Munster

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Munster have confirmed the signing of Michael Ala'alatoa from French side Clermont Auvergne on a seven-month contract until the end of the season.

The former Leinster front-rower is currently on international duty with Samoa, who have just secured qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but will commence his contract with the Irish province at the start of December.

The 34-year-old tight-head prop has won 24 international caps and has played in two World Cups.

He previously played Super Rugby for the Waratahs and Crusaders, before scoring six tries in 62 appearances for Leinster between 2021 and 2024.

Ala'alatoa was granted early release from Clermont Auvergne after struggling to make an impact at the Top 14 side.

He played 13 times for the club in his debut season in France but is yet to make an appearance for the club this term.

The prop will not be available for Munster's URC outing against the Stormers at Thomond Park on 29 November but could make his bow the following weekend in the Champions Cup opener against Bath.

The 34-year-old will provide further front row options for Clayton McMillan's side, with John Ryan presently the province's only fit senior tight-head.

Oli Jager is sidelined with concussion, with Roman Salanoa yet to feature this season following two years out with injuries.

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Former Ireland and Munster back Andrew Conway had "hard conversations" with Joe Schmidt when making the switch from Leinster to Munster.

The 34-year-old, whose career ended in 2023 because of a knee injury, had made 42 appearances for his home province at the time when offered a contract with fierce rivals Munster.

Although he had been invited to the Munster Academy as a teenager when leaving Dublin's Blackrock College, Conway at that stage opted to stay at home.

However, speaking to The Ireland Rugby Social podcast, he felt eventually making the switch to Thomond Park in 2013 was the "best decision" he made in his career despite how his then provincial coach Schmidt heard the news.

"I trust my intuition and just felt it was the right thing to do, even though it was the hard thing to do," he said.

"I signed the contract on the Thursday and Joe had rang me an hour after I had signed it, saying 'don't sign anything but come in and talk to me on Saturday'. I didn't have the forethought to say I'd signed so just said 'yeah, grand'.

"On Friday, I went over to London to a football match with a couple of mates and came back the worse for wear on the Saturday. My agent had rang and said Gerry Thornley (of The Irish Times) knew about me signing and it was going into the paper, so Joe would have known.

"I went in and got the head eaten off me, but a few hours later I find out why he was so annoyed - Johnny Sexton had signed for Racing and it was coming out, so my thing was small fish."

In the podcast, Conway talks about his 10 years at Munster where he made 150 appearances for his adopted province.

Knee injuries would hamper his Ireland career as he missed out on two Grand Slams, a winning tour to New Zealand and the 2023 World Cup, something he described as "horrific", but Conway takes a philosophical view of his career.

"I'd love a few more medals and caps, but have a mentality where I don't think about what I didn't achieve or don't have.

"I'm more focused on the positives. Maybe it's a bit idealistic, but it's the truth."

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Tom Farrell has signed a two-year contract extension with Munster just two days after being added to the Ireland squad.

The 32-year-old centre was called up to the national team on Monday after playing a starring role in Munster's 31-14 United Rugby Championship win over Leinster at Croke Park on Saturday.

Farrell has been a hit with Munster fans since joining the province in 2024 after a seven-year spell at Connacht, winning the club's player of the year award as well as the URC playmaker of the year award after scoring 10 tries in 25 appearances.

The Dublin-born player, whose new deal keeps him at Munster until 2028, was previously called into the Ireland squad by Joe Schmidt for the 2019 Six Nations, but did not play because of injury.

Farrell was not selected for Ireland's summer to Georgia and Portugal, and while he was not initially named in the autumn panel, he was added on Monday and has travelled with the squad to Chicago ahead of next week's All Blacks game

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Watch former Ireland star Conor Murray chat to his Ireland Rugby Social co-host Gavin Andrews about the launch of their new podcast on BBC Sounds.

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Munster's Jack Crowley said Saturday's 31-14 United Rugby Championship win over rivals Leinster was "not about individual performances" after he starred in his side's win at Croke Park.

In a game widely viewed as a direct shootout between Crowley and Leinster's Sam Prendergast for Ireland's fly-half spot in next month's autumn Tests, the former shone and was named man of the match.

The 25-year-old, however, was not interested in individual plaudits as he praised his team-mates and coaches.

"It's always special playing in Croke Park with the tradition of the GAA and what it meant to Munster coming up here," Crowley told Premier Sports.

"It's not about individual performances. It's about the plan the coaches gave us and it's about the hard work that went in with the lads all week.

"That's what it's about; how you can come together as a collective and say you're going to deliver on a plan and then actually go out and do it. That's the most pleasing thing.

"[I'm] massively proud to be able to front up with these lads and get over the line.

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Saturday's win over Leinster was Munster's fourth in as many games under new boss Clayton McMillan, who was hugely pleased with his side's performance.

Munster recovered from conceding an early Ronan Kelleher try and hit back through Brian Gleeson, Tom Farrell and Ethan Coughlan before a penalty try wrapped up the bonus-point success.

"Our set-piece scrum got put under some real pressure but we found a way, managed to get the ball to the back quick enough and release and turn the pressure on them," said the New Zealander.

"There's always things to work on but I don't want to get too critical of the team who've put in a hell of a shift. We'll worry about what we need to work on on Monday."

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Edwin Edogbo is set to make his first Munster appearance in nearly two years after being named in the matchday squad for Friday's United Rugby Championship game with Edinburgh in Cork (19:45 BST).

The 22-year-old lock has been sidelined since December 2023 with an Achilles injury, but has been included on the bench.

Head coach Clayton McMillan makes 10 changes from last week's win over Cardiff, with Tom Farrell, Calvin Nash, Andrew Smith and Michael Milne handed their seasonal debuts.

Diarmuid Barron, Mike Haley, Sean O'Brien, JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson and Jack O'Donoghue also come into the side.

Munster are still without captain Tadhg Beirne after his involvement in the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, while Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey will return from his thigh injury in "one to three weeks".

Munster are also without Shane Daly, Tom Ahern (both concussion), Niall Scannell (hand), Diarmuid Kilgallen (ankle), John Hodnett (cheek), Alex Kendellen (ankle) and Conor Bartley (thigh).

In-form fly-half Jack Crowley is rested.

The Irish province are targeting a third straight win after opening their campaign with wins over Scarlets and Cardiff.

Edinburgh lost to Zebre before their home game against Ulster last week was postponed because of Storm Amy.

The Scots have recalled Lions wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, while Pierre Schoeman, D'arcy Rae and Sam Skinner come into the pack.

Dylan Richardson will make his Edinburgh debut in the back row after joining from the Sharks.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Sean O'Brien, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue, Ruadhan Quinn, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Dan Kelly.

Edinburgh: Wes Goosen; Darcy Graham, Piers O'Conor, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe; Ben Healy, Ben Vellacott; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D'arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes, Sam Skinner, Liam McConnell, Dylan Richardson, Magnus Bradbury (capt).

Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Boan Venter, Paul Hill, Glen Young, Freddy Douglas, Ben Muncaster, Charlie Shiel, Harry Paterson.

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Niall Scannell has been passed fit to lead Munster into their first home game of the United Rugby Championship season when they welcome Cardiff to Thomond Park on Saturday (19:45 BST).

The Munster captain passed a Head Injury Assessment to start at hooker in an unchanged front five, but JJ Hanrahan misses out and will follow return-to-play protocols after picking up a head knock in last week's bonus-point win at Scarlets.

Jack Crowley comes into the side at fly-half as head coach Clayton McMillan has been forced into six changes from their opening win in Wales.

Craig Casey and Alex Kendellen are ruled out through injury with Paddy Patterson replacing Casey at scrum-half, while Ruadhán Quinn is Kendellen's replacement at open-side flanker.

It is all change in the back row with Tom Ahern in for Jack O'Donoghue at blind-side, while Gavin Coombes starts in place of Brian Gleeson at number eight.

Ben O'Connor starts at full back due to a thigh injury picked up by Mike Haley.

Munster: O'Connor; Daly, Kelly, Nankivell, Abrahams; Crowley, Coughlan; Loughman, Scannell (Capt), Jager; Kleyn, Wycherley; Ahern, Quinn, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Wycherley, Foxe, O'Donoghue, Gleeson, Patterson, Butler, O'Brien.

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Ins: JJ Hanrahan (Connacht), Dan Kelly (Leicester Tigers)

Outs: Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne (all retired)

Last season: Quarter-finalists

First five games: Scarlets (A), Cardiff (H), Edinburgh (H), Leinster (A), Connacht (H)

Prospects: Perhaps another strange season down at Thomond Park was best epitomised by the side's URC exit, the always bizarre sight of a place-kicks competition against the Sharks bringing the curtain down on their season in Durban.

It had been a tumultuous campaign up to that point with the man who delivered the URC title in 2023, Graham Rowntree, departing in October after a run of two wins from six to start the season.

Head of rugby operations Ian Costello took temporary charge of things and delivered a huge victory away to La Rochelle in the last 16 of the Champions Cup, before the side ultimately confirmed their place in this season's top-tier European competition with a sixth-place finish in the league.

Similar to Stuart Lancaster's arrival in Connacht, the hiring of Clayton McMillan represents something of a coaching coup. The New Zealander arrives after taking the Chiefs to three successive Super Rugby finals and his ticket is boosted by having Alex Codling available to work with the forwards full-time after splitting his time with the women's national side last season.

Dan Kelly, Irish-qualified once again after a solitary England cap in 2021, is an intriguing addition, while JJ Hanrahan returns to back up Jack Crowley for what will be a third spell with his native province.

Quite apart from a new head coach, the retirements of Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne, as well as the departure of Rory Scannell, give the feeling of a new era in the southern province.

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Craig Casey will captain Munster for the first time when they face Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets in their opening URC fixture on Saturday (17:30 BST).

Scrum-half Casey, who skippered Ireland on their summer tour, will lead the side in the absence of Tadhg Beirne and will form a half-back partnership with the returning JJ Hanrahan as new coach Clayton McMillan names his first side in a competitive fixture since his arrival in the province.

Niall Scannell is in line to make his 200th appearance at hooker, while centre Dan Kelly makes his debut having joined from Leicester Tigers.

Springbok Jean Kleyn is back in the second row having recovered from a knee injury on international duty.

Munster: Haley; Daly, Kelly, Nankivell, Abrahams; Hanrahan, Casey (capt); Loughman, Scannell, Jager; Kleyn, Wycherley; O'Donoghue, Kendellen, Gleeson.

Replacements: Barron, Wycherley, Bartley, Ahern, Coombes, Patterson, Crowley, O'Brien.

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Former Ireland and British and Irish Lions scrum-half Conor Murray has confirmed his retirement from rugby after opting against a move abroad.

Murray, 36, ended his Test career alongside Peter O'Mahony and Cian Healy at the conclusion of this year's Six Nations.

While initially indicating that he would "pursue a playing opportunity abroad", five-time Six Nations winner Murray has decided to hang up his boots.

"I had left it open-ended," he told The 42, external.

"My body felt really good and in a good place. But it was more for a life experience for my wife Joanna and our little boy Alfie, who's 10 months now, and just if we wanted to go somewhere nice and experience a nice place to live, for them as much as me wanting to play on."

Murray added that he received a "couple of offers" to extend his career.

"There was one in Japan but dragging them [his family] there, putting them in an apartment in Tokyo or something like that just didn't appeal to where we're at at the minute," he added.

"So long story short, nothing of appeal came up and I'm very happy to hang up the boots properly and move into the next chapter."

During his 125-cap Ireland career, Murray won five Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams.

He also made eight Test appearances for the British and Irish Lions across the 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours.

Having made his debut in 2010, Murray played 206 times for Munster, winning two United Rugby Championship titles.

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Irish Women's Interprovincial Championship, Affidea Stadium

Ulster (17) 17

Tries: Sheerin, Fitzsimons 2 Cons: Sheerin

Munster (19) 38

Tries: Pearse, Ugweueru, Finn, Og O'Leary 2, McInerney Con: Finn 4

Munster maintained their perfect start to the Women's Interprovincial Championship with a third consecutive bonus-point win over Ulster in Belfast.

The visitors ran in six tries through the 38-17 victory, taking control of the contest with a dominant second half.

The score had been 19-17 at the turn, but Ulster failed to score after the restart with Munster skipper Maeve Og O'Leary leading the way with a pair of tries.

With two bonus-point wins from two games played, the latter of which was an impressive victory over reigning champions Leinster last weekend, Munster arrived in Belfast as heavy favourites.

That tag looked fully justified in the early stages as, after a dominant scrum in a central position, number eight Chloe Pearse barged over for the opening score after 10 minutes.

Ulster hit back, however, with centre Siobhan Sheerin scoring her third try in as many games after strong work in the carry from her forwards.

Chisom Ugweueru responded with Munster's second in the 17th minute thanks to a great show of pace from deep before O'Leary pass put Caitriona Finn between the posts.

When the Munster centre converted her own score, Matt Brown's side led 19-7 and appeared in complete control.

Two tries in the space of three minutes from debutant Ciara Fitzsimons, however, got Ulster right back into things.

First the Queen's winger scored in the corner off scrum-half Sophie Meeke's pass before an intercept score brought her side back within just two points at the break.

Munster enjoyed a brilliant start to the second half when skipper O'Leary pounced on a loose ball and powered her way over just three minutes after the restart.

But visiting prop Grainne Burke was shown a yellow card for a high tackle just minutes later to give Murray Houston's team a route back into the game.

Despite the numerical disadvantage however, Munster continued to apply the pressure and it took a brilliant tackle from prop Sophie Barrett to save a try.

Munster were not to be denied for long though and, as Ulster pressed for a way back into the game, Alana McInerney scooped up a loose pass and ran in for a try from inside her own half.

O'Leary's second of the afternoon arrived on the hour mark and ended the game as a contest, although Ulster defended well to avoid further concession in the final 20 minutes, especially when Niamh Marley was sent to the sin bin.

Ulster: Kate Farrell McCabe; Ciara Fitzsimons, Siobhan Sheerin, Kelly McCormill, Niamh Marley; Abby Moyles, Sophie Meeke; Aishling O'Connell, India Daley (capt), Sophie Barrett, Ellen Patterson, Brenda Barr, Moya Hill, Rebecca Beacom, Stacey Sloan.

Replacements: Megan Simpson, Bronach Cassidy, Sophie McAlister, Lauren Darley, Ciara O'Donnell, Georgia Boyce, Farrah Cartin McCloskey, Katie Gilmour.

Munster: Aoife Corey; Alana McInerney, Stephanie Nunan, Caitriona Finn, Chisom Ugwueru; Kate Flannery, Abbie Salter-Townshend; Grainne Burke, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Eilis Cahill, Clodagh O'Halloran, Jane Clohessy, Brianna Heylmann, Maeve Og O'Leary (capt), Chloe Pearse.

Replacements: Alisha Flynn, Ciara McLoughlin, Claire Bennett, Emma Dunican, Sally Kelly, Eve Prendergast, Lucia Linn, Meghan Crilly.

Referee: Dermot Blake

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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).