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.

“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.

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.

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.

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

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. 

ENGLAND: One of the most important record collections to catalogue the history of music from 800AD until 1700 is to go under the hammer at auction.

Doug Howlett remains hopeful that Munster will be able to source a replacement for Paul O’Connell from abroad.

The Prodigy’s Liam Howlett tells Ed Power of his rage against the commercial makeover of their genre

CJ Stander wants to stay at Munster well beyond his current contract in a bid to make a similar impact on the province as Doug Howlett.

Lost amid the post mortems of Munster’s Aviva Stadium victory over Leinster last Saturday was the no-fanfare return pitchside of a former great when the ‘A’ teams faced off earlier that afternoon.

Munster kick off their A campaign at Donnybrook today (1pm) with new head coach Mick O’Driscoll welcoming an important addition to his backroom staff in Doug Howlett.

You pretty much know what you’re going to get with a Prodigy gig, and last night at the Marquee in Cork they again managed to tick those quality boxes they’ve been filling in since they first burst on the scene in the early 1990s.

Imports like Mils Muliaina and Bundee Aki can leave a lasting legacy at a club. It’s not just what you learn on the Saturday, it’s as much about what you’re picking up from Monday to Friday.

One of rugby’s most celebrated wing wonders may no longer be crossing the whitewash for Munster, but Doug Howlett can still play an important part in shaping the province’s future in his role as a corporate ambassador.

It’s the eve of an all-Irish Rabo Direct pro 12 final, again underlining just how strong the provincial game remains in this country.

The final weeks of any season are characterised by drama and emotion. Dreams fulfilled and shattered, players moving on, others donning the boots for one last battle.

By Ian Cusack

From one All Blacks legend to another, fly-half Dan Carter yesterday paid a touching tribute to Munster captain and former team-mate Doug Howlett, who on Tuesday announced his retirement with immediate effect due to a shoulder injury.

As it turned out, Doug Howlett’s last act on a rugby pitch was to do what he did best during an illustrious career for the All Blacks and Munster — scoring a try.

Munster have announced that current squad captain Doug Howlett will retire from professional rugby at the end of this season.

Munster head coach Rob Penney revealed last night that he believes Ronan O’Gara will have a pivotal role to play if the two-time Heineken Cup champions are to upset the odds and beat ASM Clermont Auvergne in Montpellier today.

Munster skipper Doug Howlett remains “very doubtful” for Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against competition favourites Clermont Auvergne as head coach Rob Penney assesses a mixed bag of injury news before finalising his team selection.

There is mixed news for Munster on the injury front as Simon Zebo returns from injury for Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Halequins (2pm) but skipper Doug Howlett misses out through a shoulder injury.

Doug Howlett says it’s crucial that Munster put to bed the dismal Rabo Direct Pro 12 loss to Glasgow last weekend.

Glasgow 51 Munster 24

Glasgow 51 Munster 24

With the effects of the horsemeat scandal still reverberating, Safefood 360 has seen demand for its systems shoot up.There are big plans for the next two years, its chief executive tells Trish Dromey.

After last weekend’s drubbing at the hands of Treviso, Munster head coach Rob Penney has made five personnel changes for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Ospreys at Thomond Park (6.30pm).

Medical examination has shown that Donnacha Ryan suffered nothing worse than bruising to his shoulder in the course of Ireland’s RBS Six Nations defeat to Scotland on Sunday.

Munster backline duo Doug Howlett and Felix Jones have been ruled out of action for February after both underwent minor knee scopes last week.

Munster 29 Racing Metro 6

Munster captain Doug Howlett admits his side will have to dig deep into their mental reserves to rebound from a desperate loss to Cardiff Blues and build momentum for this Sunday’s must-win Heineken Cup game at Edinburgh.

Munster 6 Cardiff 17

Munster winger Simon Zebo put pen to paper on a three-year contract yesterday and was told he has at least a decade of top-flight rugby ahead of him with the province.

Saracens 19 Munster 13

With three-quarters of the Irish Heineken Cup contingent occupying second place in their pools entering the second week of the crucial back-to-back fixtures, Penney, Schmidt and Elwood will be aware that this weekend could make or break their European season.

Munster 15 Saracens 9

Doug Howlett backed Munster’s strength in depth after the province’s back-row injury curse struck again ahead of Saturday’s crucial Heineken Cup showdown with Saracens.