
"We've got no choice but to learn the lessons quickly."

Mon, 01 Dec, 2025

Dylan Maart scores a try 29/11/2025
Sorry second-half collapse costs Munster as Stormers spring back to silence Thomond
To rub salt in the wounds of Clayton McMillan’s first defeat since taking charge of Munster, the winning try came from an intercept inside the Stormers half eight minutes from time

Sat, 29 Nov, 2025

RUGBYU-FRA-TOP14-LA ROCHELLE-CASTRES
S Ronan O’Gara: When decision-making collapses, everything else crumbles with it
A chaotic loss to Castres forces La Rochelle into a blunt assessment of decision-making, scanning and collective responsibility

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Michael Alaalatoa 12/4/2021
Alaalatoa brings 'international experience' as concerns linger over Jager and Salanoa
“So there's not a lot of available tightheads available around the world. But we have continued our search just to give us, I guess, some insurance… "

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Your sport on TV this week: Munster Club SHC final, URC returns and Premier League
Your sport on TV this week: Munster Club SHC final, URC returns and Premier League
It is another action packed weekend of sport on TV with the Munster Club SHC final between Waterford's Ballygunner and Clare's Éire Óg, Ennis, the URC returns with all four Irish provinces in action and the Premier League continues - all you need to know here. 

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Clayton McMillan 24/11/2025
Clayton McMillan: 'Our internationals came bouncing back in, in pretty good nick'
“We're really clear around how much rugby they can play over the next nine weeks.”

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Tadhg Beirne 24/11/2025
Big guns return to Munster starting XV for top of table clash with Stormers
Half-backs Craig Casey and Jack Crowley start at scrum-half and fly-half respectively and fellow Ireland replacement last Saturday Tom Farrell is restored at outside centre having earned his first two Test caps during November.

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Jack O'Donoghue and Jean Kleyn celebrate after the match 25/10/2025
Munster lock Jean Kleyn linked with Top 14's Bayonne
Rugbyrama, the French-based website of Midi Olympique, reported Wednesday that Bayonne made their play for Kleyn in a video conference call this week

Wed, 26 Nov, 2025

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