How are the Irish provinces shaping up for new season?
The Irish provinces begin their United Rugby Championship seasons this weekend
- Published
Ending with an unforgettable win in South Africa, and containing a second consecutive Six Nations title, 2023-24 was a memorable season for the Irish national team notwithstanding yet another galling World Cup quarter-final exit.
For the four provinces, however, there were fewer bright spots.
None advanced further than the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship [URC], with Munster especially disappointed to lose their title despite finishing top of the table.
In Europe, meanwhile, only Leinster made a real dent but their campaign ended in the most heartbreaking of fashions, an extra-time defeat to Toulouse in the final their third straight loss in the continental decider.
Those two will be looking to get back amongst the silverware this season, while in second years under new coaches Ulster and Connacht can both expect more even campaigns than last time around.
With the new season starting this weekend, BBC Sport NI assesses how the four Irish sides are shaping up for the campaign.
Ulster
A youthful Ulster team can still call upon the likes of John Cooney and Stuart McCloskey this season
Head coach: Richie Murphy
Captain: Iain Henderson
Last season: 6th (beaten quarter-finalists)
Opening URC fixtures: 21/09 - Glasgow (h); 28/09 - Lions (a); 5/10 - Bulls (a); 12/10 - Connacht (h).
Champions Cup opponents: Toulouse (a), Bordeaux (h), Leicester (a), Exeter (h).
Ins: Werner Kok (Sharks), Aidan Morgan (Hurricanes)
Outs: Steven Kitshoff (Stormers) Will Addison (Sale), Billy Burns (Munster), Luke Marshall (retired), Dave Ewers (Stormers)
What to expect: This time 12 months ago, Dan McFarland was the Ulster head coach, Jonny Petrie their CEO, and the northern province's fanbase were eagerly anticipating the arrival of Springbok superstar Steven Kitshoff on a three-year deal.
One year on and McFarland, the side's longest serving head coach of the professional era, has departed, so too Petrie and Kitshoff - all three leaving earlier than planned after a chaotic season in Belfast last time around.
The arrival of Ireland under-20s head coach Richie Murphy in March, initially on an interim basis, lifted the mood and sparked a run of results that at least ensured Champions Cup rugby this season, but there is still a sense of a team in transition.
As the 2024-25 campaign begins, perhaps the biggest change around Ravenhill - which itself will soon no longer be known as Kingspan Stadium - is the level of expectation.
The side have not won silverware since the 2006 Celtic League title and, although the URC has developed a tendency to produce surprise champions, are not among the favourites for either domestic or European honours the season.
Still, if Murphy can continue to rebuild confidence, and more young players emerge to complement the likes of David McCann, Tom Stewart and Cormac Izuchukwu, the campaign will likely be viewed as a step in the right direction.
Munster
Munster have brought Billy Burns to Thomond Park from Ulster
Head coach: Graham Rowntree
Captain: Tadhg Beirne
Last season: 1st (beaten semi-finalists)
Opening URC fixtures: 21/09 - Connacht (h); 28/09 - Zebre (a); 5/10 - Ospreys (h); 12/10 - Leinster (a).
Champions Cup opponents: Stade Francais (h), Castres (a), Saracens (h), Northampton (a).
Ins: Diarmuid Kilgallen (Connacht), Billy Burns (Ulster), Tom Farrell (Connacht), Tjaakier Abrahams (Lyon)
Outs: Joey Carbery (Bordeux-Begles), RG Snyman (Leinster), Antoine Frish (Toulon), Kenyan Knox (Bourgoin), Simon Zebo (retired)
What to expect: When Munster won the URC in the inaugural season of Graham Rowntree's tenure in 2022-23, it felt as if the southern province's first silverware since 2011 had arrived ahead of schedule.
Yet, when finishing top of the standings last time around, there was an expectation that they could go on and defend their title. Glasgow sprung a deserving surprise at Thomond Park in the semi-finals and went on to be crowned champions a week later, casting a long shadow over the summer in Limerick.
The loss of RG Snyman, given his luckless injury profile over the years, will not weaken the side on the field unduly, but on the whole, the squad still looks weaker on paper than it did last year given that French centre Antoine Frish's international situation forced has his exit.
The arrival of Tjaakier Abrahams should, at least, bring some explosiveness to the back-three, while Jean Kleyn's return from injury provides a real boost, as will Edwin Edogbo's who is expected back mid-season.
A better start than in recent seasons would be wholly welcome, while a return to the sharp end of Europe should be viewed as a real target.
Leinster
Double World Cup winner RG Snyman has been brought in from Munster
Head coach: Leo Cullen
Captain: Caelan Doris
Last season: 3rd (beaten semi-finalists)
Opening URC fixtures: 20/09 - Edinburgh (a); 27/09 - Dragons (h); 5/10 - Benetton (a); 12/10 - Munster (h).
Champions Cup opponents: Bristol (a), Clermont (h), La Rochelle (a), Bath (h).
Ins: RG Snyman (Munster), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Rabah Slimani (Clermont)
Outs: Michael Ala’alatoa (Clermont), Jason Jenkins (Sharks), Ross Molony (Bath), Ed Byrne (Cardiff), Rhys Ruddock (retired)
What to expect: Three years without a trophy constitutes a silverware drought at Leinster and Leo Cullen's side have certainly retooled in an effort to deliver a first title since 2021.
RG Snyman figures to be a game-changer for their pack, providing the unfortunate former Munster lock can stay on the pitch more than he manged during his four years at Thomond Park, while Rabah Slimani arrives from Clermont with a wealth of Test and top-level experience to cover for Tadhg Furlong's international absences, as well as offering enviable depth during the Champions Cup campaign.
The signing that really set tongues wagging across the rugby world was that of Jordie Barrett. The versatile All Black will not arrive until after the Autumn Internationals but, over the course of his short-term deal, figures to be a key contributor despite Leinster's already loaded backline.
With their RDS home being redeveloped, and the staging of home fixtures at the Aviva Stadium and Croke Park, Leinster will expect to provide the games to match their grand surroundings. Anything less than a trophy will be a disappointment.
Connacht
Cian Prendergast will take over from Jack Carty as Connacht captain this year
Head coach: Pete Wilkins
Captain: Cian Prendergast
Last season: 11th
Opening URC fixtures: 21/09 - Munster (a); 28/09 - Sharks (h); 4/10 - Scarlets (a); 12/10 - Ulster (a).
Challenge Cup opponents: Zebre (h), Perpignan (a), Lyon (h), Cardiff (a).
Ins: Piers O’Conor (Bristol Bears), Adam McBurney (Edinburgh), David O’Connor (Ealing Trailfinders), Josh Ioane (Chiefs)
Outs: Diarmuid Kilgallen (Munster), Tom Farrell (Munster), Tiernan O’Halloran (retired), Jarrad Butler (released) Tom Daly (Nice), Gavin Thornbury (released)
What to expect: A season that started strongly for Connacht really petered out last time around with departed director of rugby Andy Friend ultimately and expectedly proving a hard act to follow in Galway.
What was an entirely new ticket, headed up by Friend's former assistant Pete Wilkins, will expect to deliver greater consistency in their second season, especially with the drop back down to the Challenge Cup presumably easing the load on his squad.
Plenty of experience has departed over the summer with the likes of Tiernan O'Halloran and former captain Jarrad Butler leaving, while once-capped All Black Josh Ioane is the most high profile of their arrivals as the side look to compensate for JJ Hanrahan's injury.
The youthful nature of the squad was highlighted by the decision to make 24-year-old Cian Prendergast captain for this season, though the returns to fitness of Mack Hansen and Santiago Cordero, the latter currently on Rugby Championship duty with Argentina, will bring Test-level quality to their play-off push.
Returning to the Champions Cup should be the objective.