Munster

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  1. Ulster have the 'talent' to be competitive - Edwards published at 13:06 9 August

    Ulster wing Megan EdwardsImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Edwards is set to miss the opening fixture through injury.

    Ulster wing Megan Edwards says the province might "surprise a few people" as they prepare for their opening Women's Interprovincial fixture against Munster in Cork on Saturday.

    Murray Houston's side come into this season's championship off the back of ending an 11-year wait for an Interpro victory with an impressive 36-14 triumph over Connacht in last year's third/fourth-place play-off.

    Now with a new confidence and the experience of winning, 33-year-old Edwards feels her side have the "talent" to be competitive in the series.

    "We're under no illusions that it's going to be a tough game," Edwards told BBC Sport NI.

    "It is Munster, they have won the championships before but I think we might throw in a few surprises.

    "The talent within the Ulster squad is there and we've been building and building for a number of years now, it's about showcasing that talent on game day and our goal is to build on the win in Cork last season."

    Women's Interpros - Fixtures and coverage details

    10 August

    • Munster v Ulster (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

    • Leinster v Connacht (16:45 BST)

    17 August

    • Ulster v Connacht (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

    • Munster v Leinster (16:45 BST)

    24 August

    • Connacht v Munster (14:30 BST)

    • Ulster v Leinster (16:45 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

    31 August

    • Third/fourth play-off (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

    • Final (16:45 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

  2. Crowley named URC players' player of the yearpublished at 13:12 20 June

    Jack Crowley in action for MunsterImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    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.

  3. Munster boss Rowntree named URC coach of the yearpublished at 12:22 19 June

    Munster head coach Graham Rowntree Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    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.

  4. Munster wing Nash ruled out of Glasgow semi-finalpublished at 12:20 14 June

    Calvin Nash pictured in trainingImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    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.