Munster

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Conor Murray spoke to reporters on Thursday following confirmation that he will retire from Ireland duty at the end of the Six Nations.

Five-time Six Nations winners Murray, Peter O'Mahony and Cian Healy will all end their Test careers after Ireland's game against Italy in Rome on 15 March.

"[It was] a very difficult decision," Murray told reporters on Thursday.

"Particularly to leave a group like this. The thing I'll be most jealous of is that this group will continue on and be successful, but personally, it's a hard decision to make. It's been in my head for a while and it just feels right.

"I've been lucky and grateful to be part of this Irish set-up. It's sad, it'll be emotional but I've seen so many players not get to end it on their terms, career cut short.

"The fact I get to do it on my own terms when I'm fit and healthy is something very few people get to do, so I'm very grateful."

While O'Mahony and Healy will retire from rugby at the end of the season, Murray will continue his playing career abroad when his Munster deal expires this summer.

"Nothing," Murray smiled when asked what he could disclose about the move.

"We'll see in terms of playing, I'll play another year somewhere for my family, they've been incredible, my wife Joanna and my son Alfie, especially Joanna over the last few years, the sacrifices she's made.

"As a family, we'll go away and maybe do something for a year and enjoy ourselves for a lifestyle change. Body wise, I still feel great, I still feel I can play rugby at a high level.

"Nothing is set in stone yet but it'll be nice for us, let the dust settle on retiring in this country and go away and have an experience and come back to the real world then."

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New Zealander Clayton McMillan will become Munster's new head coach this summer with the Chiefs boss signing a three-year deal at Thomond Park.

The Irish province have been under the interim control of Ian Costello since Graham Rowntree departed in October.

Costello will now move into a newly created general manager position with attack coach Mike Prendergast becoming senior coach.

McMillan, who will arrive in July, became head coach at the Chiefs in 2021 and guided the side to three Super Rugby finals in four seasons.

He has also coached the Maori All Blacks and an All Blacks XV.

"I am humbled to be given the opportunity to lead Munster, an iconic club steeped in history," he told the province's official website.

"Leading the All Blacks XV against Munster last year gave me insight into the immense pride and passion of the club's players, staff and wider rugby community. It was an incredible atmosphere and left a lasting impression.

"I am excited by the club's ambition and core values. They align strongly with my own, and I look forward to joining the team in July."

Munster are fifth in the United Rugby Championship and face La Rochelle in the Champions Cup last-16 in April.

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Munster have announced the signings of Leinster front-rowers Michael Milne and Lee Barron on two-year deals.

Loose-head prop Milne, 25, and hooker Barron, 23, will switch Irish provinces at the end of the season.

Milne has scored 12 tries in 47 appearances for Leinster since making his debut as an Academy player in 2019.

He represented Emerging Ireland in 2022 and has twice been called up to train with the Ireland senior squad.

Barron represented Ireland at Under-20 level and contributed three tries in 22 appearances since making his bow for Leinster against the Sharks in 2022.

He has spent the past five years at Leinster and scored one try in six appearances so far this campaign.

Versatile Academy prop Kieran Ryan, who has played for Munster 11 times, will move up to a development contract next year and will progress to a senior contract for 2026-27.

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Ireland flanker Peter O'Mahony will be monitored for selection before Munster's final European Pool match as he continues his recovery from a calf injury.

Munster travel to Northampton Saints, who have already qualified, in the final round of Pool Three fixtures in the Investec Champions Cup.

The Irish province say O'Mahony, 35, will "increase his training load" and a decision on his availability will be made "later in the week".

The potential return of O'Mahony will be a boost to Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby, who names his Six Nations squad on Wednesday.

However, Munster will be without wing Shane Daly, who is following return to play protocols after failing a head injury assessment during Saturday's win over Saracens.

Scrum-half Conor Murray, back row Jack O'Donoghue and hooker Diarmuid Barron are all available for selection after returning to action in the 17-12 win over the English side, which put Munster into second place in the Pool.

Wing Diarmuid Kilgallen has also returned to full training following a wrist injury and prop Mark Donnelly has recovered from an ankle injury sustained on Emerging Ireland duty in September.

Victory over Northampton would secure a place in the knock-out stages and a home last-16 tie.

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Munster's Peter O'Mahony has been ruled out while Saracens have recalled Liam Williams and Phil Brantingham for Saturday's Investec Champions Cup pool match at Thomond Park (17:30 GMT).

Jack Crowley, Conor Murray and Jack O'Donoghue all return for the hosts, but former club captain O'Mahony misses out having failed to recover from the calf contusion that has kept him out for a month.

For Saracens, who beat Bristol in the Premiership last week, Brantingham starts at loosehead prop in place of Rhys Carre, who has a back injury.

Wales international Williams, who scored in Saracens' win over Stade Francais in December, replaces Rotimi Segun on the right wing.

Saracens captain Maro Itoje will make his 50th Champions Cup appearance with Harry Wilson set for his full debut in the competition.

England hooker Theo Dan is named among the replacements having recovered from a calf issue while Max Eke and Nathan Michelow could make their Champions Cup debuts from the bench.

Saracens have won both of their pool games so far while Munster lost to Castres last time out having beaten Stade Francais in their opener. The Irish province lost to Leinster in their last game on 27 December.

Munster: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, R Scannell, S Daly; J Crowley, C Murray; D Bleuler, N Scannell, O Jager; F Wycherley, T Beirne (capt); J O'Donoghue, A Kendellen, G Coombes.

Replacements: D Barron, J Ryan, S Archer, T Ahern, J Hodnett, P Patterson, B Burns, B Gleeson.

Saracens: E Daly; L Williams, A Lozowski, N Tompkins, L Cinti; F Burke, I van Zyl; P Brantingham, J George, M Riccioni; M Itoje (capt), H Wilson; JM Gonzalez, B Earl, T Willis.

Replacements: T Dan, E Mawi, A Clarey, M Eke, N Michelow, G Simpson, O Hartley, T Elliott.

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Irish rugby fans will not be treated to an intriguing fly-half duel between Leinster's Sam Prendergast and Munster's Jack Crowley with the latter set to miss Friday's United Rugby Championship interpro at Thomond Park (19:35 GMT).

Prendergast and Crowley have been battling for the Ireland 10 jersey with each player starting two of last month's Autumn Nations Series matches.

But while Prendergast, who was preferred for Ireland's two most recent wins over Fiji and Australia, starts for Leinster, Crowley has been ruled out because of Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] player management guidelines with Billy Burns named to start.

Crowley's absence is a further blow for Munster interim head coach Ian Costello, who is without several players amid a mounting injury list.

Earlier this week, Thaakir Abrahams (shoulder), Craig Casey (knee) and Jean Kleyn (thigh) were ruled out for approximately four months while Alex Nankivell (hamstring) is also unavailable.

In addition, Peter O'Mahony (calf contusion), Conor Murray (elbow) and Jack O'Donoghue (shoulder) have failed to regain their fitness in time for Friday's game.

Munster make seven changes from their win over Ulster in Belfast. Tadhg Beirne returns as captain, with Rory Scannell, Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan, Dian Bleuler, Oli Jager and Alex Kendellen also recalled.

Fit-again Jamie Osborne Ireland back returns for Leinster after missing the last three games with the groin injury he sustained on international duty last month.

His inclusion is one of 11 changes made by head coach Leo Cullen, who has recalled Ireland internationals Prendergast, Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose to his backline after last week's win over Connacht.

Ronan Kelleher, Gus McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris are reinstated to the Leinster pack, but New Zealand international Jordie Barrett has not been included in the 23.

Springbok lock RG Snyman, who left Munster to join Leinster last summer, is also missing from Cullen's matchday squad.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; Dian Bleuler, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Ben O'Connor.

Leinster: Jamie Osborne; Tommy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O'Brien; Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, Ronan Kelleher, Rabah Slimani; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Lee Barron, Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Brian Deeny, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ross Byrne, Jordan Larmour.

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Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey looks set to miss the Six Nations after Munster confirmed he will miss "approximately four months" following knee surgery.

Casey was forced off with the injury in Munster's Investec Champions Cup defeat by Castres earlier this month.

The 25-year-old has won 18 Ireland caps since making his debut in 2021 and featured in three of their four autumn Tests last month.

Ireland begin their Six Nations title defence on 1 February against England. The holders, who will be led by interim head coach Simon Easterby in Andy Farrell's Lions-enforced absence, also face Scotland and Wales away and host France before a final-weekend trip to Italy on 15 March.

In further bad news for Munster, Thaakir Abrahams and Jean Kleyn are also set to miss around four months after undergoing shoulder and thigh surgeries respectively.

Munster are also without Alex Nankivell and Dave Kilcoyne for their United Rugby Championship interpro against Leinster on Friday.

Nankivell injured his hamstring whilst Kilcoyne picked up a thigh injury in Munster's 22-19 victory against Ulster last weekend.

Both will go for scans to determine the extent of the injuries and are unavailable for the Thomond Park game against Leinster.

Dian Bleuler is completing his return to play protocols and Munster said that "his availability will be determined later in the week".

Diarmuid Barron, Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray are all returning from injuries and are in contention to feature for interim head coach Ian Costello.

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Connacht will play at Mayo GAA's McHale Park for the first time in the professional era when they take on derby rivals Munster in March.

The historic occasion in Castlebar will see the teams compete in an interprovincial United Rugby Championship encounter on Saturday, 29 March.

"All the players were absolutely delighted when told the news - the opportunity to play in front of a massive home crowd, in the heart of the province, is something to really look forward to," said Connacht club captain Cian Prendergast.

"Our supporters are amongst the best there are, and we know the passion that the people of Mayo, and Connacht more widely, show every time they support their teams, whatever the code or colour of the jersey."

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins is also looking forward to seeing his team play at McHale Park.

"We're all incredibly excited by today's news - we are proud to represent the whole province of Connacht, and we look forward to sharing this great occasion with our existing supporters and getting out to meet many more new supporters from all across the province."