Latest news with #MUNSTER

The 42
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Biarritz cancel pre-season friendly with Munster
MUNSTER HAVE confirmed today that their scheduled pre-season friendly away to Biarritz Olympique has been cancelled by the Basque club. The game was planned to take place on 22 August, but it won't be happening because of a delay to pitch renovations at the Stade Aguilera. A statement from the province added: 'Munster Rugby and Biarritz Olympique explored alternative venues in the hope that the match could be fulfilled, but no viable and workable solutions were found. 'Given the disappointing decision by Biarritz Olympique, Munster Rugby will now make alternative arrangements regarding pre-season preparations.' Advertisement

The 42
20-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Munster appoint Alex Codling as forwards coach ahead of new season
MUNSTER HAVE ANNOUNCED that Alex Codling will become the province's forwards coach for the 2025/2026 season. Codling takes up the role after joining Munster as a forwards coach consultant last November. He worked with the province throughout the remainder of the 2024/25 season while also working with Ireland senior women's squad. Codling will continue to work as a forwards coach with Ireland for the upcoming women's World Cup. He will begin his role with Munster on 1 October, with incoming Head Coach Clayton McMillan fulfilling the role of forwards coach during the pre-season period. He will be supported by elite player development officer Tommy O'Donnell. Advertisement Codling was previously head coach of Premiership side Newcastle Falcons and also held a coaching role with the senior England men's team, Harlequins and Oyonnax. Meanwhile, Brad Mayo has been unveilled as Munster's new head of athletic performance. Mayo comes into the role this summer having worked with Brumbies, Bay of Plenty, the Chiefs, Glasgow Warriors and most recently was head of athletic performance with New Zealand Super Rugby side, The Hurricanes. He worked with new Munster boss Clayton McMillan in the role of strength and conditioning coach for the All Blacks XV during their Northern Hemisphere Tour. 'Alex's impact since he began working with us in November has been excellent and we are delighted that he will be back with us for the 2025/26 season,' said Munster's General Manager Ian Costello. 'We also look forward to welcoming Brad to Munster this summer. Brad has worked in elite environments all over the world and I'm sure he will be a huge addition to the high-performance team. 'Securing the services of Alex and Brad in conjunction with the arrival of Clayton adds to a top class coaching and performance support team as we look forward to the new season.'

The 42
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The 42
Ex-Munster and Ireland U20 wing to feature on new season of Love Island
FORMER MUNSTER WING Conor Phillips will be among the contestants on the 12th season of Love Island, which will air from next Monday, 9 June. Phillips, 25, will follow in the footsteps of another Limerick man and former Ireland Sevens player Greg O'Shea, who won the fifth season of the reality show in 2019. Advertisement Phillips, a former Ireland U20 international who made two appearances for Munster during their 2022/23 URC title-winning season, is one of two Irish contestants in this summer's series, with Dublin actor and pantomime actress Megan Forte Clarke also 'entering the villa'. A Munster Senior Cup winner with Young Munster in 2022, Phillips made his senior competitive debut for Munster that same year, starting on the right wing for their URC Round 3 victory at home to Zebre. He also started the away defeat to Connacht a week later but was released by Graham Rowntree at the end of the season. Phillips in action for Ireland against Kenya during this year's Singapore Sevens. Joe Hamby / INPHO Joe Hamby / INPHO / INPHO Phillips, who won an U20 Six Nations Grand Slam with Ireland in 2019, also represented his country on the World Rugby Sevens Series in 2021 and this year. Phillips played in a Munster Schools Senior Cup final with Crescent College Comprehensive in 2016 before going on to study Exercise and Health Fitness in UL. After moving to Dublin upon the completion of his degree, he linked up with Terenure, reaching the 2024 AIL Division 1A final at the Aviva Stadium where the D6W side were edged out by Cork Con.


The Irish Sun
05-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Munster Rugby exodus continues as province bid farewell to Ireland star & ‘through & through Red'
MUNSTER have announced that Rory Scannell is to depart the club after 200 appearances in 12 seasons with the Reds. The 31-year-old's looming exit is the latest in a long line of veterans leaving for one reason or another. 3 His final outing came in Saturday's URC play-off exit at the hands of Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban 3 Being consoled by his brother Niall after the Reds came up just short after an epic 100-minute battle 3 The centre earned the first of his three senior Ireland caps in 2017 Former captain Peter O'Mahony as well as Stephen Archer This afternoon Munster issued a statement hailing the 31-year-old for his contributions over the years. It read: "A Munster man through and through. Rory Scannell will depart the province this summer after 12 years, 200 appearances & 3 Ireland caps. "Very few players have contributed as much as he has over the past 12 years both on and off the field. Thank you Rory." Read More On Irish Sport The man himself highlighted the particular pride he felt at having soldiered alongside his brother Niall. He emphasized: 'It's a huge honour to have played for my home club 200 times, particularly alongside my brother. 'It's been a rollercoaster of ups and downs over the last 12 years, but I have made so many great memories that will live with me forever. 'I've met some great people here and made friends for life. Most read in Rugby Union 'The squad is in a great place and I just want to wish the club very best of luck going forward and I will be supporting them wherever I am.' Head of Rugby Operations and Interim Head Coach Ian Costello heaped on praise as he described Scannell's impact on and off the pitch. 'Jack Crowley he's coming for you' jokes Peter O'Mahony's wife Jess as son practices his rugby skills He added: 'Everyone in the province couldn't speak highly enough of Rory as a player and a person. 'Very few players have contributed as much as he has to Munster Rugby over the past 12 years both on and off the field. 'He is the youngest ever player to reach 100 caps for Munster and was a key member of our leadership group. 'He is the ultimate team player and an excellent team-mate, always putting the club before himself. 'An extremely popular member of the squad, he will be sorely missed and we wish him and his wife Aisling the very best for the future.' The centre's last outing was in Saturday's contentious Unfortunately Rory was the only player across both sides to miss in the shoot-out. But he did show real nerve when stepping up to convert his tougher second kick from the 10 metre line.


The Irish Sun
31-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
What Irish TV channel is Sharks vs Munster on? Time, stream, teams & odds for United Rugby Championship quarter-final
MUNSTER face the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals this weekend. Ian Costello's men will be looking to avenge the 41-24 defeat to the South African side from last October. Advertisement Here's everything you need to know about the match. When is it on and what time is kick-off? Sharks vs Munster will take place at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Saturday, May 31. Kick-off is at 5:30pm Irish time. Where can I watch it? Sharks vs Munster will be shown live on TG4, with coverage beginning at 5:25pm, while it can be streamed via the TG4 Player. Advertisement Read More on URC The game will also be shown live on Premier Sports 1, with coverage beginning at 5:15pm. Those looking to stream the game can do so via a subscription to NowTV. What are the teams? Munster have named an unchanged starting XV for the third game in a row. Thaakir Abrahams, Calvin Nash and Diarmuid Kilgallen start in the back three. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union Alex Nankivell and Tom Farrell, who has started every single game so far this season, continue their centre partnership with Michael Milne, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Peter O'Mahony's wife jokes 'glad I gave him three mini-mes' as kids help Munster hero with garden Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan provide the front row back-up with Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen completing the forward cover. Advertisement Should he be used, Scannell will become the 16th player to making 200 appearances for the province. Munster : Thaakir Abrahams, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements : Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Mike Haley. Advertisement Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Jason Jenkins, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolise. What are the odds? Sharks are 1/3 favourites to advance to the United Rugby Championship semi-finals. Munster, meanwhile, are out to 13/5. with the draw at 18/10. 1 Munster face the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals Credit: Shaun Roy/Sportsfile Advertisement