Munster record-breaker Stephen Archer to retire at end of season

The 4230-04-2025

MUNSTER TIGHTHEAD STEPHEN Archer will retire from rugby at the end of the season, bringing to an end an 18-year association with the province.
Archer, 37, recently became the first Munster player to amass 300 provincial appearances, having previously earned two caps for Ireland.
'Growing up, my family were huge Munster supporters and I was lucky enough to be brought to lots of games when I was younger,' Archer said.
'When I made my first Munster appearance in 2009, it was a dream come true. To still be playing 16 years on as Munster's most capped player is fairly surreal and something I'm very proud of.
It's been special in the last few years being able to have my kids at games and in the dressing room afterwards. I hope those will be memories of a lifetime for them.
'I'm looking forward to enjoying more time with my family and friends in the summer,' Archer added. 'I'm excited for what's ahead, looking for a new career path where I can draw on the experiences and skills that I have gained from professional rugby and will be invaluable to me in the future.'
A product of Christian Brothers College, UCC and Cork Con, Archer joined Munster's academy in 2007 and made his first-team debut against Edinburgh two years later.
He won an AIL title with Con in 2010 before graduating to Munster's senior squad the following season, contributing to his province's 2010/11 Celtic League title.
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Archer made the first of his 61 Champions Cup appearances against Castres at Thomond Park in January 2012 and, a year later, came off the bench in Rome for an Ireland debut against Italy in the Six Nations. His second and final Test cap came in November 2013 against Australia.
Since an injury-hit 2015/16 campaign with Munster, Archer has demonstrated remarkable durability, making 196 further appearances across nine years — averaging out at 22 games per season.
He won his second trophy with Munster in 2023, starting the final five games of their URC triumph. Archer went the full 80 minutes in back-to-back weeks against the Stormers and the Sharks in South Africa prior to Munster's play-off run.
'After winning the first league in 2011, I didn't think it was going to be 12 years before we won it again in 2023,' Archer said. 'That made it more special in many ways, winning it again in Cape Town after all the near misses.
'Playing for Ireland was a huge honour and something I will always remember as a standout moment in my career.
'In all the Munster dressing rooms I've been a part of, there has always been a great bond between the players. I used to enjoy having the craic with the older players when I came in and now I'm the older player having the craic with the younger fellas. That's always been the way in Munster.
'The most enjoyable part has been sitting in the dressing room after a big performance where everyone has given it their all and you're all together as a team.
'That team bond is what I will miss most. The Saturday is when it counts but it doesn't just happen on Saturday – it's the week's work and the team bond that you build with everyone rowing in the same direction.
'I've shared the dressing room with special team-mates and we've had some of the world's best coaches – I have a lot to thank them for.'
Archer became Munster's most-capped player of all time against Leinster in November 2023, eclipsing Donncha O'Callaghan's record of 268 appearances.
This season's Champions Cup quarter-final defeat to Bordeaux Begles saw him reach the 300-cap landmark, a record that may never be surpassed.
'I'd like to thank my parents and siblings for their support and encouragement over the years,' Archer said.
I'd also like to thank the Munster supporters. I think the majority appreciate my effort and work ethic and I'm grateful to them for that.
'Most importantly, I'd like to give a massive thanks to my wife Kelly, she has sacrificed a lot to allow me concentrate on rugby for all these years and that is something I will always be grateful for.
'It's been amazing so far and while I'm looking forward to supporting the team in the future, we have a big few weeks ahead.'

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Leinster vs Glasgow: Will the real Warriors please stand up

Irish Daily Mirror

3 hours ago

Irish Daily Mirror

Leinster vs Glasgow: Will the real Warriors please stand up

Leinster thrashed Glasgow Warriors 52-zip in the Champions Cup quarter-final at The Aviva on April 11. Yet they were posed significant problems five weeks later on May 17 when beating the same opposition 13-5 in a close-run encounter at the same ground. Leinster's James Ryan concedes that his side, when it comes to Warriors this Saturday, expect to see the 'test match standard' May performance not the back-tracking April outfit. 'They were a completely different team when they played us a couple of weeks ago versus when they played us in the Champions Cup," he says. "I felt that in that game when they came to the Aviva a couple of weeks ago, in terms of the ruck and the physical parts of the game, for me it was like test match standard - that was the level. "They had an impressive win again on the weekend against the Stormers. They won't be the side that came a few weeks ago in the Champions Cup. They'll be a much better side. "I don't think they'll fear coming to Dublin, I think they like going away. You saw when they won a semi-final over in Limerick last year. Went away and won against the Bulls obviously as well." There is no doubting their ability on both sides of the ball. "You can see that when they play, they have a number of different threats 'For us as forwards, their line-out drive was the best in the URC last season. Our maul defence is going to be huge this week. Making sure we've got clarity there, so we can bring the right intent. "Then also off counter-attack, off any loose ball, they're very, very good. They've got a number of guys that are quick. "Our connections defensively there, our kick chase, it's all going to be huge for us. There's a number of areas across the park we're going to have to be just very good in a number of areas.' Moreover Glasgow are twice URC champions, 2014/15 and 2023/24, and they are able to play with confidence in their championship-winning ability. "They do. They played against us a couple of weeks ago and I watched them this last weekend, particularly defensively. "They looked like a team that are pretty together and they want to play for each other whatever it takes - that is sort of their mantra. "I think there is a good sense of identity there in that club." Ryan is delighted to be back playing, has got three games under his belt since returning from a calf injury sustained in training directly following the Six Nations. "Yeah, it's never ideal timing wise," he says, conscious of missing the Champions Cup defeat to Northampton particularly. "It was a bit frustrating to miss the block that I did but it is what it is, not a good time but I was able to work with the physios at Leinster, they did a great job. "So I felt like I came back and there wasn't a big leap between what we did in terms of our S&C and and then the actual match intensity so that when I came back, basically, I felt like I was fit and good to go. "It felt good and it's been good to get back the last few weeks." It was a lay-off that meant Scarlets last week was his first knockout game of the season, one he agrees was a little 'mixed' performance-wise. "I thought we started well, first 15/20 minutes then I think we got a bit loose for the second part of the first half. "Loose with the ball for us, you know, we should be playing in the right areas in a knockout game and then discipline as well - I gave away two pnos myself and gave them access into the game so it was a bit of a mixed bag. I think we were unlucky not to score at the end of the first half, it could have gone to 21-5 but instead they picked it up and ran the length and it all of a sudden became 14-13 and was a close game at half-time. "We showed decent composure in the second half to sorta grind out a win." But then knockout games are there to be won, there are no second prizes, the key is the scoreboard, get ahead, stay ahead. Is this concern at all, the form or the performance or a worry? "I think in knockout games more often than not things don't go your way because the opposition, they have their own plans and ideas and they've got stuff up their sleeve and they want to put you off. "I think you get more out of a win when you have to grind it out then when it comes to easier and it'll be the same this week against Glasgow, they'll have their own plans and it's not gonna be easy. "So with knockout rugby it's not about who scores four tries or who plays better, it's who wins the game and so if you win it by point, great." His boss Leo Culen had described this as winning 'ugly' and being enough. 'I think so, and I hope so. That's probably something we can be better at, being able to win those games 'ugly' "I think you'd get more out of a game like that where you're coming in at half-time and the game is very much up in the air and you have to chat and think about the second half and what's going to work and what's not been working and what you decide to do. "You do get more of it. You learn more than a game, as I said, where it comes a little bit easier to you. "Back in July, if you had told me we'd have a semi at home, might have bitten your hand off, so delighted. "We are Looking forward to this week now, a semi-final at home, we are excited as a group, they'll be pumped and we'll have to be at our very best, be very good to beat them.'