Munster

  1. Crowley named URC players' player of the year

    Jack Crowley in action for MunsterInpho

    Jack Crowley established himself as Johnny Sexton's successor for Ireland

    Munster and Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley has been named the United Rugby Championship's Players' Player of the Year.

    It caps a breakthrough year for the 24-year-old, who helped Ireland win the Six Nations after replacing Johnny Sexton in the starting 10 jersey.

    The award was was voted for by the captain and vice-captain of all 16 teams, with nominees required to have made a minimum of nine appearances.

    Munster finished the regular URC season at the top of the table after winning 13 of their 18 games but were knocked out of the play-offs by Glasgow in the semi-finals on Saturday.

    The award comes after his head coach Graham Rowntree was named United Rugby Championship coach of the year for the 2023-24 season.

    Last week, Crowley was one of three Munster played named in the URC's Elite XV along with Alex Nankivell and Tadhg Beirne.

    Crowley was also named next-gen player of the season while Shane Daly won the ironman award for playing the most minutes.

  2. Munster boss Rowntree named URC coach of the year

    Munster head coach Graham Rowntree Getty Images

    Rowntree led last year's champions Munster to the 2023-24 URC semi-finals, where they lost to Glasgow

    Munster's Graham Rowntree has been named United Rugby Championship coach of the year for the 2023-24 season.

    While Rowntree led Munster to the 2022-23 title, the Irish province were knocked out of this season's play-offs by Glasgow last weekend.

    They entered the play-offs as top seeds having finished the regular season top of the table, winning 13 of their 18 games including an impressive double over the Bulls and Lions in South Africa in April.

    Rowntree, who took over at Thomond Park in 2022, also led the province to 11 wins in a row post-Christmas.

    Last week, three Munster players - Jack Crowley, Alex Nankivell and Tadhg Beirne - made the URC's Elite XV.

    Ireland fly-half Crowley was also named next-gen player of the season while Shane Daly won the ironman award for playing the most minutes.

    The URC's players' player of the season will be announced on Thursday.

  3. Nick Timoney, Cormac Izuchukwu and Jamison Gibson-Park

  4. United Rugby Championship flag

  6. Munster wing Nash ruled out of Glasgow semi-final

    Calvin Nash pictured in trainingGetty Images

    Nash is unavailable due to what Munster have called a 'leg knock'

    Ireland wing Calvin Nash has been ruled out of Munster's United Rugby Championship semi-final against Glasgow at Thomond Park on Saturday (18:00 BST).

    Nash is unavailable because of a 'leg knock'. Simon Zebo moves to the wing having been at full-back for last week's quarter-final win over Ospreys.

    Full-back Mike Haley and fit-again centre Alex Nankivell come into the backline while Fineen Wycherley and Jack O’Donoghue start in the pack as Graham Rowntree makes four changes.

    If defending champions Munster win, they will face either Leinster or Bulls at Thomond Park in the final on 22 June.

    Munster: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Simon Zebo; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue.

    Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Oli Jager, RG Snyman, Gavin Coombes, Conor Murray, Sean O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.