Munster won't be financially derailed by lack of Champions Cup home tie

Having a Champions Cup last-16 home tie would have paid the yearly salary of at least one Munster player. 

Munster CEO Ian Flanagan said his side winning more Champions Cup group stage points than La Rochelle but being the away team in the last-16 is a "quirk of the format of the tournament".

Munster’s season will not be derailed financially by their failure to secure a Champions Cup knockout tie at Thomond Park, chief executive Ian Flanagan said, but admitted it was “a shame” the team could not deliver a showpiece clash to supporters on home soil.

Last Saturday’s 34-32 pool defeat at Northampton Saints, their second away loss in the Pool 3 campaign, consigned Munster to a third-place finish and an away Round of 16 tie which has pitted them against Ronan O’Gara’s French heavyweights La Rochelle.