Heineken Champions Cup Round 1 | A new European adventure begins in a new look Heineken Champions Cup and we take a look at today's opposition, Harlequins, and their form coming into the opening game.
We get the inside track from Mike Haley, take a look at Munster's season so far and cover the latest rugby news from across the province including Clonakilty RFC's commitment to inclusivity.
FRONT PAGE
v HARLEQUINS | SUN 13 DEC 2020 | THOMOND PARK | 5.30PM
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
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Every great match
starts with 0.0
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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
and the entire squad best wishes and success
in today’s game and the European campaign
ahead. It seems strange for all of us not to
be there in person for a European game but
hopefully sometime soon we will be back in
the stands and terraces, cold but happy and
shouting on the team. In the meantime, there
are 800 or so in the stands, who can’t shout,
sing or make noise but are there in spirit! Well
done to all!
This evening we welcome Paul Gustard and his
Harlequins team to Thomond Park for the first
game in this year’s Heineken Champions Cup.
An extended welcome to Jerry Flannery who
needs no introduction to Munster or Thomond
Park. This evening’s game will be one of mixed
emotions for Fla, but he is here to get a job
done and no doubt will have a catch up after
the game with his many friends within Munster.
Having completed a block of games in the
Guinness PRO14 and sitting on top of Conference
B with 7 wins from 7, Munster will want to keep
that momentum up going into this game. Both
teams are well aware of how important that first
game and first win is in this competition. Both
Munster and Harlequins have a long and proud
history in this prestigious competition and this
game has all the elements to be a hard-fought
and highly competitive game.
Johann and all the coaches welcome back the
players from international duty and selection
cannot be easy with so many players in a good
run of form for province and country. I’m sure
you will join me in wishing Johann, his coaches
Congratulations to our own Conor Murray on his
inclusion in World Rugby's Team of the Decade
for 2010-2019 earlier this week. It's a wonderful
accolade for Conor and well deserved. On
behalf of everyone in Munster Rugby, we are all
very proud of you.
The domestic game has moved on slightly with
training now allowed in pods of 15 and noncontact
rugby. While this is not where we would
like to be, for the moment it's all we can do and
hopefully in the weeks and months ahead we
will see things opening up and getting back to
some sort of normal.
Our thanks to our main sponsor Bank of Ireland,
our kit supplier adidas and all our sponsors for
their continued support.
Have a very happy Christmas, hope to see you
all soon. Stay positive, stay strong and stay
safe.
To the brave and faithful nothing is impossible.
Sean McCullough
President Munster Branch IRFU
President: Sean McCullough | Vice President: Ger McNamara | Junior Vice President: Michael Carroll
Hon. Secretary: Muiris Mahon| Hon. Treasurer: Tom Kinirons
Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Ian Flanagan | Head Coach: Johann van Graan | Team Manager: Niall O’Donovan
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
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EPCR CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME
Less than eight continuing their European adventure in the
weeks after Exeter knockout rounds of the Challenge Cup.
Chiefs became the
twelfth club to lift
this prestigious
trophy in Bristol,
the tournament
kicks off again
with an exciting
new format to meet the challenges that club
rugby has been presented by the containment
of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wherever you are
watching the action, the whole EPCR team joins
me in hoping that you enjoy it.
When the global health crisis struck, we
were well on course to have the final of this
tournament in 2019/20 watched live in the
stadium by a capacity crowd in Marseille. As we
set out on the pathway to the Stade Vélodrome
again this term, we will not be swayed from
our purpose of lobbying for fans to return to
stadiums across Europe.
We believe that it is essential for the sport and
for the mental health of a public and of clubs
who have suffered enough in recent months.
Of course, we say that believing that this can
be achieved safely and consistently with
guidelines of various governments across other
industries.
European club rugby tournaments will be played
across eight weekends on an exceptional basis
this season and that means 24 clubs lining up
in two pools of this Heineken Champions Cup.
With no repeats of domestic matches in the pool
stage, each club will play two opponents home
and away in the December and January rounds.
Then, the top four classified in each pool will
head through to a new, two-legged quarter-final
with the next-best four clubs in each section
The back-to-back weekends that kick off the
season give some mouthwatering clashes for
us to savour the 25th season of Heineken’s
association with the tournament. Last season’s
quarter-final and semi-final are immediately
repeated as Toulouse take on Ulster Rugby
in Belfast followed by holders Exeter Chiefs
at home. There’s a re-run of the classic 2011
showpiece between Leinster Rugby and
Northampton Saints and Challenge Cup holders
Bristol Bears take on European heavyweights
ASM Clermont Auvergne as well as Connacht
Rugby, which will be a reunion for Pat Lam,
among others.
There is no doubting in the quality of the matches
as this tournament goes from strength-tostrength.
We thank our broadcast partners – BT
Sport, Channel 4, Virgin Media, beIN SPORTS
and France Télévisions domestically – for their
dedication to taking the action to homes across
the world, which has been appreciated even
more during the pandemic.
We share this journey with you, the fans, but
also with the support of partners Tissot, the
Financial Times, Gilbert and Kappa, and hope
to be in your company soon once more as we
make our way through what promises to be an
exciting 2020/21 season.
Yours in Rugby,
Simon Halliday
Chairman, EPCR
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
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Loved in Munster.
Followed the world over.
Always represented.
6 © 2020 adidas AG
WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS
PREVIEW
This weekend a new European adventure
begins in a new look Heineken Champions Cup.
24 teams have been drawn in two Pools and
each will play four pool games – two home and
two away.
The top four teams in each Pool will qualify for
the quarter-finals, which will be played over two
legs on a home and away basis in April 2021.
Alongside Munster and Harlequins in Pool B
are defending champions Exeter Chiefs and last
year’s finalists Racing 92. The pool also includes
Lyon, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse,
Ulster, Connacht, Bristol Bears, Gloucester, and
Glasgow Warriors.
LAST 3 CHAMPIONS CUP MEETINGS
07.04.13
Harlequins 12-18 Munster Rugby (QF)
30.04.11
Munster Rugby 20-12 Harlequins
15.01.05
Harlequins 10-18 Munster Rugby
HEAD TO HEAD 6 2 0
Munster wins
Harlequins wins
Draws
MATCH FACTS
• Munster and Harlequins have met seven
times before in the Heineken Champions
Cup pool stages, with the Irish province
winning each of the last six matches; five
of their previous seven clashes have been
decided by a single-digit margin.
• Munster are unbeaten in their last 15 home
games in the Heineken Champions Cup,
keeping their opponents to seven points or
fewer in four of the last five.
• Harlequins have won only one of their last
nine away games in Ireland in the Heineken
Champions Cup but three of their last four
defeats there have come by a margin of just
one point.
• Munster were the only side not to score
a try in the opening quarter of a match in
the Heineken Champions Cup last season,
however they conceded just one try in that
same period, the joint fewest of any side
(level with Montpellier).
• Munster’s CJ Stander made 120 carries in
the Heineken Champions Cup last season,
more than any other player in 2019/20.
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
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THE UK IS
LEAVING.
THE FT ISN’T.
Stay connected to what matters
in Europe.
Read more at ft.com/europe
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MURRAY NAMED
IN TEAM OF THE DECADE
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Earlier this week Conor Murray was named in
World Rugby’s Team of the Decade (2010-2019),
after a brilliant ten years with Munster, Ireland
and the British & Irish Lions.
Murray was named alongside All Blacks legend
Dan Carter in the half-backs as part of a starstudded
line-up that included seven All Blacks,
Australian’s David Pocock at No. 6 and Italy’s
Sergio Parisse named at No. 8.
Conor has played 87 times for his country,
scoring 14 tries and kicking five conversions
and five penalties. The 31-year-old was most
recently part of Andy Farrell’s Autumn Nations
Cup squad and played against Scotland,
Georgia, England and Wales. He kicked 8 points
off the tee when he stepped into the flyhalf
position in the game against Wales.
He made his Ireland debut against France in
2011 and was first choice scrum-half in his first
Rugby World later that year at the age of just 22.
His rise continued with selection for the
victorious 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to
Australia and Murray once again earned a
starting place, featuring in seven of the touring
games including two Test matches.
Six Nations titles followed in 2014 and 2015 with
the Grand Slam captured in 2018.
He has played in three World Cups and featured
in Ireland’s first ever win over the Springboks
on South African soil in June 2016.
Murray was a standout performer in Ireland’s
first win over the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016
and starred in the Series win away to Australia
in 2018, the country’s first series victory in
Australia for 39 years.
He was selected on his second Lions tour in
2017 and started all three Tests as the tourists
drew the Series against the All Blacks.
In scoring a try in the second Test, Murray
became the first international player in history
to score four tries against the All Blacks – three
for Ireland and one for the Lions.
A product of St. Munchin’s and Garryowen,
Murray is a Greencore Munster Rugby Academy
graduate and made his senior debut against
Connacht in April 2010. The Patrickswell man
won Munster’s Player of the Year award in 2014
and has made 141 appearances for the province
to date, scoring 28 tries, three penalties and
three conversions.
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK 9
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MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
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THE INSIDE
TRACK
with Mike Haley
On coming back into the Heineken Champions
Cup competition…
“We’ve had some really tough tests in the
PRO14 – Scarlets away, Edinburgh at home
– and then the internationals left, and we
really picked up the pace whilst carrying on
for Munster. We are in a really good position
now with all the internationals coming back
and feeding back in the squad. We are raring
to go. It’s Champions Cup weekend and we
cannot wait to get into it. The only downside
is that there won’t be a crowd at Thomond. It
would be all the better having it packed out but
there’s a still a buzz, still a special feeling so
we can’t wait. I think it’s something that’s built
into the bones here, especially by the fans. The
fans have made it this special, and that’s been
brought on by the players and we understand
we have a responsibility on us. It’s driven by
an expectation of past glories at Munster, and
that this is a competition that we want to be the
best at. Whatever it is, when this week comes
around you can just feel the intensity rises, the
buzz rises.”
On Munster’s current run of good results…
“We’ve got a good blend on how we are
playing, how we are defending. We are adding
strings to our bow constantly. We are not
sitting on performances - we are constantly
trying to get better. I think that’s shown in
the performances since the first game of the
season. We’ve rounded ourselves off and we
are getting better each week. The good thing
is we’ve had a wide variety of different types
of games. We’ve had open games; we’ve had
really poor weather games where we’ve had to
grind it out and we’ve shown we can mix up our
game. That’s been one of the best things that’s
been happening for us this season.”
On playing Harlequins this evening…
“They had a tough game against Exeter first
up. Obviously, Exeter are a quality side, and
everybody knows that. They were obviously
disappointed with that, but they bounced back
over the last couple of weeks and had some
very good performances. In fairness, they’ve
just started their league campaign but in reality,
the end of last season wasn’t that long ago for
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them either, so they’ve had a couple of weeks
off and rolled back into it. They are going to
be in very good form, and we are expecting a
massive challenge this weekend. They’ve got
a number of very experienced players across
the backline, and an exciting pack. Obviously,
there’ll be a couple of older heads coming back
to Thomond like Jerry (Flannery), and Jack
Stafford who was an academy player. They are
a quality side. They’ve shown they are there to
compete and we are looking at all aspects of
their play and making sure we know what they
are about.”
On enjoying his rugby at the moment…
“I’m just enjoying playing rugby. It’s good
fun. It’s a good brand of rugby to be playing.
Especially when you’re winning, it’s good fun.
I’m just enjoying each game instead of worrying
about anything else. When I’m in that game, I’m
enjoying it to the max, that’s been working well
for me.”
On the impact some of the up-and-coming
young players in the squad have been having…
“Personally, I don’t think it’s been much of
a surprise. I think being here and training
every single day you see that the young lads
are there, they fill in here and there in games
where they get their opportunity. When the
internationals were at camp, and it was a case
that those guys were gone, and we needed
everyone to step up. It was a massive challenge
that we all embraced. It’s a credit to Munster
on how they feed their academy lads in. When
it came to the stage where we needed them to
step up, they were fantastic. You look at the
likes of Gavin Coombes, Craig Casey, they’ve
been unbelievable for us for the past few weeks
– Ben Healy as well. Those young lads – it’s a
credit to them. They’ve been working hard
behind the scenes where no one can see, and
they take their chance when they get it. So it’s
full praise for them.”
"When this week comes around you can just feel
the intensity rises, the buzz rises"
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
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WE ARE RUGBY
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Photos © Pressesports
THE LOWDOWN
THE FORM GUIDE
Harlequins lie in 5th position in the Premiership
after three rounds, picking up try bonus points
in their last two games. Harlequins faced
current Premiership and European champions
Exeter Chiefs in their season opener, with four
second half tries from Exeter putting them out
of sight after just 3 points separated the sides
at the break. The following week, Harlequins
got back on track with an impressive 49-29
win over Northampton Saints, with tries from
Danny Care, Nathan Earle, Mike Brown, Alex
Dombrandt, Scott Steele and Marcus Smith,
who added an additional 19 points off the tee.
Last Sunday, Harlequins were on the road once
again, with a visit to Gloucester that saw the
visitors win 34-24. Smith was again on target,
kicking 14 points including converting Quins
four tries, kicking a penalty and a drop goal.
Prop Joe Marler returns to the side having been
on duty as part of the England squad for the
Autumn Nations Cup. Ben Youngs makes his
50th European appearance this evening while
back row James Chisholm lines out for the
100th time for Harlequins.
THE COACHING TICKET
Paul Gustard
Photo Harry Trump/
Getty Images
Paul Gustard joined Harlequins as Head of
Rugby at the start of the 2018/19 season. As a
player he won four Premiership titles and two
European Cups in five years with Leicester
Tigers before moving to London Irish and finally
Saracens in 2006. Two years later he joined the
club's coaching team as Assistant First Team
Coach before taking on the roles of Defence and
Forwards Coach. In his time as coach he won
two Premiership titles and a European Cup. He
joined Eddie Jones's coaching team at the start
of 2016, helping England win the Grand Slam,
back-to-back Six Nations titles and a first ever
series win in Australia. There are some familiar
faces in his backroom team, none more so than
former Munster Forwards Coach Jerry Flannery
who played for Munster 94 times and joined the
London side earlier this year as Lineout Coach.
Harlequins record points scorer Nick Evans is
the Attack & Backs Coach while former Welsh
international and Lion Adam Jones is the Scrum
Coach.
ONE TO WATCH
ONE TO WATCH
Marcus Smith
Photo Tony Marshall/
Getty Images
Pulling the strings in the No. 10 jersey is
21-year-old Marcus Smith, already with 89
caps for his club and scoring 41 points in his
last three appearances. He made his senior
debut during the 2017/18 season, becoming
the second-youngest Premiership debutant
in history, behind George Ford, when he lined
out against London Irish aged 18 years and 200
days in September 2017. He earned a call up for
England against the Barbarians in June 2019
and put in a Man of the Match performance. He
was also named in the England wider training
squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
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MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
17
Shane made his Ireland debut
against Georgia last month
DALY’S STAR
ON THE RISE
Corkman Shane Daly became the latest
Munster player to play for Ireland last month
when he came off the bench against Georgia in
the Autumn Nations Cup.
For the 23-year-old Bishopstown man, it has
been an interesting road travelled. The versatile
back has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last
12 months as he established himself as an
important member of Johann van Graan’s
squad in the 2019/20 campaign where he made
16 appearances for Munster which included a
Heineken Champions Cup debut in the clash
with Racing 92 in Paris.
Since graduating from Cork’s famed rugby
nursery of Presentation College, Daly has
enjoyed a whirlwind journey as he balanced his
studies in Finance at UCC with a memorable run
with the Ireland U20s to the Junior World Cup
final in 2016. There was also life in the Munster
Rugby Academy, travelling the globe with the
Ireland 7s and helping Cork Constitution to AIL
success to contend with.
make a name for himself in Cork rugby circles
as assistant coach with Cork Con and former
Munster out-half Jonny Holland recalls.
“There would be a big Cork contingent who
have been singing his praises for a while here
as well, it would be no surprise to them,”
Holland tells Munster Rugby. “I think he’s such
an exciting player. He’s put a lot of effort into it
as everyone else does. It’s nice to see someone
with a success story.”
One man who has experience with identifying
talent is Paul Barr. Now working with Bandon
RFC, the experienced coach helped oversee
Daly’s development at Pres and subsequently
at Con.
“Shane would have been more of a soccer
player when he came to Pres first,” Barr says.
Shane in action for Presentation
Brothers College Cork
Daly was a talent at numerous sports in his early
years, particularly in soccer and Gaelic football,
but it was midway through his time in Pres that
the oval ball became his sole focus having first
experienced the sport with Highfield RFC.
Although Daly failed to taste Senior Cup success
with Pres in 2014 and 2015, he was beginning to
“His older brother was also good at soccer and
rugby. James focussing on rugby over soccer
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maturity, technical skill, a mental work-rate to
hone your skill level to the maximum of their
potential. I think that’s very important for young
lads that they have an ethic, a personal ethic to
maximise their skill level. I think Shane had that
appetite as did Johnny a generation before him.
I think that set Shane apart somewhat. Also,
physically, he’s very, very talented. He’s a hell
of an athlete.”
Both Holland and Barr agree that the Ireland
7s programme played a big role in Daly’s
development as it allowed him to hone and
develop the core skills of the sport which he
could then transfer back to the 15s game.
Daly in action for Ireland 7s at
the World Rugby Sevens in 2018
probably guided Shane to some degree. I think
really only from Bowen Shield on that he really
focussed on rugby at Pres. He was take it or
leave it up until then, really.”
Although Daly’s talent on the pitch was evident
for all to see, it was his attitude and willingness
to learn which really stood out to Barr. In fact,
after Daly suffered more Senior Cup heartbreak
with Pres, Barr recalls their conversation the
day after:
“Obviously, he was very disappointed, but I
remember the line of the conversation, Shane
reminded me of it again recently, I said,
you know, losing a Schools Cup is a huge
disappointment for any young lad, but I really
believe he has bigger fish to fry in rugby. I had
the exact same conversation and I used the
same phrase with Johnny Sexton in the years
previously when I was head coach of Leinster
Schools and Johnny got injured in the warm-up
in an Interpro against Munster, played in Cork
Con, ironically.’
“They’re different players but at that agegroup,
that 18-year-old (bracket), you can
see a spark, that physical talent, that mental
Daly’s Ireland debut was a special moment
not only for the player but for his family,
friends and all of those who played a role in his
development. Daly has said previously that Barr
had a major influence on his development, but
the Bandon RFC coach immediately deflects
any credit which is put his way.
“He’s probably being a bit too gracious with
that. I always think the players’ parents have a
bigger influence. They’re the ones who wash
the kit and bring it to training when he’s a young
lad. Shane was so receptive to information, so
willing to learn, it was never a chore to work
with Shane Daly that’s for sure. Really super
personality in the changing room and a great
guy to work with. For him to have said that, it
wouldn’t be lost on you in fairness.”
And how does he think Daly will adapt to the
demands of senior international rugby?
“I was fortunate in my time with Leinster
Schools, Munster Schools and Irish Schools
over the years to have coached a lot of his
teammates. I think Shane is well able, 100% in
that company.
“No doubt.”
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
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VIRTUAL MUNSTER MASCOTS
JAMES MAGUIRE
Age: 9
From: Blackrock, Cork
School: Crab Lane National School
Hobbies: Rugby, soccer, GAA
Favourite Player: Peter O’Mahony
SAM LEHANE
Age: 9
From: Nohoval, Co. Cork
School: Rennies National School
Hobbies: Playing rugby with Kinsale RFC,
GAA, athletics
Favourite Player: Andrew Conway
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
21
STEPHEN ARCHER
Prop
29.01.88
H: 1.88m
W: 120.91kg
Hons: Ire (2 caps)
Hooker
06.08.99
H:1.83m
W: 98kg
Hons: Ire U20
DIARMUID BARRON
TADHG BEIRNE
Lock / Back Row
08.01.92
H: 1.98 m
W: 113.18 kg
Hons: Ire (17 caps)
Flanker
15.02.91
H: 1.76 m
W: 98 kg
Hons: ~
CHRIS CLOETE
Back Row
11.12.1997
H: 1.98m
W: 110kg
Hons: Ire U20
GAVIN COOMBES
JAMES CRONIN
Prop
23.11.90
H: 1.80 m
W: 113 kg
Hons: Ire (3 caps)
Lock / Back Row
03.08.85
H: 1.91 m
W: 111 kg
Hons: Ire (1 cap)
BILLY HOLLAND
DAVE KILCOYNE
Prop
14.12.88
H: 1.83 m
W: 112 kg
Hons: Ire (39 caps)
JEAN KLEYN
Lock
26.08.93
H: 2.03 m
W: 125 kg
Hons: Ire (5 caps)
Prop
06.04.99
H: 1.85m
W: 115kg
Hons: ~
KEYNAN KNOX
Prop
22.07.95
H: 1.85 m
W: 120 kg
Hons: Ire U20
JEREMY LOUGHMAN
Hooker
12.10.92
H: 1.84 m
W: 108 kg
Hons: NZ U20
RHYS MARSHALL
Hooker
16.04.91
H: 1.80 m
W: 107 kg
Hons: Ire U19
KEVIN O’BYRNE
Prop
13.07.95
H: 1.78 m
W: 110 kg
Hons: Ire U20
LIAM O’CONNOR
TOMMY O’DONNELL
Back Row
21.05.87
H: 1.85 m
W: 107 kg
Hons: Ire (12 caps)
JACK O’DONOGHUE
Back Row
08.02.94
H: 1.91 m
W: 107 kg
Hons: Ire (2 caps)
PETER O’MAHONY
Back Row
17.09.89
H: 1.91 m
W: 106 kg
Hons: Ire (73 caps)
Back Row
01.10.98
H: 1.88m
W: 100kg
Hons: Ire U20
JACK O’SULLIVAN
JOHN RYAN
Prop
02.08.88
H: 1.83 m
W: 117 kg
Hons: Ire (23 caps)
Prop
28.10.97
H:1.83m
W: 123.18kg
Hons: USA U20
ROMAN SALANOA
NIALL SCANNELL
Hooker
08.04.92
H: 1.85 m
W: 109 kg
Hons: Ire (20 caps)
RG SNYMAN
Lock
29.01.95
H: 2.06 m
W: 116 kg
Hons: SA (23 caps)
CJ STANDER
Back Row
05.04.90
H: 1.85 m
W: 114 kg
Hons: Ire (46 caps)
Lock
11.12.97
H:1.93 m
W: 111.82 kg
Hons: Ire U20
FINEEN WYCHERLEY
FORWARDS
Munster Rugby Squad - 2020/21 Season
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JOEY CARBERY
Fly Half
01.11.95
H: 1.83 m
W: 85kg
Hons: Ire (22 caps)
Scrum Half
19.04.99
H: 1.65 m
W: 75kg
Hons: Ire U20
CRAIG CASEY
ANDREW CONWAY
Full Back / Wing
11.07.91
H: 1.80 m
W: 89 kg
Hons: Ire (24 caps)
LIAM COOMBES
Full Back / Wing
01.05.97
H: 1.91m
W: 89 kg
Hons: Ire U20
Scrum Half
08.12.92
H: 1.73 m
W: 83 kg
Hons: Ire Clubs
NEIL CRONIN
Wing / Centre
19.12.96
H: 1.91 m
W: 91 kg
Hons: Ire (1 cap)
SHANE DALY
DAMIAN DE ALLENDE
Centre
25/11/1991
H: 1.91 m
W: 105 kg
Hons: SA (47 caps)
KEITH EARLS
Universal Back
02.10.87
H: 1.78 m
W: 90 kg
Hons: Ire (88 caps)
CHRIS FARRELL
Centre
16.03.93
H: 1.93 m
W: 110 kg
Hons: Ire (14 caps)
Full Back
26.10.96
H:1.85m
W: 95 kg
Hons: Eng U20
MATT GALLAGHER
Centre
10.12.94
H: 1.85 m
W: 100 kg
Hons: Ire U20
DAN GOGGIN
Full Back
28.06.94
H: 1.91 m
W: 93 kg
Hons: Ire (1 cap)
MIKE HALEY
RORY SCANNELL
CALVIN NASH
CONOR MURRAY
ALEX MCHENRY
NICK MCCARTHY
JJ HANRAHAN
Fly Half / Centre
27.07.92
H: 1.83 m
W: 93 kg
Hons: Emerging Ireland
Scrum Half
25.03.95
H: 1.8m
W: 84 kg
Hons: Ire U20
Centre
07.10.97
H: 1.88m
W: 95kg
Hons: Ire U20
Scrum Half
20.04.89
H: 1.88 m
W: 94 kg
Hons: Ire (87 caps)
Wing
08.08.97
H: 1.78 m
W: 90 kg
Hons: Ire U20
Centre
22.12.93
H: 1.80 m
W: 98 kg
Hons: Ire (3 caps)
Wing
05.05.93
H: 1.85 m
W: 95 kg
Hons: Ire (3 caps)
DARREN SWEETNAM
BACKS
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
23
MUNSTER RUGBY
STARTING XV
James Cronin Kevin O'Byrne Stephen Archer Jean Kleyn Tadhg Beirne
Gavin Coombes
Peter
O'Mahony (C)
CJ Stander
Conor Murray
JJ Hanrahan
Keith Earls
Damian de
Allende
Chris Farrell
Andrew Conway
Mike Haley
#MUNvHAR
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Replacements
16. Rhys Marshall 17. Josh Wycherley
18. John Ryan 19. Fineen Wycherley
20. Jack O'Donoghue 21. Craig Casey
22. Ben Healy 23. Rory Scannell
24 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
HARLEQUINS
STARTING XV
Joe Marler
Scott Baldwin
Wilco Louw
Hugh Tizard
Glen Young
James
Chisholm
Will Evans
Alex
Dombrandt (C)
Danny Care
Marcus Smith
Cadan Murley
Ben Tapuai
Luke
Northmore
Nathan Earle
Mike Brown
Replacements
16. Elia Elia 17. Santiago Garcia Botta
18. Fin Baxter 19. Richard De Carpentier
20. Tom Lawday 21. Scott Steele
22. James Lang 23. Ross Chisholm
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (FRA)
AR1: Sean Gallagher (IRE)
AR2: Paul Haycock (IRE)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRE)
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
25
BEST TRY
The best tries, place kicks and drop goals from
25 years of the Heineken Champions Cup are
being voted for in the exciting new Tissot 10s
series – and you can have your say in the winner
on official digital channels of the tournament.
Takudzwa Ngwenya’s stunning try for Biarritz
Olympique in their 2009/10 quarter-final win
over Ospreys landed the accolade of the top try
from an outstanding shortlist as EPCR team up
with Official Partner Tissot to bring you some
top class action from a quarter of a century of
elite club rugby.
The shortlist is revealed with a series of video
vignettes on HeinekenChampionsCup.com and
official social media channels before a public
vote for the fans, which is combined with the
views of an expert to determine the winner.
European Cup winner Bryan Habana was on
hand as Ngwenya’s try was selected and the
countdown of the best place kicks has already
started.
Fans who have their say on their favourite
selection enter a draw to win a Tissot watch as
part of this exciting activation.
2010
TAKUDZWA NGWENYA
BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE V OSPREYS
26 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
ASHTON’S
THOMOND PARK
EXPERIENCE
Photo: Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Europe’s top try scorer Chris Ashton is no
stranger to Thomond Park, and although not
in the line-up today, has plenty of experience
playing at the coalface of this competition,
having won consecutive Heineken Champions
Cup titles with Saracens in 2016 and 2017. He
joined Harlequins earlier this year from Sale
Sharks and has made 7 appearances for the
side. The 33-year-old rugby league convert
played 44 times for England, scoring 20 tries.
He leads the way as the top try scorer in Europe
with 40 tries to date.
"On facing Munster today in Thomond Park...
“Munster have started really well in the league
and Thomond Park, whether full or empty, is
always going to be a very difficult place to go
and get a win.
“I remember Quins did it a few years ago. They
went and got the win which was unusual, but
there are some players here that have been
there and done it. I’ve, unfortunately, not been
able to go and do it. So, it is a hard place to go
and get a win, and, like I’ve said, the Champions
Cup means an awful lot to Munster. So, we’ll be
expecting both barrels come that game.”
On the switch from playing Premiership Rugby
to the Champions Cup…
“Yes, the Champions Cup is just a good
breakaway from the league, and the different
pressures that it brings. It’s kind of a place where
you can go and play the best teams, and play
with a different outlook on the kind of game you
want to play. You can afford to play with a little
bit more style and freedom.
“You can chance your arm a little bit more and
try to win games, maybe differently to how you
would in a Premiership game. So, it definitely
offers that, and that makes it exciting in itself for
the players and wanting to play in it.”
On his memories of playing in this competition...
“One of my first memories, funnily enough,
would be against Munster. Having come from
Rugby League, always playing against your local
team, really, to be able to leave Northampton
and go across to Thomond Park, and just
experiencing Thomond Park when Munster were
at the top and with a full crowd, it was something
I’d never experienced before.
“Just the passion, just the whole atmosphere of
the tournament was something I hadn’t expected
and didn’t have an idea about. So, to be able to
start it off in such an amazing place, and just get
a feel for it that way, you could tell there was a
dramatic difference from the Champions Cup to
your normal Premiership games.
“It’s something you want to get excited about,
and you want to prove yourself in front of
different teams all across Europe, and the only
platform to do that is through the Champions
Cup.”
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
27
For the fifth consecutive season, the Champions
Try of the Round competition will bring fans and
leading broadcasters together to decide the best
score of each weekend of matches in the Heineken
Champions Cup, giving supporters the chance to
also win some top-class rugby prizes.
Racing 92 dotted down for some outstanding tries
in 2019/20, with Teddy Thomas twice lauded for
different scores against Munster Rugby in the pool
stage before Juan Imhoff’s sensational, matchwinning
try in the Paris semi-final against Saracens
plucked the Try of the Season award having earned
praise from Channel 4’s Nolli Waterman, Virgin
Media’s Alan Quinlan and the fans.
Imhoff’s success followed Nick Abendanon
(2016/17), Tadhg Beirne (2017/18) and Maxime
Médard (2018/19) to the annual accolade after
impressive growth of engagement with the public
vote through HeinekenChampionsCup.com. On the
Monday after each round of matches in European
club rugby’s blue riband tournament, a shortlist of
five tries is compiled by EPCR’s editorial team and
opened to the public in the vote.
Enjoy some high-calibre rugby and HAVE YOUR SAY
in the winner!
CHAMPIONS TRY OF THE ROUND WINNERS 2019/20
Round 1: James Lang
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Harlequins
Round 2: Teddy Thomas
Munster Rugby v Racing 92
Round 3: James Lowe
Northampton Saints v Leinster Rugby
Round 4: Lewis Ludlow
Connacht Rugby v Gloucester Rugby
Round 5: Teddy Thomas
Racing 92 v Munster Rugby
Round 6: Luke Northmore
Harlequins v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Quarter-Final: Alex Goode
Leinster Rugby v Saracens
Semi-Final / Champions Try of the Season:
Juan Imhoff
Racing 92 v Saracens
EPCRUGBY.COM/TOTR
28 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
IN STATS – SEASON SO FAR
Munster have made the perfect start to the
PRO14 season as seven wins on the spin have
seen the province open up a healthy lead at the
top of Conference B.
43 players have played their part with seven
members of the Greencore Munster Rugby
Academy involved so far this year.
Johann van Graan’s side have scored an
average of 34 points per game, conceding an
average of 19 points per game.
Munster have scored 29 tries in seven games,
an average of just over four per match.
Conference rivals Scarlets, Edinburgh and
Cardiff Blues have all been beaten along with
Glasgow Warriors, Ospreys, Dragons and Zebre
Take a look at some of the key stats, facts and
figures following our impressive starts below.
Minutes Played #
Jack O’Donoghue 7 games – 463 minutes
Damian de Allende 6 games – 426 minutes
Craig Casey
7 games – 423 minutes
Rory Scannell
6 games – 417 minutes
Defenders Beaten #
Damian de Allende
Mike Haley 13
Craig Casey 12
Clean Breaks #
Damian de Allende 6
Matt Gallagher & Dan Goggin 5
Calvin Nash 4
Most Tackles #
Jack O'Donoghue 47
Gavin Coombes 44
Billy Holland 41
Turnovers Won #
James Cronin 4
Gavin Coombes 4
16 (2nd most across the PRO14)
Debuts
Senior players: Matt Gallagher & Roman Salanoa
Academy players: Thomas Ahern, Jack Daly,
Seán French and Josh Wycherley
Milestones
JJ Hanrahan - 100th Guinness PRO14 appearance
v Glasgow Warriors in November
Metres Gained #
Mike Haley 232
Matt Gallagher 206
Gavin Coombes 190
Carries
Gavin Coombes leads the way with 71 carries in
seven games, the third highest across the PRO14
Player of the Match Awards #
Craig Casey 2
Gavin Coombes 2
JJ Hanrahan 1
Jack O’Donoghue 1
Leading Scorers #
Ben Healy
57 points
JJ Hanrahan
42 points
Gavin Coombes
6 tries
Kevin O’Byrne
3 tries
Passes
Craig Casey has made the most passes of any
Munster player with 324 in his 423 minutes
on the pitch
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
29
Get closer
Get your hands on the best analysis, match reports,
interviews and features from the game’s leading writers.
Subscribe at thetimes.ie/join
30 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
Muskerry RFC
#MunsterStartsHere
RUGBY DEVELOPMENT NEWS
MUSKERRY RFC PLAYERS HELP ST.
VINCENT DE PAUL
Although rugby may be on hold for the moment
that does not mean the players from Muskerry
RFC have not been busy. On recent Friday
evenings, players from the club’s Junior 1
and Junior 2 squads have given up their time
to help the St. Vincent de Paul charity. The
masked and socially distanced squads, led by
club captain Joe Tracey, have donated the time
they would have spent training this month to
pack Christmas food hampers for families in
need. They even chose to skip watching the
recent Ireland v Wales game to keep up the
momentum. Kate Durrant from the St. Vincent
de Paul said, “We could not do it without help
from voluntary groups like Muskerry RFC.”
minis and youth players. With COVID-19 Health
& Safety Plans in place, clubs and schools can
work within government guidelines to continue
as a hub for physical and mental well-being for
school-aged children. Non-contact sessions can
be run within a pod of 15 including coaches and
COVID-19 Club Compliance officers. The last
number of weeks saw our staff working closely
with clubs and schools among them including
Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles, Nenagh
Ormond RFC, St. Munchin’s College in Limerick,
Villiers School in Limerick, Mallow RFC, Thurles
RFC, Richmond RFC, Glenstal Abbey School,
Bandon Grammar, Ballina Killaloe RFC, Midleton
RFC, Mallow Convent National School, St.
Finbarr’s National School in Bantry, Carrigaline
RUGBY DEVELOPMENT WORK
CONTINUES
Munster Rugby Development Staff were busy
throughout last month as they continued to
work with clubs and schools by hosting noncontact
development games and activities for
St. Munchins Junior Cup players
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
31
YOUR ACCESS TO THE HEART
OF EUROPEAN RUGBY HAS
NEVER BEEN BETTER
HEINEKENCHAMPIONSCUP.COM
#HEINEKENCHAMPIONSCUP
32 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
Nenagh Ormond U12s in a recent session
#MunsterStartsHere
RFC, Carrick-On-Suir RFC, Killarney RFC, Old
Christians RFC, Tralee RFC, Kilfeacle & District
RFC, Thomond RFC, Shannon RFC, Garryowen
FC, St. Marys RFC, Young Munster RFC and
Mungret Community College.
Jonny Holland on the importance of nutrition,
Munster Academy lead physiotherapist Shane
Malone on injury prevention and rehabilitation,
Munster Academy S&C coach Cian Gormley
on fitness and conditioning, Behavioural
Psychologist and Performance Coach Sana
Govender presenting on mental health and
well-being.
CLUBS TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY
FUNDING
ONLINE COACHING & WELL-BEING
WEBINARS
Our Women’s Rugby Coaching Webinar series
began on Wednesday, November 25th which
focussed on ‘Functional Movement for Rugby’
and was aimed at minis and age-grade coaches
in the women’s game. The second webinar took
place on Wednesday, December 9th last and
was aimed at ‘Building the Scrum’.
Munster Rugby also held two health and wellbeing
webinars last month in collaboration with
Clare Local Sports Partnership (LSP) and Kilrush
RFC. Speakers included former Munster out-half
The IRFU has allocated €4 million of the €18
million emergency funding it received from
Government to help clubs towards the losses
they suffered due to COVID-19’s impact on club
rugby activity in 2020. The funding is drawn
from the Sport Ireland COVID-19 Emergency
Fund for Sport provided to the IRFU to address
the existential threat to Irish Rugby across its
clubs, provinces and national teams. Club
funding is directly linked to verifiable losses
submitted by clubs, to the IRFU in a scheme
administered by the IRFU as part of the
application process overseen by Sport Ireland.
All 166 eligible clubs were invited to apply for
funding. The objective of the process was to
be accessible, rigorous, equitable and provide
urgent financial assistance to clubs facing the
prospect of insolvency or closure in 2020.
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
33
STAND UP
AND FIGHT
34 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
marksandspencer.ie/christmasfood
Collection free-range Irish Bronze turkeys
Proud sponsor of the Munster
Community Rugby Programme
The Big Hitters in
Data Intelligence
tqsintegration.com
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
35
CLONAKILTY
RFC
“PUTTING INCLUSIVITY AT
THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO”
“We wanted to put inclusivity at the heart of
what we do.” These are the words of Clonakilty
RFC Director of Rugby Neville Burton as he
begins to explain the excellent work which the
West Cork club are doing in reaching out to
marginalised groups in the area.
On this particular wet and blustery Saturday
morning, there is a steady stream of parents
dropping off their children for the day’s first
of two minis training sessions. The minis
programme in the club has proved so popular
that they have had to split the morning into
two sessions to accommodate the 330 children
who are involved. Despite many of the club’s
facilities, including the popular coffee shop,
remaining closed due to the current government
restrictions, the grounds of the club are a hive
of activity and excitement is in the air as the
children prepare to get their hands on a ball,
albeit a slippery one.
Of this excited and giddy group are nine
enthusiastic children from the Clonakilty Lodge
Direct Provision Centre: Francesco, Joseph,
Jamal, Wayne, Cyril, Keith, Lulu, Rihanna
and Mimi. Many of these children are new to
the sport and their participation is the result
of a growing relationship between the club’s
Community Engagement Officers and Service
Coordinator for Clonakilty Friends of Asylum
Seekers, Kitty Sisson.
“We’ve been getting it off the ground for the
last three weeks and they’ve been here, and
they’ve been enjoying themselves. It’s been
building on an existing relationship that’s been
happening on an ad-hoc basis for the last few
years. Over the last few months, in particular
this year with COVID, has really shown the
spotlight on Direct Provision and children are
living in one room. In family groups, they’ve got
35 bedrooms, they’ve got nearly 100 residents
and some of the kids here have siblings, two
or three siblings, and it’s a great opportunity to
get out and integrate with their peers in a very
natural way, get the exercise in, really. It’s really
important.”
Community Engagement Officer Courtney
Canning who alongside Sinead Burton is
spearheading this initiative says that from a
social and youth development perspective,
getting these nine children involved on a weekly
basis is hugely beneficial.
“I suppose sport and, in this case, rugby, is
incredibly conducive to creating an atmosphere
that promotes positive youth development,”
Canning says.
“So, the kids that are coming now, socially it’s
amazing for them. They’re making friends and I
suppose most importantly they’re having fun.
Every young kid deserves the right to play with
36 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
their local team. At a local level, we feel that
it’s very important to do everything we can to
make sure that right is provided for and make
it as accessible as possible. That’s the joy of
volunteerism, seeing smiles on kids’ faces is
what it’s all about.”
Reaching out to Clonakilty Friends of Asylum
Seekers is just one initiative of an overarching
plan for Clonakilty RFC to be a truly inclusive
club. A decision was made a number of years
ago to apply this mantra to both on and off
the pitch matters, as Director of Rugby Neville
Burton explains.
this success has been years in the making. With
the club’s mini section thriving, Canning hopes
that this initiative is a stepping stone to other
projects including reaching out to the LGBT and
Traveller communities in Clonakilty.
“We’re not going to stand here and take credit
for what we haven’t done yet. This is such a new
initiative and the first thing we have done is to
reach out to the Friends of Asylum Seekers. It
has been really, really positive. We have other
plans, we certainly plan on working with the
LGBT community here. Our plan is to run a
Pride Week here in the club which will involve
all young underage members and the adult
rugby team wearing the pride colour socks for
games that they’re playing, hopefully, if they go
ahead.
Neville Burton
“I suppose it has been a strategy that a number
of us have been working on for many years now
where we wanted to put inclusivity at the heart
of what we do,” Neville says.
“We also plan on working with the Traveller
community and we also really want to focus
on mental health because it’s such a big issue
now. We’re trying to create workshops that will
help the coaches improve the soft skills of the
kids intertwined in their training sessions. So,
improving their confidence, their empathy, their
trust, their leadership. So as well as making
young kids here better rugby players, we really
want to make them better all-round individuals.”
“That obviously extends to the pitch where
we’ve got equal playing time for all players. No A
or B teams all the way to U16, a fully functioning
girls section. But we also felt that inclusivity
needed to be something that extended beyond
the pitch and beyond rugby. We wanted to
make sure that as part of our strategy that
everybody in Clonakilty is welcome at the club
and can be part of our club. So we decided to
appoint two community engagement officers.
Courtney Canning and Sinead Burton were
a super fit because they are both passionate
about community engagement.”
The success of the club’s mini section was
recently recognised by winning the Munster
Rugby Club Mini Section of the Year award and
underage chairperson Helen O’Hea says that
Lulu and Mimi in action at Clonakilty RFC
As the sun makes a much welcome appearance
as the first of two minis training sessions begins
to wind down, the children make their way from
the pitches with muddy knees and beaming
smiles.
This is what it’s all about.
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
37
OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER
TISSOT supersport
chrono.
TISSOTWATCHES.COM
38 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
IRFU GUIDELINES: LEVEL 3
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
39
40 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
Ready for
Munster
Munster businesses need the best
support they can get right now.
We have in-store experts like
Steven in our Cork store, who
knows everything from Gigabit
Broadband to tailored business
plans, to help get your business
ready for the future.
Contact your local
Business Advisor today.
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
41
2016 2017 2018
Rugby’s family values have never been more literally
emphasised than at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium back in
October. Joe Simmonds was already the Heineken Star of the
Match before the penalty that took Exeter Chiefs to their first
European crown against Racing 92 in the final and, soon after,
brother Sam was presented with the Anthony Foley Memorial
Trophy as EPCR European Player of the Year.
The number eight was the tournament’s top try scorer
during the season, crossing eight times to become the fourth
Englishman in five seasons to win the prestigious accolade.
Simmonds was selected by a combination of an expert panel
deliberating right until the end of the Heineken Champions
Cup final and more than 20,000 votes cast through
HeinekenChampionsCup.com.
This season, stars of the global game will have more intense
periods to prove they are Europe’s standout player with the
pool stage of the Heineken Champions Cup played over four
rounds in December and January on an exceptional basis,
with an expanded knockout stage leading a path to Marseille
for Finals Weekend on 21-22 May 2021, before which a list of
nominees will have been streamlined to five candidates.
By taking part in the public vote through official channels of
the tournaments, fans can be in with a chance of winning
outstanding rugby prizes.
2019
2020
EPCR European
Player of the Year
Past Winners
1995-2010 Ronan O’Gara
2011 Sean O’Brien
2012 Rob Kearney
2013 Jonny Wilkinson
2014 Steffon Armitage
2015 Nick Abendanon
2016 Maro Itoje
2017 Owen Farrell
2018 Leone Nakarawa
2019 Alex Goode
2020 Sam Simmonds
E ALLENDE
42 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
AMIAN
E ALLENDE
Position: Centre
DOB: 25 Nov 1991 (age 29)
From: Cape Town, South Africa
Height: 1.91m/6’ 3”
Weight: 105kg/16st 6 lbs
Honours: South Africa (47 caps), RWC winner, Barbarians
Munster appearances: 9
CURRENT SEASON STATS
Tries: 1
Metres gained: 175
Carries: 39
Try assists: 2
Clean breaks: 6
Offloads: 3
Defenders beaten: 16
Tackles: 23
“There’s a lot
of pride and
passion; I
can just feel
it in their voice
and the way
they speak about
the Heineken Champions
Cup, and the feelings
they get when they speak
about what Munster
have achieved in the
past, and they just
want to get that
right and achieve
what those other
guys have. I
think that’s
something
that not
just the old
guys want
to achieve
it – it’s the
youngsters
that also want
to achieve
it with
Munster.”
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
43
44 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
FIXTURES & RESULTS 2020/21
Date Fixture Where to watch
Sat 3 Oct Scarlets 27-30 Munster Parc y Scarlets
Sat 10 Oct Munster 25-23 Edinburgh Rugby Thomond Park
Mon 26 Oct Munster 38 - 27 Cardiff Blues eir Sport, TG4, Premier Sports
Sun 1 Nov Dragons 16 - 28 Munster eir Sport, Premier Sports
Sat 7 Nov Benetton Rugby v Munster Match Postponed
Sun 15 Nov Munster 38-22 Ospreys eir Sport, S4C, Premier Sports
Mon 23 Nov Glasgow Warriors 13-27 Munster Premier Sports, eir Sport
Mon 30 Nov Munster 52-3 Zebre Rugby Club eir Sport, Premier Sports
Sun 13 Dec | 5.30pm Munster v Harlequins BT Sport, beIN Sports
Sat 19 Dec | 6.30pm Clermont Auvergne v Munster beIN Sports, BT Sport
Sat 26 Dec | 7.35pm Munster v Leinster eir Sport, Premier Sports
Sat 02 Jan | 5.15pm Ulster v Munster eir Sport, Premier Sports
Sat 09 Jan | 7.35pm Connacht v Munster eir Sport, TG4, Premier Sports
Sat 16 Jan | 5.30pm Munster v Clermont Auvergne BT Sport, beIN Sports
Sat 23 Jan | 5.30pm Harlequins v Munster BT Sport, beIN Sports
Gilbert x Munster Programme Advert_165x12mm_5mm Bleed.pdf 1 06/10/2020 10:07
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
45
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
46 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
47
Great gifts
don’t need
wrapping.
MUNSTER v HARLEQUINS | 13.12.20 | THOMOND PARK
48
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