Munster pledge to McMillan on 'stardust' signings

Chief executive Ian Flanagan said he had made a commitment to Clayton McMillan to back him with the necessary resources and that funds would not be a problem.

Munster CEO Ian Flanagan. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Munster Rugby chief Ian Flanagan is confident new head coach Clayton McMillan will deliver lasting success and has assured the former Chiefs boss he will have all the resources necessary to make that happen across his first three years in post.

The New Zealander has made a winning start with two wins from two in Munster’s first URC fixtures of the new season. 

He has committed to properly gauging the quality of the squad he inherited this summer across the opening games of the campaign. 

McMillan has also suggested he may need to add to the existing player group in certain positions he feels they are under-resourced.

Chief executive Flanagan said he had made a commitment to McMillan to back him with the necessary resources and that funds would not be a problem.

Flanagan said: “We generally try to bring in some world-class stardust to add on top of what we already have. I think we’ve got fantastic talent in the team through the likes of Thaakir Abrahams already. Clayton has already said there’s one or two positions on the depth chart where he thinks we may need some cover and we’re looking at any opportunities that may arise around those positions.

“We’re very much at the mercy of the international marketplace but it’s my job to give every coach here the resources to be successful. So if Clayton wants a player from overseas and we have the permission from the IRFU to bring in that player, then it’s my job to ensure that Clayton has the resources and that the resources won’t be a problem. And that’s the commitment I’ve made to him.”

Asked how he would measure the success of McMillan’s tenure, Flanagan stopped short of demanding silverware from the man chosen to be the permanent successor to URC-title-winning head coach Graham Rowntree, who left by mutual consent almost 12 months ago. 

The Kiwi began a three-year contract this summer.

“Clayton is a very ambitious guy, but we want and need the men’s team to be competitive in the two tournaments in which we compete and that is the aim, that we’re competitive at the pointy end of the tournaments and that we’re reaching knockout games, we have home knockout games.

“Ultimately, Clayton will leave Munster in a better position than the day he walked in through the door. And that is what I’ll define as success. Developing players, bringing players through, ultimately more homegrown players and more Munster players wearing the green shirt of Ireland.

“They’re all part of the barometers of success as well (as silverware).”

Munster are confident some of those resources will be boosted by staging a first Champions Cup home pool game in Cork since October 2002, when Gloucester visit Supervalu Pairc Uí Chaoimh on December 13. 

It will be the province’s first competitive fixture at the GAA stadium following friendlies against South Africa A in November 2022 and New Zealand’s Crusaders in February 2024, both of which attracted 40,000-plus crowds.

Edwin Edogbo stretches during Munster training at UL this week. Pic: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

“It’ll be the first Champions Cup game in Cork in 23 years, so it’s a big occasion; big occasion for the club, big occasion for Cork,” said Flanagan. “It’s been great working with (Cork GAA CEO) Kevin O’Donovan and his team. It’s a really smooth operation. The support from Cork City Council is important as well and there won’t be an issue on the logistical side.

“We expect the game to be a sellout or as close to a sell-out as possible. The seats sold out in one day. So everything in a seat and under cover is gone, so that’s obviously the first part of the demand for the Cork audience.

“I’ve no doubt it’ll be a huge success and it’ll be a huge occasion. Cork people love their sport and they love big sports occasions and this will be another one. It’ll be generational.

“It’ll be the first time people will have seen Munster running out for a Champions Cup game in a generation so it’ll be a hugely special moment.”

Flanagan reiterated what he told the Irish Examiner in August 2024 — that the move away from Thomond Park for this fixture was due to a home pool game underperforming in Limerick since covid. 

“If we move that first Champions Cup game to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, we thought that was a real opportunity because that game was a long way from selling out (in Limerick). So absolutely, the financial uplift from that game potentially, if we sell it out in Cork, is very significant.

“In addition to that it’s not just a financial decision. We have a huge audience in Cork. We have a huge audience in the south of the province. A lot of those people can’t get to Limerick regularly or don’t wish to go to Limerick regularly. You’re talking about night-time games in December, all the rest of it, travel issues and so on. So it was really important that we were able to connect with that audience around the big match.

“So fingers crossed we’re right. Fingers crossed we deliver a performance, a great occasion for Cork and ultimately get the win as well.”