Latest news with #MUNSTER
The Irish Sun
15 hours ago
- 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
The 42
a day ago
- Sport
- The 42
Munster unchanged for quarter-final against Springbok-loaded Sharks
MUNSTER HAVE AGAIN named an unchanged team for tomorrow's URC quarter-final meeting with the Sharks in Durban [KO 5.30pm, TG4/Premier Sports]. It marks the third game in a row the province have selected the same starting XV. Thaaakir Abrahams, Calvin Nash and Diarmuid Kilgallen start in the Munster back three. Alex Nankivell is alongside Tom Farrell in the centre positions, with former Connacht man Farrell continuing his run of starting every game this season. Ireland internationals Jack Crowley and Craig Casey are the starting half-backs. Advertisement Michael Milne, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer continue in the front row, while Jean Kleyn partners captain Tadhg Beirne in the second row. Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes start in the back row. Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley and John Ryan are the replacement front rows on the Munster bench, with Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen also part of the forward cover. Conor Murray, Rory Scannell and Mike Haley are the backline replacements. Scannell is set to make his 200th appearance for the province, and would to become the 16th player to reach that milestone for Munster. The Springbok-loaded Sharks have made five changes. Former Leinster and Munster player Jason Jenkins comes into the second row, while James Venter returns at six following a neck injury. Two-time World Cup winner Siya Kolisi is back at number eight, Jordan Hendrikse has recovered from injury to start at 10, and Lukhanyo Am is named at outside centre. Sharks: 15. Aphelele Fassi 14. Ethan Hooker 13. Lukhanyo Am 12. Andre Esterhuizen 11. Makazole Mapimpi 10. Jordan Hendrikse 9. Jaden Hendrikse 1. Ox Nche 2. Bongi Mbonambi 3. Vincent Koch 4. Eben Etzebeth (capt) 5. Jason Jenkins 6. James Venter 7. Vincent Tshituka 8. Siya Kolisi Replacements: 16. Fez Mbatha 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu 18. Hanro Jacobs 19. Emile van Heerden 20. Phepsi Buthelezi 21. Bradley Davids 22. Francois Venter 23. Yaw Penxe Munster: 15. Thaakir Abrahams Thaakir Abrahams 14. Calvin Nash 13. Tom Farrell 12. Alex Nankivell 11. Diarmuid Kilgallen 10. Jack Crowley 9. Craig Casey 1. Michael Milne 2. Niall Scannell 3. Stephen Archer 4. Jean Kleyn 5. Tadhg Beirne (capt) 6. Peter O'Mahony 7. John Hodnett 8. Gavin Coombes Replacements: 16. Diarmuid Barron 17. Josh Wycherley 18. John Ryan 19. Tom Ahern 20. Alex Kendellen 21. Conor Murray 22. Rory Scannell 23. Mike Haley Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
The 42
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Munster sign UCC second row on development deal
MUNSTER HAVE SIGNED UCC second row Conor Ryan on a one-year development deal for next season. Ryan, 21, made two appearances for Munster this season in friendlies against Bath and Leicester Tigers, scoring a try against the latter, and also played for the province in the 'A' Interprovincial Championship. He was part of the UCC side that narrowly missed on promotion back to Division 1A of the All-Ireland League this season. Ryan's signing 'is part of Munster Rugby's wider ongoing commitment to monitoring local players' performances in the AIL and providing opportunities to players that emerge later and have been performing at a consistently high level', the province said. Advertisement
Irish Examiner
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Munster extend season and book Champions Cup spot with thrilling win against Benetton
MUNSTER 30 BENETTON 21 Munster made sure of Champions Cup rugby next season as they secured a top-eight finish in style with a bonus-point victory over Benetton at Cork's Virgin Media Park on Friday night. On a night when Peter O'Mahony, Stephen Archer and Conor Murray played their last home games for their province, Munster made sure their season would extend for at least one more game as they booked an away play-off quarter-final in two weeks with a gritty performance against a powerful Benetton side who themselves were chasing victory to assure their own progress to the knockout rounds. Tries from Jack Crowley, Lee Barron, Thaakir Abrahams and Josh Wycherley sealed the deal but this was no easy victory, Benetton having taken a 14-10 half-time lead after full-back Rhyno Smith had twice exposed defensive frailties with lighting pace and sharp running lines off first-phase ball. The Italians also scored in the second half through hooker Bautista Bernasconi but ultimately came up short to drop out of the all-important top eight but Munster live to fight another day, their quarter-final opponents to be confirmed after Saturday's remaining Round 18 fixtures. Led out by scrum-half Craig Casey on his 100th Munster appearance and followed by Jean Kleyn on his 150th, there was plenty for a sell-out 8,800 crowd to celebrate with Archer, O'Mahony and Murray primed for their final home appearances on their respective 303rd, 196th and 221st caps. The good vibes continued when Jack Crowley converted Munster's bright start into the opening try after Tom Farrell had made a break to the edge of Benetton's 22. Munster laid siege to the visitors' tryline and looked to be digging in for a lengthy assault before the ball was sent out the back and the fly-half ran a perfect line to score by the side of the posts, Crowley adding the extras to his score off the tee to give the home side a 7-0 lead on 14 minutes. Yet Benetton also had skin in this game and though they lost wing Paolo Odogwu to injury there was still plenty of firepower left on the field, not least in the shape of full-back Rhyno Smith who scored twice off first-phase ball, both converted by Jacob Umaga, either side of a Crowley penalty to hand the Italians a 14-10 interval lead. After an intensely physical opening period in which Munster had frequently run into defensive brick walls, the home side needed a spark at the start of the second half and it came at the double with two very different tries in the first 10 minutes after the restart. The first of them came on 44 minutes as Munster struck through their lineout maul, first forcing a collapse which allowed them to launch from five metres out, their second attempt leading to replacement hooker Lee Barron's first try since joining on loan from Leinster ahead of a permanent move this summer. Crowley missed the conversion but Munster were in front at 15-14 and the situation quickly got better as full-back Thaakir Abrahams matched his South African counterpart Smith with a wonderful turn of pace down the left wing to score in the 49th minute, Casey taking over kicking duties from half-back partner Crowley to land a touchline conversion. The scrum-half added a penalty seven minutes later to open up a 25-14 lead as a little tension left the Cork crowd, who by then had stood to applaud a departing O'Mahony and would then afford the same respect to Archer on his exit after 62 minutes. The game was not yet won though, and Munster found themselves under pressure as Benetton won a penalty inside the 22 in the 69th minute, Umaga kicking to the corner and his pack finishing the job through their powerful lineout drive, replacement hooker Bautista Bernasconi getting the ball down and his fly-half adding the conversion to reduce the home side's lead to 25-21 with 10 minutes left to play. Anxiety returned to the stands and terraces but not for long, Munster once again profiting from forward power as replacement prop Josh Wycherley pounced out of the maul to deliver the try bonus point with Munster's fourth of the evening, the men in red now 31-21 to the good with time running out for the Italians. Casey missed the conversion from wide out but when Murray's turn to come off the bench it was Crowley the veteran number nine replaced, the two scrum-halves now half-back partners, the starter further marking his 100th cap with the man of the match award following his all-action performance. MUNSTER: T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell (S O'Brien, 78), A Nankivell, D Kilgallen; J Crowley (C Murray, 71), C Casey; M Milne (J Wycherley, 56), N Scannell (L Barron, 33 - HIA), S Archer (J Ryan, 62); J Kleyn (F Wycherley, 74), T Beirne - captain; P O'Mahony (T Ahern, 53), J Hodnett (A Kendellen, 56), G Coombes. BENETTON: R Smith; I Mendy, T Menoncello (N Casilio, 57), I Brex (M Fekitoa, 52), P Odogwu (T Albornoz, 11); J Umaga, A Garbisi; T Gallo (M Spagnolo, 67), S Maile (B Bernasconi, 51), S Ferrari (T Pasquali, 67); S Scrafton (N Cannone, 51), F Ruzza – captain; R Favretto (S Negri, 51), M Zuliani, L Cannone Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland) End Information Classification - GREEN: Unrestricted
The 42
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Burns and Campbell among players leaving Munster at end of season
MUNSTER HAVE ANNOUNCED that six senior players will depart at end of the season. The departures of Scott Buckley, Billy Burns, Patrick Campbell, Liam Coombes, Jack Daly and Cian Hurley were today confirmed by the province. In addition academy scrum-half Jack Oliver has exited and is currently training with Glasgow Warriors. Advertisement 24-year-old hooker Buckley, who is currently on loan at Ealing Trailfinders, scored three tries in 24 Munster appearances. 30-year-old out-half Burns joined Munster last summer and scored 28 points in 10 Munster appearances. The seven-cap Ireland international joined after six years at Ulster. Munster Rugby can confirm that Scott Buckley, Billy Burns, Patrick Campbell, Liam Coombes, Jack Daly, Cian Hurley & Jack Oliver will depart the province at the end of the season. A big thanks to the lads for their contributions to Munster Rugby and we wish them all the best for… — Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) May 16, 2025 Back three player Campbell scored four tries in 12 appearances for Munster since making his try-scoring debut against Wasps in December 2021. Winger/centre Coombes has scored six tries in 19 Munster appearances since making a try-scoring debut against Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in November 2017. Flanker Daly has made 10 appearances for Munster after coming up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC. Flanker/lock Hurley made five appearances for Munster after coming up through the ranks of Clonakilty RFC and CBC. 22-year-old scrum-half Oliver departs after three years in the Munster Academy. A Garryowen FC clubman and former Castletroy College student, Jack started the 2021/22 season by captaining the Munster U19s during the Interprovincial Championship.
