Munster

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The fixture details for this year's Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup matches involving the four Irish provinces have been revealed.

Ulster will begin their Challenge Cup campaign with a home game against Racing 92 at the newly-named Affidea Stadium in Belfast on Friday 5 December (20:00 GMT).

Richie Murphy's side will then travel to face Cardiff away on Saturday 13 December (20:00), before taking on the Cheetahs at a European venue still to be confirmed on Sunday 11 January (15:15) and concluding with a home match against Stade Francais on Saturday 17 January (13:00).

In the Champions Cup, Leinster host Harlequins on 6 December (17:30), with the venue to be confirmed, with Munster away to Bath on the same day (20:00)

On Friday 12 December, Leinster are on the road to take on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road (20:00), with Munster hosting Gloucester at 17:30 on 13 December.

Leinster entertain La Rochelle on Saturday 10 January (17:30), then Munster are away to Toulon on 11 January (13:00).

In the final round of pool games, Leinster face Bayonne away on Saturday 17 January (15:15) and Munster play Castres at Thomond Park at 17:30 on the same day.

Connacht's Challenge Cup campaign commences with a trip to Ospreys on Sunday 7 December (15:15), followed by games at home to Black Lion (Saturday 13 December, 20:00), away to Montpellier (Sunday 11 January, 13:00) and home to US Montauban (Saturday 17 January, 20:00).

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With 16 players on British and Irish Lions duty this summer, interim Ireland head coach Paul O'Connell's 33-man squad for this summer's matches against Georgia and Portugal features 13 uncapped players. BBC Sport NI takes a closer look at those hoping to feature in green for the first time.

Alex Kendellen deservedly secured his first Ireland call-up at the end of a busy season that saw him make 22 appearances for Munster, scoring four tries including one in the Champions Cup.

Capable of playing across the back row, the Cork-born 24-year-old has made steady progression since his debut for the province in 2021, impressing for the Ireland under-20s in their Six Nations campaign that year before featuring in all 25 of Munster's games in the 2023-24 season.

Having been ruled out of the 2022 Emerging Ireland tour through concussion, Kendellen captained the young squad in their South African trip last autumn.

With 89 games already under his belt for Munster, Kendellen hopes to muscle his way into Ireland's long-term back-row options - and he has been given the chance to impress from the start against Portugal.

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With 16 players on British and Irish Lions duty this summer, interim Ireland head coach Paul O'Connell's 33-man squad for this summer's matches against Georgia and Portugal features 13 uncapped players. BBC Sport NI takes a closer look at those hoping to feature in green for the first time.

Andrew Porter's Lions commitments could open the door for Ireland's fringe loose-head props to establish themselves.

At 26, Michael Milne is not as young as some of O'Connell's squad, so he will undoubtedly be keen to make an instant impression this summer.

Having only started 12 games for Leinster in the best part of six years, Milne made the move to Munster earlier this year.

He started four games at loose-head, scoring a try against Ulster before putting in a whopping 90-minute shift in the United Rugby Championship play-off thriller against the Sharks, which the South Africans won in a place-kicking competition.

A Grand Slam winner with the Ireland under-20s, Milne has previously trained with the senior squad in multiple international windows, but this summer could be a crucial period in his development.

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With 16 players on British and Irish Lions duty this summer, interim Ireland head coach Paul O'Connell's 33-man squad for this summer's Tests against Georgia and Portugal features 13 uncapped players. BBC Sport NI takes a closer look at those hoping to feature in green for the first time.

Tom Ahern has been recognised by O'Connell after an impressive season with Munster, during which he made 19 appearances including five off the bench in the Champions Cup.

The 25-year-old lock made his Munster debut in 2020, has earned 65 caps and was part of the 2022-23 United Rugby Championship title-winning squad. In 2023-24, he scored eight tries in 23 outings.

Ahern, from County Waterford, featured for the Ireland under-20s during the 2019 World Rugby Under-20 Championship and was part of the 2022 Emerging Ireland tour of South Africa.

At under-20 level, he also helped Ireland win the Triple Crown during the Covid-hit 2020 Six Nations.

While his progress has been hindered by injuries, he has long been on the radar of Ireland's senior coaching staff. Invited to train with the squad during the 2021 autumn Tests and the past couple of Six Nations campaigns, Ahern hopes to finally earn his first senior international cap.

Capable of playing in the second and back rows, the 6ft 9in forward could learn a great deal under O'Connell, another totemic second row to have emerged from Munster.

He was nursing a hamstring injury but was passed fit on Tuesday.

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Leinster and La Rochelle have again been paired together in the draw for the Investec Champions Cup pool stages.

The four-time champions and former Irish fly-half Ronan O'Gara's side have met six times in the past five seasons, including twice in finals won by the French outfit.

The other sides in Pool Three are English pair Leicester Tigers and Harlequins, Top 14 side Bayonne and United Rugby Championship (URC) rivals the Stormers, although Leinster will not play the latter given that they are in the same domestic competition.

Munster have also been handed a familiar opponent and will play Castres of the Top 14 for the 20th time in this competition.

The southern province, who will be under new head coach Clayton McMillan next season, will also play Bath, Toulon and Gloucester with Edinburgh the other URC representative in Pool Two.

Ulster will start the season in the Challenge Cup for the first time in their history and have been paired with Cardiff, Exeter Chiefs, Cheetahs, Racing 92 and Stade Francais.

They faced Exeter in last season's Champions Cup, and Racing the season before that, although have not faced Stade Francais since 2009 or the Cheetahs since they departed what was then the PRO14 in 2020.

The Challenge Cup does not have the same rule against playing teams from your own league so Ulster could face Cardiff given they will play four opponents from their six-team pool.

Former England coach Stuart Lancaster will guide Connacht in the second-tier competition with the western province handed a more varied draw than their Irish rivals.

They are in Pool One along with Montauban, promoted to the Top 14 this season, and Georgian side Black Lion.

URC duo Ospreys and Zebre, as well as French side Montpellier, are also in the group.

Full fixture dates, times, and locations will be confirmed at a later date.

EPCR pools involving Irish sides

Champions Cup Pool 2: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Munster Rugby, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby

Champions Cup Pool 3: Leinster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, La Rochelle, Bayonne, DHL Stormers

Challenge Cup Pool 1: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier, US Montauban, Black Lion, Connacht Rugby

Challenge Cup Pool 3: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Francais, Ulster Rugby

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Munster captain Tadhg Beirne said "there was nothing more" he could ask of his team-mates after their United Rugby Championship quarter-final loss to Sharks was decided by a place-kick competition.

The Irish side led 21-10 in the second half but, after the game in Durban finished 24-24 and neither side scored during extra time, the match went into a penalty kick shootout.

Sharks were a perfect six-from-six in their shots at goal, while Rory Scannell was the only one wayward off the tee for Munster.

"They're riddled with internationals, they know what they're doing," said Beirne of the Sharks, who will now face South African rivals Bulls in the semi-finals.

"We knew they were going to keep coming at us, we knew they would be a tough battle, and we fought to the bitter end.

"There's nothing more I could ask of the lads. To go to a penalty shootout or whatever you call that there is gutting for us, but that's the way it goes and that's the way we lost the game."

The defeat represented final Munster appearances for Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer.

"There's no tomorrow for us this season and we have to say goodbye to some pretty special characters within this room," added Beirne, who will tour with the British and Irish Lions for a second time this summer.

"It's going to be a weird place without them, we've spoken about it before.

"They epitomise Munster, they love the club and they put blood, sweat and tears in for the club."

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Munster interim boss Ian Costello has again named an unchanged team for his side's United Rugby Championship quarter-final against the Sharks in Durban (17:30 BST).

Jack Crowley is retained at fly-half having overcome a rib injury in recent weeks.

Peter O'Mahony and Stephen Archer are named in the pack in what could be their final game before retirement.

Centre Rory Scannell is set to make his 200th Munster appearance off the bench. Also named among the replacements is former Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray, who will leave the club this summer.

The Sharks, who beat Munster 41-24 in Durban in October, name a team loaded with South Africa internationals, including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am.

Sharks: Fassi; Hooker, Am, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Nche, Mbonambi, Koch; Etzebeth (capt), Jenkins; Venter, Tshituka, Kolisi.

Replacements: Mbatha, Mchunu, Jacobs, Van Heerden, Buthelezi, Davids, Venter, Penxe.

Munster: Abrahams; Nash, Farrell, Nankivell, Kilgallen; Crowley, Craig Casey; Milne, Niall Scannell, Archer; Kleyn, Beirne (capt); O'Mahony, Hodnett, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Wycherley, Ryan, Ahern, Kendellen, Murray, Scannell, Haley.

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Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley has been passed fit for Munster's United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Sharks in Durban on Saturday (17:30 BST).

Crowley has been struggling with a rib injury which led to scrum-half Craig Casey taking over goal-kicking duties in the win over Benetton earlier this month.

Fit-again hookers Diarmuid Barron and Niall Scannell and loose-head prop Jeremy Loughman will also travel with the squad to South Africa.

Loughman has not played since Munster's Investec Champions Cup win away to La Rochelle on 5 April.

Oli Jager (head), Ethan Coughlan (hamstring), Billy Burns (shoulder), Shane Daly (hamstring) and Roman Salanoa (knee) remain unavailable to interim head coach Ian Costello.

2022-23 champions Munster secured sixth place in the URC regular-season standings with successive bonus-point wins over Ulster and Benetton to set up a quarter-final against the Sharks, who are third seeds.

The South African side won 41-24 when the teams met at Kings Park in Durban in October.

Munster travelling squad

Forwards: Tom Ahern, Stephen Archer, Diarmuid Barron, Lee Barron, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Gavin Coombes, Ronan Foxe, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jean Kleyn, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Milne, Jack O'Donoghue, Peter O'Mahony, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Fineen Wycherley, Josh Wycherley.

Backs: Thaakir Abrahams, Tony Butler, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Tom Farrell, Mike Haley, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Conor Murray, Alex Nankivell, Calvin Nash, Sean O'Brien, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Andrew Smith.

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Munster have confirmed they will play one of next season's Investec Champions Cup pool fixtures at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork.

Thomond Park in Limerick usually stages Munster's home European games, with Cork last hosting one at Virgin Media Park in December 2002.

Munster have held friendly games against South Africa XV and New Zealand side Crusaders at the 45,000-capacity Pairc Ui Chaoimh in recent years.

The match against Crusaders at the home of Cork GAA attracted a crowd of 40,885 and Munster say they hope for a "significant financial uplift" from hosting a Champions Cup game there compared to the 25,6000-capacity Thomond Park.

"In addition to this, the larger capacity of Pairc Ui Chaoimh will allow even more people to experience a competitive Munster Rugby European matchday which provides a fantastic opportunity to grow our support base, not just in Cork but right across the southern part of the province," said Munster chief operating officer Philip Quinn.

Munster chief executive Ian Costello, who has also served as interim head coach in recent months, said "showcasing a high-profile competitive fixture to a wider audience is a strategic goal of ours and this aligns with the feedback we have received from many of our supporters".

He added: "Unfortunately, the December Champions Cup pool fixtures in Thomond Park have experienced falling attendances over the last two seasons and the staging of this game in Pairc Ui Chaoimh offers us the opportunity to accommodate more supporters at that match and improve our financial stability which in the current climate is imperative."

Munster secured 2025-26 Champions Cup qualification with a United Rugby Championship win over Benetton last week.

They face Sharks in Durban in the URC quarter-finals on 31 May (17:30 BST).

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The quarter-finals of the 2024-25 United Rugby Championship season have yet to be played, but already the fixtures for the 2025-26 campaign have been released.

The Irish provinces learnt their URC schedule for the new term on Wednesday.

The opening round of fixtures will take place on the final weekend of September, with eight-time league winners Leinster taking on DHL Stormers on the opening evening of games on Friday 26 September.

Ulster will host the Dragons on the same day, with Munster travelling to play the Scarlets on Saturday 27 September and Connacht at home to Benetton on the same day.

The second round of matches will include Edinburgh v Ulster on Friday 3 October and Bulls v Leinster, Munster v Cardiff and Connacht v Scarlets on Saturday 4 October.

The festive derby games will see Leinster face Ulster on the run-up to Christmas on Friday 19 December, then on Saturday 27 December Connacht are at home to Ulster and Munster host Leinster.

On Friday 2 January, Ulster face Munster, while Leinster are at home to Connacht the next day.

The competition will follow the same format as recent years, with the top eight teams contesting the quarter-finals on the final weekend of May, followed by semi-finals on Saturday 6 June and the final on Saturday 20 June.

You can view a full list of the fixtures here, external.

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United Rugby Championship: Munster v Benetton

Munster (10) 30

Tries: Crowley, Barron, Abrahams, Bernasconi Cons: Crowley, Casey Pens: Crowley, Casey

Benetton (14) 21

Tries: Smyth 2, Bernasconi Cons: Umaga 3

Munster moved sixth in the United Rugby Championship and guaranteed their place in the play-off quarter-finals and next season's Champions Cup with a hard-fought 30-21 victory over Benetton at Virgin Media Park.

Benetton led 14-10 at the break but the Irish province responded after half-time to win.

Jack Crowley scored the opening try on 14 minutes when he dashed over from close range to score beside the posts, the Ireland fly-half converting his own touchdown.

Benetton responded with a try from Rhyno Smith as he went on angled run, skipped through an attempted tackle and dived over, Jacob Umaga converting.

Crowley's penalty edged the hosts in front again but the visitors went ahead with a stunning breakaway try.

Craig Casey missed a tackle on fly-half Umaga on halfway and he fed Smith who raced away for his second try.

Four minutes into the second half Lee Barron rumbled over from a maul after a line-out, Crowley off-target with the tee on that occasion.

Thaakir Abrahams then showed a fine turn of pace after accepting an offload for Munster's third try and Casey added a superb conversion from the touchline.

Crowley set up the score with a cross-kick for Diarmuid Kilgallen on the wing and he provided the pass for the South African to race clear.

A Casey penalty extended the lead to 11 but Munster weren't finished and Bautista Bernasconi barged over for their third score. Umaga's kick reduced the deficit to four.

Josh Wycherley powered over to give the home side some breathing space, Casey contributing the additional two points.

Munster: Abrahams; Nash, Farrell, Nankivell, Kilgallen; Crowley, Casey; Milne, Scannell, Archer; Kleyn, Beirne (capt); O'Mahony, Hodnett, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, J Wycherley, Ryan, F Wycherley, Ahern, Murray, O'Brien, Kendellen.

Benetton: Rhyno Smith, Ignacio Mendy, Tommaso Menoncello, Ignacio Brex, Paolo Odogwu, Jacob Umaga, Alessandro Garbisi; Thomas Gallo, Siua Maile, Simone Ferrari, Scott Scrafton, Federico Ruzza (CAPT), Riccardo Favretto, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Mirco Spagnolo, Tiziano Pasquali, Niccolò Cannone, Sebastian Negri, Nicolò Casilio, Tomas Albornoz, Malakai Fekitoa

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

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Fly-half Billy Burns will leave Munster at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.

The former Gloucester player joined the province last summer after spending six seasons with Ulster.

The 30-year-old has won seven caps for Ireland having made his debut against Wales in 2020.

Munster, who will be under new head coach Clayton McMillan next season, have also confirmed that Scott Buckley, Patrick Campbell, Liam Coombes, Jack Daly and Cian Hurley will depart Thomond Park once the season has concluded.

It had previously been announced that Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, David Kilcoyne and Stephen Archer are also in their last seasons with the side.

Munster face Benetton on Friday evening knowing that victory will secure their spot in the United Rugby Championship play-offs and next season's Champions Cup.

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Munster will attempt to secure a spot in the United Rugby Championship top eight with an unchanged team when they host play-off rivals Benetton in Cork on Friday (20:00 BST).

Interim boss Ian Costello has retained the 23-man matchday squad from last week's 38-20 win over Ulster at Thomond Park.

Ireland international Craig Casey will make his 100th appearance for the province at scrum-half while Jean Kleyn earns his 150th cap.

The Irish province will be guaranteed a top-eight finish and passage into next season's Champions Cup with victory on Friday.

Munster are currently eighth, one place below Benetton, with both sides level on 46 points.

If Munster fail to secure a play-off berth, Friday's game will prove the final act of former Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony's career.

Former British and Irish Lion O'Mahony and record Munster cap holder Stephen Archer will retire at the end of the club's campaign.

Defeat would also spell the end of Conor Murray's Munster career with the former Ireland scrum-half set for a move abroad before next season.

Munster: Abrahams; Nash,Farrell, Nankivell, Kilgallen; Crowley, Casey; Milne, Scannell, Archer; Kleyn, Beirne (capt); O'Mahony, Hodnett, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, J Wycherley, Ryan, F Wycherley, Ahern, Murray, O'Brien, Kendellen.

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Ulster forward Nick Timoney says the province are "embracing" the pressure of the United Rugby Championship's tight play-off picture.

Richie Murphy's side face Munster in Thomond Park on Friday night (19.35 BST) with the Irish rivals both in need of points in their efforts to make the all-important top eight.

Ulster go into what is the penultimate round of the URC in 12th place, three points off the play-off spots, with Munster in ninth but level on points with Benetton directly above them.

"We need it to keep our season going and I think their situation is pretty similar," said Timoney.

"It's the business end of the season, if you lose, it's a failure. There's no redemption after this one, if we don't win, we're not making the play-offs.

"That comes with a lot of pressure and a lot of weight, but that's why you play the game, that's why you play for a big club like us. We're embracing it and looking forward to it."

'We still have the players to go and win big games'

Perhaps more important than a place in the play-offs, finishing in the top eight would also bring with it a spot in next season's Champions Cup.

Timoney said it is "massive" for Ulster to be playing in Europe's premier competition, something they have done every year since its formation in 1995.

"It should be the pinnacle games through each season and it's where this club belongs, 100%," he added.

"We've been more talking about performances and getting results, but in the back of my head, and I'm sure everyone else's, is that is absolutely where we want to be next year."

Ulster are able to recall Irish internationals Iain Henderson and Rob Baloucoune for the trip to Limerick with Richie Murphy saying this week his squad might be the strongest it has been since he took over the job in March last year.

Throughout this season key players have missed plenty of games through injury while inexperienced players have had to fill the void.

Timoney, however, does not see that as the reason for the side's inconsistent campaign.

"I don't really like to use that as an excuse because when you look at our squad we still have the players to go and win big games," he said.

"At times this year we've had injury problems, but I'd be reluctant to use that as too much of an excuse because if you have that mindset you're giving yourself an out.

"We've no excuses really and we're certainly not taking any into this week."

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Munster forward Dave Kilcoyne has confirmed he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season.

The 36-year-old won 56 caps from Ireland and helped them to the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023.

Kilcoyne is one of only 15 players to have made over 200 appearances for Munster, but he has struggled with injuries over the last two years and played his final match for the Irish province against Ulster in December 2024.

"Growing up living in Limerick, my dream was always to play for Munster and Ireland," Kilcoyne said.

"To have done so for so long has been a dream come true.

"The last two years haven't gone as planned with surgeries to my shoulder and Achilles. In a way, it's easier that the decision to play on has been taken away from me.

"I take great pride in knowing that I always gave everything I had and left nothing on the pitch. It's almost a fitting way for me to finish up."

Kilcoyne represented Ireland at the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups as well as winning the United Rugby Championship with Munster in 2023.