Garrett Fitzgerald says Doug Howlett was the best signing he made during his 20 years as Munster CEO.

Munster Rugby’s loss is Cork GAA’s gain as Aidan O’Connell joins the latter organisation as their first ever high-performance manager.

Cork GAA have appointed Munster Rugby's strength and conditioning coach Aidan O'Connell as the county's new High Performance Manager.

For years, there had been a reliance on IRFU assistance to facilitate loan repayment negotiations on the debt arising from the Thomond Park redevelopment,

John Meyler has challenged Cork’s players to win the All-Ireland title that will ensure their team-mate Pat Horgan goes down in the annals of hurling history.

Simon Lewis The Munster exit door kept revolving yesterday as exciting young fly-half Bill Johnston left for Ulster in search of more game time and Heineken Cup-winning legend Doug Howlett decided to return to his native New Zealand.

The province's Head of Commercial and Marketing wishes to return to his native New Zealand, 11 years after joining Munster as a player.

The new provincial hurling championships have a strong advocate in Cork hurling captain Seamus Harnedy, even if he admits now that he was “sceptical enough beforehand” last year.

Joe Canning has no problem findings targets.

Cork senior hurling manager John Meyler is looking forward to his side’s Munster championship opener in Pairc Ui Chaoimh — and hoping the post-match conversation won’t be about the playing surface.

Ahead of Saturday's eagerly awaited Heineken Champions Cup semi-final clash between Munster and Saracens we look back at previous titanic clashes between these two old rivals.

Munster’s midfield maestros spend longest at the dinner table, according to Emma Tester, Lead Performance Nutritionist with Munster Rugby.

Cork hurling great Diarmuid O’Sullivan believes his father Jerry has earned the right to run for the GAA Presidency after decades of rising up through the ranks.

“Help us pull this red thread tighter” — that was the appeal from host and former captain Doug Howlett at the inaugural Munster Rugby New York dinner Tuesday night, when the province’s 2008 Heineken Cup-winning team were honoured on the 10-year anniversary of their victory over Toulouse.

Every position in the back line has been filled by Leinster’s Isa Nacewa, including scrum-half where he excelled in one game last season when Luke McGrath was sinbinned. The veteran New Zealander even scored a try while holding that fort, writes Brendan O’Brien

Mathieu Bastareaud has always stood out in a crowd, never more so than when surrounded by some of the most famous players in the world.

Qualification for the Champions Cup knockout stages for a record 17th time last week may have sent head coach Johann van Graan off for a week’s holiday in fine fettle.

Doug Howlett has revealed his bid to sign All Blacks wing Julian Savea for Munster – if only to stop “The Bus” breaking his record as New Zealand’s all-time leading try scorer.

"Now, more than ever, support is critical to ensure that sick children have the best care and treatments available."

You do not need to look back at the rugby landscape of a decade ago to realise what a fast-changing environment the sport is in.

Munster Rugby marked the start of a new season by introducing a revamped commercial team, appointing head of commercial and marketing Enda Lynch to a new role of Head of Enterprise and promoting former captain Doug Howlett as his replacement.

Running 24 marathons in 24 days would take its toll on the fittest super-human.

Carl Hoeft, a key member of the Maori All Black management team preparing for Friday’s sold-out clash with Munster at Thomond Park, is under no illusions about the challenge awaiting his side.

New Zealand’s sporting reaction to their defeat by Ireland in Soldier Field, Chicago, on Saturday has been favourably commented upon in this country.

Culture is a word and a concept that gets bandied around with some abandon in modern sport.

It was the type of reunion the rugby fraternity never thought would happen.

Anthony Foley would be impressed.

Soldier Field, Chicago. The All Blacks. Rarely has one game and one venue captured the imagination in the manner of Ireland’s upcoming meeting with New Zealand in the Windy City. 

Munster are feeling rightly proud of their new High Performance Centre, which they hope will provide coaches and players with all the necessary tools to propel the province back into Europe’s elite.

Ireland’s four provinces are facing an almost impossible task in their respective bids to push beyond the pool stages of the Champions Cup, never mind win it.

Munster Rugby’s poor performances and falling attendances have seen its annual deficit forecast soar to almost €1.95 million for the soon-to-end financial year.

Is a change in mindset required if Ireland is to ever realise its full potential in professional rugby?

This week’s news that Connacht star Robbie Henshaw has decided to leave his native province and link up with Leinster has come as another source of disappointment for Munster fans disenchanted with their team’s poor form and a perception that not a whole lot is being done about it.

Leinster 16 Toulon 20: The economy is on the up again and a sparkling Aviva Stadium was nine-tenths full, but this had the feel of distant greyer days when the country’s economy was in the toilet and Lansdowne Road was still very much a celebration of concrete.

The Web Summit is not just about technology companies, there are 21 themed strands to the event and one of those strands is sport.