Clohessy and Moore bring the power to push Munster's charge 

Captain Maeve Óg O’Leary salutes the impact of two of her fellow forwards ahead of visit of Ulster 

HUGE IMPACT: Munster's Jane Clohessy celebrates after victory over Leinster last weekend. Pic:INPHO/Ben Brady

Munster have made no secret of their desire to be physically dominant during their Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial title defence this month and captain Maeve Óg O’Leary this week highlighted impact being made in that regard by two of her fellow forwards.

Munster will look to extend their winning start to the 2026 campaign this Saturday when they return to Cork’s Virgin Media Park to face Ulster (2:30pm), a week on from an opening-round 39-19 victory there over Leinster.

The home side more than met the challenge laid down by head coach Matt Brown ahead of the interpros to lead with their physicality and ahead of the round-two visit of Ulster, O’Leary was asked to set out the impacts being made by power forwards Jane Clohessy, who started in the second row against Leinster, and fellow back-rower Grace Moore.

Both will be expected to feature in Brown’s matchday squad this weekend when Munster reveal their selections on Friday afternoon. Last Saturday, Clohessy, the 27-year-old daughter of Munster men’s front-row legend Peter, was making her comeback from a long-running wrist injury, while fellow Ireland international Moore, 30, was making her interprovincial debut having moved from Premiership Women’s Rugby club Ealing Trailfinders in England.

“Jane is unbelievable,” O’Leary said. “I think her journey so far, she obviously broke her wrist and then she got back for Six Nations camp and she broke it again on her return to contact, which is crap for any player who's returning. But I think it just says so much about her character and her attitude.

“She has such a fighting character. Every setback for her, it feels like she takes it as an opportunity. She dips into other parts of her life, but she always comes back hungrier. And her positive attitude is really, really infectious amongst the squad.

“I know everyone will be familiar with her dad and his fiery attitude, the way he played on the field. And she brings that same sense. It's unreal. It's so fun to play with, you know, when Jane gets the ball, that she could have four defenders hanging off her before she goes down.

“So it's great to play with her on the pitch but her positivity off the pitch is unbelievable as well. She's always pushing for a higher standard. She's so helpful to the younger girls who are coming up and helping them out. And she's also so open to improve her own game all the time too. And that's why she is where she is. That's why she is pushing these international squads.

“And I'm really excited for her now to get, hopefully, a long run without injury and see how she can go. But she's unbelievable and she's not dissimilar to her dad, anyway.” 

 As for Moore, who started at openside flanker alongside her skipper at No.8, O’Leary said: “I's great to have Grace in.

“She's coming over from the Prem and coming down from the Ireland squad as well, which is unbelievable.

“She brings a massive physical presence in the back row, and her work rate is unbelievable. I think she's probably one of our quickest off linespeed in every defensive ruck or set play.

“So it's class to have her down, class to have her experience. She really helped, I suppose, raise the standard in training too, with how physically dominant she is in her carry and defence. It meant that everybody, I suppose, had to make sure we were able to kind of take her down. So, yes, she's been massively beneficial and really exciting to have her around as well.”