Latest news with #MunsterRugby
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Munster leaning into emotions after difficult week at the province
Midway through Tuesday's media call in Durban, interim head coach Ian Costello asked if he could interrupt the questions from those back in Ireland to say something on behalf of Munster Rugby. In the last week, the province have had to share condolences with two families close to the organisation, following the deaths of Sheelagh Foley and Michelle Payne. Sheelagh, wife of former Munster player and current Munster branch president Brendan, and mother of their late captain Anthony, died peacefully last Friday. That news came a just a few days after the province remembered Michelle Payne, a former Munster Rugby employee and wife of their former full-back and team manager Shaun. Michelle died at home in South Africa last week following a two-year battle with breast cancer. "They were two very important people in the Munster community and a massive loss to us this week, and that's very close to our hearts," Costello said of both Sheelagh and Michelle. "Brendan and Sheelagh were here [in South Africa] this time last year, and Brendan picked up the phone and rang me Sunday morning to almost apologise for not coming and wished us the best. "Obviously Michelle and Shaun were huge in the club as well. That's really important to the group this week especially as we're in South Africa as well, very close to our heart." Munster Rugby would like to express its deepest condolences to the Foley & Collins families after the passing of Sheelagh Foley, the wife of Munster Branch President Brendan Foley and mother to Orla, Rosie and the late Anthony Foley. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam 🌹 — Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) May 23, 2025 The province are in Durban this week for a BKT URC quarter-final against the Sharks, and Costello says discussions have been taking place about an opportunity to honour the Foley and Payne families before the game on Saturday at Kings Park. Perhaps more than any other Irish side, Munster have always leaned into the emotional side of the game, most notably after the deaths of Anthony Foley, Tom Tierney and Greig Oliver in recent years, and Costello says it remains an important part of the team's identity. "Rugby is a very, very emotional game and I think any contact sport is. People talk about physically and mentally where you have to be. I think the third part of that is emotionally are you ready to invest everything you have and leave everything out on the pitch. Munster Rugby are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Michelle Payne, a former Munster staff member and wife of former team manager & player Shaun Payne, after a two-year battle against breast cancer. Our immediate thoughts are with Shaun, their children Dylan and Amy &… — Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) May 21, 2025 "That's you as an individual and you as a team, and when emotionally you're connected to a purpose or to a cause that comes out in any team sport, especially one as physically demanding as rugby, and then when you add in pride in terms of our province, our identity and what we stand for, what we represent, the people, how much we want to make people proud of our performance, so they can identify with who we are and what we're about, I think all of that amplifies a lot of the good that's there already and I think a lot of sports teams do it really well. "We really leaned into it the last couple of weeks to represent people that we really care about and what they mean to the organisation and that came out in the performance. We will continue that on this week as well." Even before the events of recent days, emotion had been a major part of the team's preparations for the wins against Ulster and Benetton, as they gave Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer their final games in Limerick and Cork, barring some surprise results in the play-offs. But Costello says while emotion will always be an important motivating factor, it has to be used in balance. "That's exactly the crux of it. And that's where I think the quality of the coaches [comes in] and the experience they have, the situations they have been in and also the senior players. "I won't go into what was said but Tadhg [Beirne] and Peter [O'Mahony] over the last couple of weeks, supported by other key guys like Jack [Crowley] and Craig [Casey], they spoke so well about the balance of using that emotion but also making sure it's balanced with a performance that's build on execution and accuracy and being really smart. "Same thing as discipline, if you're over-aroused you give away too many penalties but you want to be playing right on that edge. "When you've got coaches who are on it the way they are on it, and senior players that have lived it so many times, that really helps."
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Tributes paid to Tipperary man who helped Arsenal to Champions League title
Paudie Roche from Cahir is the lead strength and conditioning coach with the north London women's team who took the Champions League trophy with a win over Barcelona at the weekend. At the May meeting of the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District, councillors in the district extended their congratulations to the local man who heled the team to victory. Speaking at the meeting, Cahir councillor Andy Moloney extended an official congratulations to the local man. "Paudie Roche of Cahir, he started off with Munster youths, Munster Rugby, and went into Arsenal and he's the head [strength and conditioning] coach of the Arsenal ladies football team who won the Champions League at the weekend,' Cllr Moloney said. "I'd extend a vote of congratulations to Paudie on that,' the independent councillor added. The Tipperary man, as well as the extended Arsenal backroom team helped to lead the ladies team to a 1-0 victory over Barcelona at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Irish woman Katie McCabe was also on the team which won Arsenal's first Champions League trophy in 18 years.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Pairc Ui Chaoimh to host Munster Champions Cup game
Munster have confirmed they will play one of next season's Investec Champions Cup pool fixtures at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Thomond Park in Limerick usually stages Munster's home European games, with Cork last hosting one at Virgin Media Park in December 2002. Munster have held friendly games against South Africa XV and New Zealand side Crusaders at the 45,000-capacity Pairc Ui Chaoimh in recent years. The match against Crusaders at the home of Cork GAA attracted a crowd of 40,885 and Munster say they hope for a "significant financial uplift" from hosting a Champions Cup game there compared to the 25,6000-capacity Thomond Park. "In addition to this, the larger capacity of Pairc Ui Chaoimh will allow even more people to experience a competitive Munster Rugby European matchday which provides a fantastic opportunity to grow our support base, not just in Cork but right across the southern part of the province," said Munster chief operating officer Philip Quinn. Munster chief executive Ian Costello, who has also served as interim head coach in recent months, said "showcasing a high-profile competitive fixture to a wider audience is a strategic goal of ours and this aligns with the feedback we have received from many of our supporters".He added: "Unfortunately, the December Champions Cup pool fixtures in Thomond Park have experienced falling attendances over the last two seasons and the staging of this game in Pairc Ui Chaoimh offers us the opportunity to accommodate more supporters at that match and improve our financial stability which in the current climate is imperative."Munster secured 2025-26 Champions Cup qualification with a United Rugby Championship win over Benetton last week. They face Sharks in Durban in the URC quarter-finals on 31 May (17:30 BST).
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Munster Rugby chief on decision to move Champions Cup game from Thomond Park
Munster CEO Ian Flanagan says that the Reds will move a Champions Cup game to SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh because of falling attendances at Thomond Park in December. The province has confirmed that it is continuing preparations for hosting pool fixture at the famous Cork venue after securing a place in the tournament last Friday. Munster's final regular season win over Benetton earned the Reds a URC quarter-final against the Sharks on Saturday week and guaranteed the province a place in Europe's premier club competition for a 31st consecutive year. The last European Cup pool game that took place in Cork was in December 2002, against Viadana at the old Musgrave Park (now Virgin Media Park. Munster have recently played sell-out games against South Africa XV and the Crusaders at SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh and expect a similar financial upturn by moving a home Champions Cup game to the home of Cork GAA. Munster Rugby CEO Ian Flanagan said: 'I would like to congratulate the playing and coaching group for all their hard work in recent weeks in securing two bonus-point wins which resulted in our qualification for next season's Champions Cup. 'This competition is hugely important to us and our supporters, and qualification allows us to continue our preparations for hosting a pool fixture in Cork later this year. 'While we understand that there will be those that are used to seeing our Champions Cup matches in Thomond Park, we feel we have a great opportunity to do something a little different next season. 'A lot of consideration has gone into the decision to move a Champions Cup pool game to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh but showcasing a high-profile competitive fixture to a wider audience is a strategic goal of ours and this aligns with the feedback we have received from many of our supporters. 'Unfortunately, the December Champions Cup pool fixtures in Thomond Park have experienced falling attendances over the last two seasons and the staging of this game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh offers us the opportunity to accommodate more supporters at that match and improve our financial stability which in the current climate is imperative.' Munster Rugby Chief Operating Officer Philip Quinn added: 'As we have seen in recent years, costs related to the running of the professional game, and indeed at all levels across the province, have increased for multiple reasons. Those costs will continue to rise rather than fall. In order to improve our financial stability and ensure we remain adequately funded, viable and competitive, we need to weigh up all opportunities which can result in increases in revenue. 'Based on our forecasts, we believe we will achieve a significant financial uplift from hosting this December pool fixture in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh compared to Thomond Park. 'In addition to this, the larger capacity of Páirc Uí Chaoimh will allow even more people to experience a competitive Munster Rugby European matchday which provides a fantastic opportunity to grow our support base, not just in Cork but right across the southern part of the province. 'We have listened to plenty of supporter feedback from our games against South Africa XV and the Crusaders and we will work tirelessly to ensure the matchday experience is of the highest quality.' A ticket for December's Champions Cup pool fixture in Páirc Uí Chaoimh is included with the various season membership offerings. Remaining tickets will be available once the details of the fixture are confirmed.
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.
