2023–24 Munster Rugby season

The 2023–24 Munster Rugby season is Munster's twenty-third season competing in the United Rugby Championship, alongside which they are also competing in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It is Graham Rowntree's second season as head coach.[2] Munster went into the season as the defending league champions, having defeated the Stormers in the final of the previous season.[3]

2023–24 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s)Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600)[note 1]
Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,800)
ChairmanGerry O'Shea
CEOIan Flanagan
PresidentMichael Carroll[1]
Coach(es)Graham Rowntree
Captain(s)Peter O'Mahony
League(s)United Rugby Championship

Events edit

Former Munster player Mossy Lawler returned to the province to join the coaching team as a skills coach, having spent the previous eight seasons coaching at Connacht.[4] Academy manager Ian Costello was promoted to the newly created position of head of rugby operations,[5] with Gearóid Prendergast, then-director of rugby at Young Munster, replacing him in the role.[6] Lead performance analyst George Murray continues on in his role as technical coach after taking up the role in june 2022.

In players news, two players were promoted from the academy to the senior squad: back-three Patrick Campbell[7] and lock/back-row Cian Hurley.[8] Prop John Ryan returned to the province,[9] whilst Alex Nankivell, who was Ryan's teammate at the Chiefs, also joined the province.[10] Former Connacht centre Seán O'Brien joined the province from English club Exeter Chiefs.[11] Five players joined year one of the Munster academy ahead of the season: prop George Hadden, back-row Brian Gleeson, fly-half Dylan Hicks and back-three players Shay McCarthy and Ben O'Connor.[12]

Fly-half Ben Healy, who won his first cap for Scotland during the 2023 Six Nations, left the province to join Edinburgh,[13] whilst centre Malakai Fekitoa also left to join Italian club Benetton.[14] Lock Paddy Kelly and prop Liam O'Connor were forced to retire upon the conclusion of the previous season due to respective brain and neck injuries, centre Oli Morris and academy back-three Conor Phillips were released by the province,[15] and lock Eoin O'Connor joined English club Exeter Chiefs[16] Club legend Keith Earls, who was contracted until the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, confirmed his retirement upon Ireland's exit from the tournament, bringing to an end his 16-year Munster career.[17]

The format for the European Rugby Champions Cup changed for the 2023–24 season, with the two pool-format used during the COVID-19 pandemic dispensed with in favour of four pools of six clubs each, with each pool containing two teams from the United Rugby Championship, Top 14 and Premiership Rugby. The four highest-ranked teams in each pool progress to the knockout stage.[18] Munster were in tier one for the pool draw by virtue of being 2022–23 URC champions, and were drawn in pool 3, where they will face English clubs Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints, and French clubs Bayonne and Toulon.[19]

In a world first, Munster will host Super Rugby champions the Crusaders in a so-called Clash of Champions on 3 February 2024, a match that will see former Munster head coach Rob Penney return to the province after he was appointed as Crusaders new head coach ahead of 2024.[20]

Greig Oliver, an elite player development officer with Munster's academy since 2011, died in a paragliding accident in Cape Town, South Africa, on 3 July 2023, where he and his wife were following their son Jack, who is in Munster's academy, with the Ireland under-20s team at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship.[21]

Munster began their pre-season fixtures with a 33–12 home defeat against Leinster at Musgrave Park on 8 September[22] and a 24–19 away win against Connacht at the Sportsground on 22 September,[23] before defeating famous invitational touring side the Barbarians 47–35 at Thomond Park on 30 September;[24] this match was the first time the sides' respective men's team faced each other.[25]

Player movements edit

Below are the players who joined and left the Munster senior and academy squads ahead of the 2023–24 season. Italics indicates players that transferred during the 2023–24 season.

Senior squad edit

Academy squad edit

Coaches and staff edit

Senior squad

Position Name Nationality
Head coach Graham Rowntree   England
Attack coach Mike Prendergast   Ireland
Forwards coach Andi Kyriacou   England
Defence coach Denis Leamy   Ireland
Lead performance analyst and technical coach George Murray   Ireland
Skills coach Mossy Lawler   Ireland
Team manager Niall O'Donovan   Ireland
Head of rugby operations Ian Costello   Ireland
Head of athletic performance Ged McNamara   Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Adam Sheehan   Ireland
Head of medical Jamie Kearns   Ireland
Lead physiotherapist Damien Mordan   Ireland
Physiotherapist Keith Thornhill   Ireland
Physiotherapist Ray McGinley   Ireland
Performance analyst Paul O'Brien   Ireland

Academy squad

Position Name
Academy and pathway manager Gearóid Prendergast
Elite player development officer Brendan O'Connor
Elite player development officer Tommy O'Donnell
Pathway development coach Matt Brown
Lead academy athletic development coach Danielle Cunningham
Academy and pathway performance analyst Brandon Shanahan

Players edit

Senior squad edit

Munster Rugby senior squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Back three

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
L denotes a player on loan at the club.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[26]

Academy squad edit

Munster Rugby academy squad

Props

Hookers

  • None at present

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Back three

  •   Shay McCarthy (1)
  •   Ben O'Connor (1)
Bold denotes internationally capped players, number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[27][12]

Pre-season edit

8 September 2023
18:00
Munster  12–33  Leinster
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,400
22 September 2023
17:30
Connacht  19–24  Munster
Report
The Sportsground
30 September 2023
16:30
Munster  52–35Barbarians
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 10,427

Friendly edit

3 February 2024
17:00
Munster  21-19  Crusaders
Report[28]
Páirc Uí Chaoimh[20]
Attendance: 40,885
Referee: Chris Busby

2023–24 United Rugby Championship edit

2023–24 United Rugby Championship
watch · edit · discuss
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1   Glasgow Warriors (Q,E) 16 12 0 4 460 283 +177 67 27 10 2 60
2   Leinster (Q,E) 16 12 0 4 500 320 +180 73 40 10 1 59
3   Munster (Q,E) 16 11 1 4 425 268 +157 57 32 9 3 58
4   Bulls (Q,E) 16 11 0 5 557 384 +173 72 47 9 3 56
5   Stormers 16 10 0 6 423 312 +111 53 41 6 4 50
6   Ulster 16 10 0 6 390 359 +31 48 48 5 4 49
7   Edinburgh 16 11 0 5 384 337 +47 45 43 3 1 48
8   Benetton 16 10 1 5 345 338 +7 41 47 4 2 48
9   Connacht 16 9 0 7 385 383 +2 48 51 4 4 44
10   Lions 16 8 0 8 458 348 +110 59 43 7 5 44
11   Ospreys 16 8 0 8 355 407 –52 44 48 6 2 40
12   Sharks (X) 16 4 0 12 315 369 –54 43 46 3 6 25
13   Cardiff (X) 16 3 1 12 324 367 –43 41 44 2 9 25
14   Scarlets (X) 16 3 0 13 249 542 –293 29 73 2 3 17
15   Dragons (X) 16 3 0 13 272 553 –281 33 76 1 3 16
16   Zebre Parma (X) 16 1 1 14 301 573 –272 38 84 4 5 15
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[29]
  1. number of matches won;
  2. the difference between points for and points against;
  3. the number of tries scored;
  4. the most points scored;
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against;
  6. the fewest red cards received;
  7. the fewest yellow cards received.
Green background indicates teams that are play-off places and earn a place in the 2024–25 European Champions Cup

Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2024–25 European Challenge Cup.
Q: qualified for play-offs. H: home field advantage secured for quarter-and semi-final. h; home field advantage secured for quarter-final X: cannot reach play-offs. E: qualified for Champions Cup.

2023–24 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools view · watch · edit · discuss
  Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1   Leinster 4 3 0 1 75 63 +12 10 7 1 1 14 2nd
2   Ulster 4 3 0 1 83 76 +7 9 11 0 1 13 6th
3   Connacht 5 2 0 3 97 120 –23 12 15 0 2 10 9th
4   Munster 5 1 0 4 89 85 +4 10 8 1 3 8 3rd
    Scottish/Italian Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1   Glasgow Warriors 5 4 0 1 121 59 +62 18 3 2 1 19 1st
2   Edinburgh 5 3 0 2 115 93 +22 15 11 1 1 14 7th
3   Benetton 5 3 0 2 112 105 +7 13 15 2 0 14 8th
4   Zebre Parma 5 0 0 5 80 171 –91 8 25 0 2 2 16th
  South African Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1   Bulls 5 4 0 1 159 96 +63 20 10 3 1 20 4th
2   Stormers 5 4 0 1 124 129 –5 13 17 1 0 17 5th
3   Lions 5 2 0 3 131 118 +13 17 14 2 2 12 10th
4   Sharks 5 0 0 5 74 145 –71 9 18 0 3 3 12th
  Welsh Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1   Ospreys 4 3 0 1 88 61 +27 12 5 2 0 14 11th
2   Cardiff 5 2 0 3 140 117 +23 17 16 1 3 12 13th
3   Scarlets 5 2 0 3 92 117 –25 12 13 2 1 11 14th
4   Dragons 4 2 0 2 63 88 –25 6 13 0 1 9 15th
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[30]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

Round 1 edit

21 October 2023
17:15
(1 BP) Munster  34–21  Sharks
Try: Edogbo 20'
Barron 25'
Frisch 40'
Conway 66'
Coughlan 77'
Con: Carbery (3) 21' 26' 41'
Pen: Carbery 44'
Report[31]Try: Kok 37'
Janse van Rensburg 47'
Fassi 81'
Con: Bosch (3) 38' 48' 81'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 11,239
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi

Round 2 edit

29 October 21023
15:00
Benetton  13–13  Munster
Try: Smith 36'
Con: Umaga 37'
Pen: Umaga (2) 9' 15'
Report[32]Try: Ahern 79'
Con: Carbery 80'
Pen: Carbery (2) 13' 73'
Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Morné Ferreira

Round 3 edit

4 November 2023
17:15
(1 BP) Munster  45—14  Dragons
Try: R. Scannell 13'
G. Coombes 17'
Nash (2) 21' 73'
Ahern 47'
Casey 53'
Gleeson
Con: Butler (4) 15' 48' 54' 65'
Crowley 74'
Report[33]Try: R. Woodman 35'
Seiuli 80'
Con: Reed (2) 36 81'
Musgrave Park
Referee: Sam Grove-White

Round 4 edit

10 November 2023
19:35
Ulster  21-14  Munster
Try: Stockdale 26'
Timoney 67'
Con: Doak 68'
Pen: Doak (3) 13' 46' 63'
Report[34]Try: Casey (2) 7' 17'
Con: Crowley (2) 8' 19'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 14,960
Referee: Frank Murphy

Round 5 edit

18 November 2023
17:15
Munster  10-3  Stormers
Try: Edogbo 39'
Con: Crowley 40'
Pen: Crowley 14'
Report[35]Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 45'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 15,045
Referee: Sam Grove-White

Round 6 edit

25 November 2023
18:30
Leinster  21-16  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Gibson-Park 24'
Sheehan 34'
Larmour 65'
Con: Frawley (3) 25' 35' 66'
Report[36]Try: Casey 5'
Con: Crowley 6'
Pen: Crowley 13' 52' 73'
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 49,246
Referee: Chris Busby

Round 7 edit

1 December 2023
19:35
(1 BP) Munster  40-29  Glasgow Warriors
Try: Edogbo 7'
Ahern (2) 12' , 36'
Barron 15'
Nankivell 48'
Hodnett 64'
Con: Crowley (5) 7', 16', 37', 49', 65'
Report[37]Try: Vailanu 26'
Matthews 41'
Darge 54'
Penalty try 61'
Fraser 78'
Con: Weir 78'
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,400
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Round 8 edit

26 December 2023
19:35
(1 BP) Munster  3-9  Leinster
Pen: Crowley 51'Report [38]Pen: H. Byrne (3) 1', 15', 80'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 25,600
Referee: Andrew Brace

Round 9 edit

1 January 2024
15:00
Connacht  22-9  Munster
Try: Aungier 77'
Con: Hanrahan 78'
Pen: Hanrahan (5) 16' 45' 59' 66' 71'
Report[39]Pen: Butler (3) 22' 31' 57'
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 7,240
Referee: Chris Busby

Round 10 edit

16 February 2024
19:35
Scarlets  7-42  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Roberts 49'
Con: Titcombe 50'
Report[40]Try: Coombes (2) 10' 23'
O'Sullivan 62'
Ahern 65'
O'Brien 72'
McCarthy 76'
Con: Carbery (6) 11' 24' 62' 66' 73' 77'
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 7,039
Referee: Ian Kenny

Round 11 edit

Round 12 edit

Round 13 edit

30 March 2024
19:35
Munster  v  Cardiff
Thomond Park

Round 14 edit

Round 15 edit

Round 16 edit

Round 17 edit

Round 18 edit

2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup edit

Munster were in tier one for the pool draw of the 2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup by virtue of being 2022–23 URC champions, and were drawn in pool C, where they will face English clubs Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints, and French clubs Bayonne and Toulon.[19]

2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup Pool C
P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
  Northampton Saints (3) 4 4 0 0 137 75 +62 18 10 2 0 18
  Exeter Chiefs (8) 4 3 0 1 87 99 –12 13 14 1 0 13
  Glasgow Warriors (12) 4 2 0 2 77 63 +14 12 8 1 1 10
  Munster (14) 4 1 1 2 93 93 0 13 10 2 1 9
  Bayonne (9CC) 4 1 1 2 82 107 –25 11 16 1 1 8
  Toulon 4 0 0 4 60 99 –39 7 16 0 2 2
Green background (rows 1 to 2) indicates qualification places for a home Champions Cup round of 16.
Blue background (rows 3 to 4) indicates other teams qualified for the Champions Cup round of 16.
Yellow background (row 5) indicates qualification place for the Challenge Cup round of 16.
Plain background (row 6) indicates elimination from 2023–24 European competition.

Starting table — source: European Professional Club Rugby


Round 1 edit

9 December 2023
17:30
Munster  17-17  Bayonne
Try: McCarthy 9"
Coombes 19'
Con: Crowley (2) 10' 19'
Pen: Crowley 54'
Report[41]Try: Tagi 46'
Baget 75'
Con: Machenaud 47'
Dolhagaray 76'
Pen: Machenaud 4'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 18.908
Referee: Luke Pearce

Round 2 edit

17 December 2023
13:00
(1 BP) Exeter Chiefs  32-24  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Frost 15'
Vintcent 62'
Dunne 64'
Slade 78'
Con: Slade (3) 16' 63' 65'
Pen: Slade (2) 26' 45'
Report[42]Try: Nash 6'
Ahern 22'
Frisch 36'
Daly 49'
Con: Crowley (2) 7' 37'
Sandy Park
Attendance: 13,634
Referee: Mathieu Raynal

Round 3 edit

13 January 2024
15:15
Toulon  18-29  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Paia'aua 22'
du Preez 53'
Con: Jaminet 23'
Pen: Jaminet (2) 15' 34'
Report[43]Try: Nankivell 30'
Zebo 36'
Ahern 46'
Nash 59'
Con: Crowley (3) 31' 37' 60'
Pen: Crowley 27'
Stade Mayol
Attendance: 15,248
Referee: Nika Amashukeli

Round 4 edit

20 January 2024
17:30
(1 BP) Munster  23-26  Northampton Saints
Try: Frisch 37'
O'Mahony 40 + 1'
Coombes 48'
Con: Crowley 38'
Pen: Crowley (2) 31' 63'
Report[44]Try: Mitchell 18'
Graham 70'
Con: Smith (2) 18' 71'
Pen: Smith (3) 42' 55' 66'
Drop: Smith 59'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 24,620
Referee: Tual Trainini

Last 16 edit

2023–24 Munster A/Development season edit

Player statistics edit

Player statistics from the 2023–24 season. Stats from competitive fixtures only are shown. Academy players in italics.

References edit

  1. ^ "Michael Carroll Elected Munster Rugby President". Munster Rugby. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Graham Rowntree Confirmed As Next Munster Head Coach". Munster Rugby. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Magical Munster see off Stormers to win URC title and end trophy drought". Irish Examiner. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Lawler to join Munster as skills coach next season in move from Connacht". The42. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  5. ^ "New Role for Ian Costello". Munster Rugby. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Academy and Pathway Manager Appointed". Munster Rugby. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Munster tie down Patrick Campbell to new contract and add six underage stars to their academy". The42. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Player News | Cian Hurley, Chris Moore & James French". Munster Rugby. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b "John Ryan in picture for World Cup squad with a second return to Munster announced". The42. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Munster sign Māori All Blacks and Chiefs centre as Kilcoyne and Archer extend contracts". The42. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  11. ^ a b "New Signing Confirmed For Munster Rugby". Munster Rugby. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "Munster Rugby Confirm Greencore Academy Squad For 2023/24". Munster Rugby. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Munster confirm Ben Healy will join Edinburgh at the end of the season". The42. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Malakai Fekitoa set to leave Munster for Benetton Rugby". The42. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Munster Rugby Departing Players Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  16. ^ a b "O'Connor signs for the Chiefs". Exeter Chiefs. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Keith Earls retires following World Cup exit". RTÉ Sport. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Top seeds Munster rewarded with favourable draw as Champions Cup pools revealed". Irish Examiner. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Munster Learn Champions Cup Opponents". Munster Rugby. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  20. ^ a b "A World First For Munster Rugby And Crusaders". Munster Rugby. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Greig Oliver, Rest In Peace". Munster Rugby. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Report | Munster Lose Out To Leinster In Pre-Season Opener". Munster Rugby. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Report | Munster Win Against Connacht". Munster Rugby. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Report | Munster Beat Barbarians In Try-Fest". Munster Rugby. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Munster v Barbarians Double-Header At Thomond Park". Munster Rugby. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Munster Rugby | 1st Team Squad". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  27. ^ "Munster Rugby | Academy Squad". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  28. ^ "Munster Edge Past Crusaders At Páirc Uí Chaoimh"
  29. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  30. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  31. ^ "Joey Carbery on song as Munster beat Hollywoodbets Sharks", United Rugby, 21 October 2023
  32. ^ "Last-minute Tom Ahern try snatches draw for Munster", United Rugby, 29 October 2023
  33. ^ "Munster climb to top of URC table after big win over Dragons", United Rugby, 4 November 2023
  34. ^ "Ulster end Munster's unbeaten start to URC season", United Rugby, 10 November 2023
  35. ^ "United Rugby Championship: Munster secure hard-fought 10-3 win over Stormers", BBC Sport, 18 November 2023
  36. ^ "Leinster get better of arch-rivals Munster", United Rugby Championship, 25 November 2023
  37. ^ "6-Try Munster Beat URC Leaders Glasgow in Cork", Munster Rugby, 1 December 2023
  38. ^ "Harry Byrne boots Leinster to victory over Munster", United Rugby, 26 December 2023
  39. ^ "JJ Hanrahan boots Connacht to victory over Munster", United Rugby, 1 January 2024
  40. ^ "Munster power to bonus-point victory over Scarlets", United Rugby, 16 February 2024
  41. ^ "Bayonne Snatch Draw at Thomond, Munster Rugby, 9 December 2023
  42. ^ "Munster Fall to Defeat in Exeter", Munster Rugby, 17 December 2023
  43. ^ "Famous Munster Win in Toulon", Munster Rugby, 13 January 2024
  44. ^ "Munster Fall to Defeat at Thomond Park", Munster Rugby, 20 January 2024

Notes edit

  1. ^ Thomond Park's official capacity is 25,600 but can be expanded up to 26,276 with temporary seating.
  2. ^ Kleyn changed his World Rugby-recognised international affiliation to South Africa in June 2023.

External links edit