Guinness PRO14 Round 15 | Find out all you need to know ahead of Munster v Scarlets.
Read what Senior Coach Stephen Larkham and Mike Haley had to say in the build up to the game.
President Seán McCullough recognises the efforts of Billy Holland before he signs off on his 14-year career with the province.
We take a look at Friday's opposition Scarlets and have an in-depth piece on Craig Casey's development after making his Ireland debut against Italy.
Leah Lyons is our featured interview as the Fermoy native talks us through her pathway from Munster age-grade days.
v SCARLETS | FRI 12 MAR 2021 | THOMOND PARK | 8PM
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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Loved in Munster.
Followed the world over.
Always represented.
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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
This evening we welcome Glenn Delaney and
his Scarlets team to Thomond Park for the
penultimate round in the Guinness PRO14
series. Scarlets come into this game sitting in
3rd place in Conference B and while the final is
beyond them, Champions Cup is on the horizon
and a game like this will be valuable to get
under their belt for the campaign ahead.
Munster have booked a place in the final on
March 27 after a hard-earned win against
Connacht last weekend. With the final only two
weeks away, tonight’s game will be a chance to
keep the momentum going and keep everyone
focused for the task ahead. Our best wishes to
Johann and all his team for tonight’s game.
Munster A played the Connacht Eagles last
weekend in the Sportsground with Connacht
scoring in the dying seconds to draw the game.
Calvin Nash scored two tries and Liam Coombes
also touched down. Jake Flannery kicked three
conversions and a penalty. This was another
welcome run out for all the players involved.
A few weeks ago, Billy Holland became the 2nd
most capped Munster player with 242 games
and counting under his belt. Achievements like
this do not come around very often but then
again neither do players like Billy. To say that he
is a Munster legend is an understatement. While
Billy has announced his retirement at the end of
this season, there are still some big games to
be played and that is undoubtedly where Billy’s
focus will be over the coming months - always
the professional. Billy has stated in a recent
interview that what he will miss most is running
out in Thomond Park on the Saturday night
of a big game. I know I speak for the Munster
faithful when I say it’s a sight that we will all
miss. On behalf of all Munster people our very
best wishes to Billy and his family on wherever
the next chapter will take him.
While we wait patiently for the next government
announcement, which hopefully will give us
some good news on when we can get back
to some form of activity, it is critical that we
continue to do the right things and stay on
track to suppress this virus. Together we are
stronger, and we can do this.
Our thanks to our main sponsor Bank of Ireland,
our kit supplier adidas and all our sponsors for
their continued support.
Stay safe, stay strong and stay positive.
To the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible.
Seán 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 SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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PRO14.RUGBY
YOUR GUINNESS
PRO14 HOME
LATEST NEWS, LIVE MATCH
CENTRES, STATS & MORE
VISIT NOW
WWW.PRO14.RUGBY
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GUINNESS PRO14 CAMPAIGN TO CONCLUDE IN
MARCH AHEAD OF NEW “RAINBOW CUP” WITH
SOUTH AFRICA’S TOP FOUR ‘SUPER’ TEAMS
The current Guinness PRO14 campaign will
end in March allowing South Africa’s four
‘Super’ teams and our existing clubs to
finish the season with a 16-team “Rainbow
Cup” competition ahead of the British &
Irish Lions tour.
After consulting with key PRO14 stakeholders, the Guinness
PRO14 Rainbow Cup was chosen as the best pathway to
finish up the current campaign and introduce South Africa’s
four ‘Super’ teams: the Vodacom Bulls; Emirates Lions; Cell
C Sharks and DHL Stormers. This decision also allows our
European-based sides to earn qualification for European
Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) tournaments in 2021/22 in
a fair and equitable manner.
Ahead of the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa,
the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will provide a groundbreaking
spectacle for fans who will see international star
players from north and south establish new rivalries in their
bid for the ultimate Test selection.
Right through until the last kick of the ball in the Rainbow
Cup in June, fans will be able to watch it all unfold with our
broadcast partners Premier Sports, eir Sport, S4C, TG4,
DAZN and Super Sport.
How it will Work
• The 2020/21 Guinness PRO14 campaign will finish after 16
rounds with the Conference winners facing each other in a
final in late March
• Qualification for EPCR tournaments in 2021/22 will be
decided by rankings after Round 16
• On April 17, 2021, the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will
kick-off and introduce the Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions,
Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers and their World Cupwinning
Springboks
• The Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will consist of a pool
stage (two pools of eight teams) and a final between the
two pool winners
FINAL CHAPTER OF GUINNESS PRO14
fixture list will aim to ensure home and away in-conference
fixtures are completed and each team plays all of its
cross-conference matches also. Further clarification will be
available when fixtures are confirmed.
The scheduled dates for the conclusion of the 2020-21
Guinness PRO14 campaign are:
R12: February 20
R13: February 27
R14: March 6
R15: March 13
R16: March 20
Final: March 27
Once Round 16 has been completed, the top-ranked teams
from each conference will qualify for the 2021/22 Heineken
Champions Cup. Requirement for play-offs is under review.
GUINNESS PRO14 “RAINBOW CUP”
FORGING NEW RIVALRIES
With South Africa preparing to host their first British & Irish
Lions tour since 2009, the World Cup champions will see
their ‘Super’ teams – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers
take on the very best that Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales
have to offer.
Players aiming to make the British & Irish Lions squad will
find no better trial environment to test themselves in, as
they go up against the likes of Siya Kolisi, Pieter Steph du
Toit (both DHL Stormers), Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom
Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions) and former Guinness
PRO14 top-try scorer Makazole Mapimipi (Cell C Sharks).
The Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will kick off on April 17
with two pools of 8 teams made up of two Irish, two South
African, two Welsh, one Italian and one Scottish club. Each
team will play one game against each pool opponent and
the sides that finish top of their pools will face off in a final
on June 19.
Across 57 matches, the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will
feature the best of the Springbok talent going toe-to-toe
with some of the British & Irish Lions’ biggest names – every
one of them keen to lay down a marker to their respective
selectors ahead of what will prove to an historic tour.
Rounds 12 to 16 will take place from February 20 and
conclude on March 20. A final will then take place at the
home venue of the highest-ranked team. This abbreviated
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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MUNSTER v SCARLETS
ROUND 15 PREVIEW
With the line-up for the Guinness PRO14 final
on Saturday March 27 confirmed, attention
now turns to the race to secure Champions Cup
places.
The battle continues in Conference B as four
teams can still finish in different positions, with
Munster top and winless Benetton finishing
bottom. Connacht will secure second spot with
a home win over Edinburgh, who are 14 points
behind third-placed Scarlets although they do
have two matches extra to play. Cardiff Blues
head to Benetton as they attempt to reduce
the eight-point gap between them and Glenn
Delaney’s Scarlets side.
Munster have an unassailable 12-point lead at the
top after Joey Carbery came off the bench to kick
the match-winning 68th-minute penalty in a 20-
17 victory over Connacht last Friday.
Scarlets are eyeing a third straight win after
victories over Benetton and Edinburgh which
have left them on the brink of Champions Cup
qualification. They were narrowly beaten 30-
27 when the teams last met in October despite
Munster scoring all three tries in the game.
Damian de Allende fends off Steff Evans
Munster booked their place in the Guinness
PRO14 final last weekend and Scarlets will hope
to take advantage of any drop in intensity from
the Conference B winners.
CONFERENCE B TABLE
POS TEAM PL W D L BP PTS
1 Munster Rugby 14 12 0 2 6 54
2 Connacht Rugby 14 8 0 6 10 42
3 Scarlets 14 7 0 7 6 34
4 Cardiff Blues 14 6 0 8 2 26
5 Edinburgh Rugby 12 4 0 8 4 20
6 Benetton Rugby 12 0 0 12 6 6
HEAD TO HEAD 19 12 2
Munster wins
MATCH FACTS
Scarlets wins
Draws
• Munster have won their last four Guinness
PRO14 encounters since their reversal at
home to Leinster on 23 January.
• Munster have not been defeated by a Welsh
region since today’s opponents, Scarlets,
beat them at Parc y Scarlets in March 2019.
• Scarlets have won their last two Guinness
PRO14 fixtures since their home defeat to
Leinster on 30 January.
• The Welshmen’s only victory over an Irish
opponent since September 2019 was on their
trip to Connacht in November 2020.
• Munster have won three of their last four
fixtures against Scarlets whilst the Scarlets
only win at Thomond Park since 2003 came
in February 2017.
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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THE INSIDE
TRACK
STEPHEN LARKHAM
On the win over Connacht last Friday…
“We’ve had a number of those games this
year where it hasn’t worked out perfectly for
us. We’ve won some close games past the
80-minute mark. The game against Connacht
was very similar. We can certainly take a lot
away from the leadership on the pitch, the
way the guys composed themselves. We
struggled with our lineout as you probably saw
throughout the game. We didn’t deliver seven
the way we’d like to have delivered them, but
the last two lineouts got us back on track. There
was some really good leadership on the field,
and I think we take a lot out of that going into
these next couple of games.”
On playing games during the Six Nations
window…
“It’s a challenge. We’ve dealt with it fairly
well this year. There’s a lot of good depth in
this squad. That’s the beauty of having the
Six Nations running between games, you get
opportunities to see some of these younger
guys come through. We are very happy
with where most of those guys are at, at the
moment. It will be a challenge obviously over
the next couple of weeks, and we are definitely
looking for guys to earn their spot in the final.
We’ve got guys coming back from Six Nations,
some guys who didn’t travel to national camp
this week, some other guys coming back next
week, so there’s going to be that rotation of
players in and out between us and the national
squad. That is very difficult to manage, but we
are looking for not only game performance
but training performance and how well they
recover. We’ll take all that into consideration for
the team that we eventually pick for the final.”
On keeping up momentum…
“When you talk about a normal finals campaign,
that is a quarter-final, semi-final and final
format, you normally get up for the quarterfinal,
so you put all your resources into making
sure your best performance is the first round
of the knockouts. For us it’s a little bit different,
because we don’t have to taper off. In a normal
situation, you prep for the quarter-final like it
was the final and you just taper for the next
game, and taper into the final, and momentum
carries you into that. We are in a situation now
where we are just building for that last game.
We definitely want to build momentum in
certain areas in certain aspects of the game
over these next two games I don’t think we are
going to get everything right, but we do want to
see improvement on our base game between
now and the final.”
10 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MIKE HALEY
On playing Scarlets in this round…
“They’re a brilliant side. Even before I came to
Munster, I really enjoyed watching Scarlets.
They play a great brand of rugby. Especially
when the weather is starting to clear up a little
bit, and there are dry days, they are a huge
threat, literally because of how they like to play
the game. They are going to be coming here
with nothing to lose and play a really exciting
brand of rugby. It will be up to us to try and
control that and put our front foot forward and
build on last week and get another win.”
On enjoying his rugby…
“I’ve actually been enjoying it all season. For
whatever reason, I’ve settled down a little bit,
enjoying each game for what it is, each one is
a unique challenge. If you look at the Glasgow
away game – awful weather - but it was a fun
game in terms of having to change your style
of play, you are challenged by the surrounding
factors. It was the same again last weekend.
It was a nice dry game but a tough game,
Connacht were really dragging us into a brawl,
but it was enjoyable to be able to play a bit of
running rugby.”
On getting to the Guinness PRO14 Final…
“It’s unbelievable. We worked really hard since
Covid. We knew it would change us either for the
better or the worse, and we have been working
really hard. If you look back on the season, we
started with Scarlets away last year and had
to really grind out a win, with the last kick of
the game. It went from there, building week on
week on week. It is really satisfying to get to the
final when you look back on all the hard games
we’ve had to grind out, and all the games
where we performed really well. It is massively
rewarding. Now we want to fulfil that potential.
We are strong believers in ourselves and what
each of us brings to the game. When it comes
to the final, it will be a massive challenge, but
we are looking forward to getting stuck into it.”
"We are strong believers in ourselves and what
each of us brings to the game."
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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NEWSROUND
PLAYERS COMMIT TO MUNSTER
The positive contract news continued this week
with the announcement that Munster and Ireland
wing Keith Earls has signed on for another year,
keeping him at Munster until 2022.
This follows on from the news that Mike Haley,
Gavin Coombes and Neil Cronin have all signed
two-year contract extensions that will see them
remain with the province until at least June 2023.
MUNSTER A DRAW IN GALWAY
The Munster A team travelled to Galway last
Saturday to play their Connacht counterparts.
Greencore Munster Rugby Academy players Jake
Flannery, James French, Seán French and Ben
Healy are all advancing to the senior squad ahead of
the 2021/22 season on one-year deals, while John
Hodnett has put pen to paper on a two-year deal.
Munster led 12-17 at half-time after tries
from Calvin Nash and Liam Coombes
with Jake Flannery kicking both
conversions and a penalty. Flannery
also produced a fantastic crossfield kick
assist for Nash’s try.
Cian Hurley in action for
Munster last Saturday
Calvin Nash added his second try in the second
half, with Flannery once again adding the
extras. However, a late try from Connacht saw
the game drawn.
A selection of senior, Greencore Munster
Rugby Academy and National Talent Squad
players made up the 21-man squad with Tommy
O’Donnell captaining the side.
Munster A: Darren Sweetnam; Calvin Nash,
Alex McHenry, Jack Crowley, Liam Coombes;
Jake Flannery, Paddy Patterson; Liam
O’Connor, Diarmuid Barron, Keynan Knox; Cian
Hurley, Jack Daly, Tommy O’Donnell (C), Scott
Buckley, Alex Kendellen. Replacements:
Rhys Marshall, Scott Buckley, Roman
Salanoa, Ethan Coughlan, Conor Phillips,
Seán French.
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK 15
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MUNSTER DRAW
TOULOUSE IN EUROPE
Munster will host TOP14 leaders Toulouse in the last 16 of the Champions Cup following the
draw for the knockout stages in Lausanne, Switzerland on Tuesday.
If they can defeat Toulouse, Munster will be
away to Wasps or Clermont Auvergne in the
Champions Cup quarter-finals.
The exact dates, venues, kick-off times and
TV coverage, will be announced as soon as
possible following consultation with the clubs
and EPCR’s partner broadcasters.
Mike Haley
Antoine Dupont
ROUND OF 16 - WEEKEND OF 2/3/4 APRIL
Munster Rugby v Toulouse
Gloucester Rugby v La Rochelle
Wasps v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Exeter Chiefs v Lyon
Leinster Rugby v RC Toulon
Bordeaux-Bègles v Bristol Bears
Racing 92 v Edinburgh Rugby
Scarlets v Sale Sharks
QUARTER-FINALS - WEEKEND OF 9/10/11 APRIL
QF1 Winner Exeter Chiefs/Lyon v Winner Leinster/RC Toulon
QF2 Winner Wasps/Clermont v Winner Munster/Toulouse
QF3 Winner Gloucester/La Rochelle v Winner Scarlets/Sale Sharks
QF4 Winner Bordeaux-Bègles/Bristol Bears v Winner Racing 92/Edinburgh
SEMI-FINALS - 30 APRIL – 1/2 MAY
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL
MARSEILLE – SATURDAY, 22 MAY
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
19
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THE SPIRIT OF PRO14 RUGBY
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THE LOWDOWN
THE FORM GUIDE
It’s been a mixed season in the Guinness
PRO14 for Scarlets who have won 7/lost 7 in
this tournament to date, although they have
picked up four losing bonus points and two try
bonus points to put them in third position in
Conference B.
After losing three on the bounce in January
including twice to Cardiff Blues and to Leinster,
February proved more positive as they scored
nine tries in two consecutive victories -
defeating Benetton 41-17 and then enjoying a
superb 27-25 win over Edinburgh on the road
on February 27 last. It was their first win at
Murrayfield since 2013 and ended a six-game
losing streak against the Scottish side.
In Europe, Scarlets registered two wins -
beating Bath 19-23 in Round 1 at the Rec and
being awarded a 28-0 win over Toulon the
following week. Earlier this week, Scarlets were
drawn against Sale Sharks at home in the next
round.
On the international front, eleven Scarlets
players were named in the Wales’ Six Nations
squad in January including Alun Wyn Jones,
Scarlets skipper Ken Owens, Ryan Elias, Jake
Ball, Gareth Davies, Johnny Williams, Jonathan
Davies, Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Kieran
Hardy and Josh Macleod.
THE COACHING TICKET
New Zealander Glenn Delaney moved from
defence coach to head coach in February 2020.
Delaney made 68 appearances for London Irish
and his coaching career has seen him coaching
in Nottingham and London Irish before joining
Canterbury in 2016 and becoming defence
coach at the Highlanders in 2018. Wales U20
coach Richard Kelly joined Scarlets in May
2020 as forwards coach along with double
World Cup winner Ben Franks who joined the
coaching team as scrum coach. Backs coach
Dai Flanagan has worked with the region since
2014 while former England U20s coach and
Gloucester Academy head Richard Whiffin
completes the coaching ticket as attack coach.
ONE TO WATCH
Position: Back row
Age: 32
Born: Matahau, Tonga
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 122kg
Appearances: 12
Tries: 3
Metres gained: 416
Carries: 136
Turnovers: 4
Tackles: 168
Honours: Tonga (37 caps)
*current season stats –
Guinness PRO14
SIONE KALAMAFONI
Johnny McNicholl
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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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 (20 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 (41 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 (74 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 (49 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
22 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
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 (1 cap)
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 (91 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 (88 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 SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
23
MUNSTER RUGBY
STARTING XV
James Cronin Niall Scannell Stephen Archer Jean Kleyn Billy Holland (C)
Fineen
Wycherley
Jack O'Sullivan
Gavin Coombes
Nick McCarthy
Joey Carbery
Shane Daly
JJ Hanrahan
Damian de
Allende
Calvin Nash
Mike Haley
#MUNvSCA
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Replacements
16. Kevin O'Byrne 17. Jeremy Loughman 18. John Ryan 19. Thomas Ahern
20. Alex Kendellen 21. Paddy Patterson 22. Jack Crowley 23. Darren Sweetnam
24 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
SCARLETS
STARTING XV
Steffan Thomas
Marc Jones
Pieter Scholtz
Morgan Jones
Sam Lousi
Aaron Shingler
Jac Morgan
Sione
Kalamafoni
Dane Blacker
Angus O’Brien
Steff Evans
Steff Hughes (C)
Tyler Morgan
Tom Prydie
Johnny
McNicholl
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Seán Gallagher (IRFU)
AR1: Robert O'Sullivan (IRFU)
AR2: Peter Martin (IRFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
Replacements
16. Taylor Davies 17. Kemsley Mathias 18. Alex Jeffries 19. Tevita Ratuva
20. Uzair Cassiem 21. Will Homer 22. Paul Asquith 23. Johnny Williams
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
25
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MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
27
“I CAN SEE
EXACTLY WHY
HE IS WHERE HE
IS NOW”
When Craig Casey entered the fray during the
63rd minute at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome
to make his senior Ireland debut, there were
plenty of people back in Limerick and Munster
bursting with pride.
In normal times, friends and family would
have travelled to the Eternal City to mark the
occasion but that didn’t diminish the moment
or the achievement as those involved in Casey’s
development reflect on the scrum-half’s rise to
international rugby.
Gerry Casey is in the unique position of not only
being Craig’s father but he also played a major
role in his development as he coached his son
during the early days out in Coonagh with
Shannon RFC and also in Ardscoil Rís where
his son represented the school at Junior and
Senior Cup level.
Gerry, who is a Rugby Development Officer
(RDO) with the province, explains it’s difficult
to remember a time when Craig wasn’t running
around the pitches out in Coonagh with a
ball in hand, the love of the sport was clearly
demonstrated by his son from an early age.
“Like any Dad, it’s great when any of your
children have an interest that you have. From
day dot, Craig was running around with a ball.
As usual, going out to Coonagh, because you’re
involved in rugby, you’re asked to give a hand.
I started with the Minis and Craig wanted to go
out when he was really young so he was running
around having a ball!”
Former Shannon scrum-half and club captain
Fiach O’Loughlin recalls seeing a young Craig
“always with a ball” during his playing days and
it comes as no surprise to the Munster Rugby
Coach & Player Development Officer that the
21-year-old has arrived at the international stage.
Shannon, as Fiach explains, also provided a
nurturing environment for Casey to develop
from a young age.
“It’s absolutely brilliant. I think Craig had over
100 Dads, not just Gerry when he was growing
up. He was like a kid to all of us from being
around all the time. Shannon is such a fantastic
club like that. The minute your four-year-old or
five-year-old boy or girl goes in there, you’re
part of a family straight away. That rugby family
is second to none.”
In the Casey household and the wider family,
there would have been no shortage of role
models for Craig to look up to. His father was a
talented rugby player in his own right while his
uncle, Mossy Lawler, represented Munster on
65 occasions. His mother, Sinead, represented
Ireland in gymnastics while his sister, Aimee,
also received national honours in gymnastics.
This environment and also the fact that Casey
analysed the sport from an early age are two
28 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
contributing factors to his rise according to
Shannon assistant coach, Pat Brown.
“I see so many similarities between him and
Gerry, Brendan Foley and Axel. Because it was
the exact same kind of thing. When all the other
kids were out playing football on the street,
whatever, they were watching videos. They
were watching matches.
“Gerry was coaching the Shannon senior team
the last time we won the AIL 10 years ago so
he would have grown up around the dressing
room, he would have been a part of it, he would
have been in the dressing room hearing the
pre-match speeches, he would have seen the
celebrations afterwards and that just all seeped
into him. There was no escaping it for him, it
was in the genes.”
Casey’s development continued when he
entered the doors of Ardscoil Rís. The scrumhalf
represented the Limerick school at Junior
Cup in 2015 before playing Senior Cup rugby
in 2016 and 2017, captaining the school and
reaching the semi-final of the Munster Schools
Senior Cup in the latter year.
Brown, who coached Craig during his school
years, explains how Casey made an immediate
impression on him and his teammates.
“The first time I came across him as a coach
would have been Junior Cup at Ardscoil Rís. I’d
heard about him before I’d seen him obviously,
seeing him play up close and jeez, he just blew
us all away. Even from then, he was setting
standards. Craig is the kind of guy that when he
comes into a room, he wants to be the best and
even then, from me looking at him, he set the
standards.”
Casey’s development was further enhanced
during this time as he was involved in Munster
Regional Development Squads. O’Loughlin,
who coached Casey in the Munster U18 Schools
squad, was able to see first-hand the level of
commitment that the scrum-half was putting
into his game.
“He would have been involved in our Regional
Development Squads for U16, U17 and U18s
which we start with Munster rep squads and
then the Munster U18 Schools. So that was
really when I got to see in-depth how he was
committed. What he did on the field and off the
field. What he wanted to know, how he wanted
to develop himself through the skills of the
game, through how we played. He was always
upskilling himself, always wanting to know more
to be ahead of the game. That is a huge trait.”
Casey entered the Greencore Munster Rugby
Academy straight out of school and this
provided the opportunity to represent his club
once again at senior level and it was during his
AIL debut against Trinity that Brown realised the
scrum-half was destined to become a full-time
professional.
“He came off the bench in his first AIL match for
Shannon against Trinity in Trinity and he ran a
line, left everybody for dead and just scooted
in under the posts. To have the balls to do it
and then the speed to back it up, it was just, ‘oh
my god’. It was at that point that I knew he was
definitely going to make it. He just came in after
being capped by the Irish schools, so he was 18
years of age.”
For Gerry, he would have seen first-hand his
son’s development at every step of the journey
and he admits it was around the time of the U20
Six Nations in 2019 and the subsequent World
Cup in Argentina that he realised his son was set
for a successful career in the sport.
“The point that you realise he could make
professional is the U20s because that’s the
proving ground…he had a great campaign
when they won the Grand Slam. But when he
went over to the World Cup you see him against
the best in the world and being on a par with
them and excelling. That’s when you go, ‘God,
he really has a chance to go where he wants to
go with it.'”
Gerry explains that seeing Craig run out for the
final quarter against Italy to make his Ireland
debut means “absolutely everything.”
There have been many firsts in different jerseys
in recent times; first caps, first tries, first squad
inclusions. Although this signals the beginning
of a new chapter, Gerry can still reflect on the
cherished memories which led to this point and
most importantly how he was able to witness,
every step of the way, his son’s rise.
“Looking back, it was just really enjoyable being
with him all the time and seeing him develop.
Seeing, not only the rugby player he turned
into but the person on and off the pitch, you
maybe don’t get a chance to see when you’re
not involved in sport working with your kids. It
was really enjoyable.”
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
29
Visit eirsport.ie to subscribe
30 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
VIRTUAL MUNSTER MASCOTS
DANIEL O’SULLIVAN
Age: 8
School: Carrigboy NS, Durrus,
Bantry, Co. Cork
Hobbies: Rugby, soccer, football,
swimming, meeting with his friends
and generally having fun!
Favourite players: Fineen Wycherley
& Darren Sweetnam
VAN GEE
Age: 5
School: Gaelscoil, Douglas, Cork
Hobbies: Rugby, motorcross, swimming,
cycling, soccer and colouring
Favourite players: Damian de Allende &
Craig Casey
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
31
LYONS
GRASSROOTS TO GREEN JERSEY
Weeks away from the 2021 Women’s Six Nations, Fermoy native
Leah Lyons is welcoming a return to action after the unpredictable
nature of the pandemic has seen the tournament pushed to April
this year.
Currently lining out for Harlequins in London, where the league
is up and running, Leah’s journey began however in Fermoy
RFC where she played rugby from the age of six alongside her
twin brother while her father, Michael, was a coach in the area.
Benefitting first-hand from the tireless work of the
volunteers in her club, when she reached the U13
age-grade, her father and other volunteers at the
club set up a female underage programme so
that the Belhooly native and other girls in the
area could continue their development.
“I started when I was six or seven in
Fermoy RFC,” Lyons said.
“My Dad was a coach and I played
with my twin brother so the two
of us went up through the agegrade
system in Fermoy and
then when I was 13, obviously
I couldn’t play with the boys
anymore so Dad and a few
other of the men who had
daughters who thought they would
enjoy playing rugby decided to set up
Fermoy Lionesses.
32 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
“So that was the underage set up that was there.
So, from then, 13-18, we had an underage set up
and, in the meantime, they decided to set up a
women’s section also. So, the women’s team of
the Fermoy Lionesses. So, I played along with
them for two or three years and then decided
I wanted to take another step up and I joined
Highfield in Cork, so a Division 1 team to play at
the highest level.”
In Leah’s case and like many underage players in
Munster, she volunteered at her club and it was
during these times that she was able to develop
relationships with her “superstars”.
“When I was younger, the Munster women’s
team used to always train down in Fermoy and
my parents were big involved. Just helping out
– opening up facilities, getting tackle bags out
– it would have been the era when Fiona Steed
was coaching, so quite some time ago. It was
when Amanda Greensmith, Marie Barrett…
Niamh Briggs was just starting out as a young
kid coming into it. But we would go down, we’d
be making food for them.
“It builds a culture around Munster as well that
everybody wants to see everyone achieve to
the highest ability. Then see how far they can
keep it going.”
The confirmation of the fixtures for 2021
Women’s Six Nations championship has been
a real boost according to Lyons:
“It’s the one date that everyone’s been waiting
to hear and waiting until we get back playing
rugby because it’s been such a long time since
we played anything internationally-wise.
“Our last match was against Italy in October.
We’re not used to having a January or February
off. It’s quite strange. It’s amazing to get the
fixtures back and I think the new format will
work out really well.”
“Seeing your superstars walk around you and
being like, ‘Oh, do you know this?’ It was really
great at that age just to see that, be involved.
Even if it was just making soup at a clubhouse
and just handing it to them to finally
being able to join them. Just
having them as mentors
and coaches in the
underage setup.
“I have a good
connection
with Fiona
Steed, Amanda
Greensmith and
Marie Barrett. I’ve always been on to
them and they’ve always been great throughout
the years of rugby. They’ve always been a great
influence and they’ve always pushed me and
wanted to see me succeed. That’s something
that always put me in a good place.
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
33
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MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
35
RUGBY DEVELOPMENT NEWS
AGE-GRADE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
The Munster Rugby Age-Grade Regional
Development programme has been up and
running since January with over 200 players
from U16-U19 from the male and female game
working at home through weekly training plans,
Zoom fitness sessions and fun challenges.
Under the current restrictions, the development
team adapted its traditional regional programme
to create online versions so that players can
continue their progress under the current
restrictions.
The programme runs concurrently with seven
boys and five girls groups throughout the
province. Their weekly optional programme
includes 2-3 rugby sessions to do at home,
2-3 conditioning sessions and intermittent
challenges or skills tests. The players are also
invited to weekly Zoom meetings with their
coaches to discuss many aspects of the game
which also include online fitness sessions with
their S&C coach.
The programme is designed to replicate the
holistic player development approach exercised
by the Rugby Development Department,
supporting players’ development while also
assisting them to remain active during the
current lockdown.
The proportion of individual technical rugby
skills and athletic development is very well
balanced and areas such as games-based
coaching, mental health and well-being,
nutrition and performance analysis are also
being covered.
The development team of coach and player
development officers, rugby development
officers, women’s development officers and
CCRO strength and conditioning staff, together
with technical skills development coach Mike
Pettman, continue to design and deliver the
program during this current lockdown to ensure
players are rugby ready when the opportunity
to get back on pitch arises.
South Munster CPDO, Owen Mullowney said:
“This period has been very challenging for
all the players, but it is very evident from our
engagements how the players are learning new
skills and coping mechanisms by learning to be
self-disciplined and self-motivated during these
unusual times.
“We are dealing with a totally new environment
and I believe these skills will definitely stand to
the players and coaches when we get back on
the pitch.”
36 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
100 JERSEYS OF MUNSTER ON DISPLAY IN THOMOND PARK
100 clubs and schools’ jerseys submitted
from around the province are now on display
in Thomond Park as part of Munster Rugby's
#JerseysOfMunster campaign.
As lockdown measures continue and everyone
plays their part in the fight against Covid-19
Munster Rugby called on the clubs and schools
to feature at the Limerick venue.
The clubs and schools are central to every
Munster squad that takes to the pitch, and this
initiative further highlights the importance of
grassroots rugby during these challenging
times.
Commenting on the campaign, Head of Rugby
Development, Colm McMahon, said: "We invited
the clubs and schools of Munster to submit a
jersey to put on display for our home games so
that we could highlight the importance of their
role in the very fabric of Munster Rugby.
"The response has been excellent and the
presence of 100 jerseys to-date is testament to
everyone's support and help in delivering this
campaign.
and feedback, and we believe this a great visual
representation of our connection with our clubs
and schools."
With further home fixtures confirmed for the
coming weeks against Scarlets, Benetton, and
Toulouse, jerseys are still welcome from those
who would like to take part.
HOW TO TAKE PART:
Please send a clean club or school jersey,
preferably in Large or X-Large, with your
contact details to the following address:
FAO Jerseys of Munster
93 O’Connell Street
Limerick City
Co. Limerick
V94 R23V
Please inform Aidan Cleary when you send your
jersey for display, or likewise, if you have any queries,
please email aidancleary@munsterrugby.ie
"We are hugely grateful for everyone's effort
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
37
STAND UP
AND FIGHT
Cara O'Sullivan
38 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
MUNSTER RUGBY
SUPPORTERS CLUB
News
We were delighted to see the response from our Junior MRSC members who sent in letters of
support to the players over the last couple of weeks. For tonight’s game we are featuring Isabelle
O’Halloran’s wonderful message to Billy Holland. Keep an eye on the MRSC social accounts as
we will be featuring more of these great letters from our members in the coming weeks.
Meet my new puppy called Billie.
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
39
40 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
GET INVOLVED
FOLLOW
ALL THE
ACTION
@PRO14Official
@PRO14Official
@PRO14Official
@PRO14Rugby
@PRO14Rugby
@PRO14Rugby
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
41
42 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
CRONIN
JAMES
Age: 30
Position: Prop
Season Appearances: 12
Tries: 1
Passes completed: 13
Carries: 51
Tackles: 70
Turnovers: 6
Clean breaks: 3
Metres: 79
James Cronin was a try scorer against Connacht last weekend in an eye-catching performance for
the dynamic prop. He has made 12 appearances this season – 10 of which in the starting line up.
The former Academy Player of the Year made his senior debut against Leinster in April 2013 and
has accumulated 138 caps over nine seasons. The Ballincollig man returned to action last month
against Edinburgh after rehabbing a knee injury picked up against Leinster in January.
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK1
43
RECOVER LIKE A PRO
Supporting the Red Army
On & Off the Field
Available in Leading Pharmacies Nationwide
PROUDLY SUPPORTING MUNSTER RUGBY
Medicare First Aid and Physiologix Sports Supports are
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44 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
FIXTURES & RESULTS 2020/21
Date Fixture Venue
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 Thomond Park
Sun 1 Nov Dragons 16 - 28 Munster Rodney Parade
Sun 15 Nov Munster 38-22 Ospreys Thomond Park
Mon 23 Nov Glasgow Warriors 13-27 Munster Scotstoun Stadium
Mon 30 Nov Munster 52-3 Zebre Rugby Club Thomond Park
Sun 13 Dec Munster 21-7 Harlequins Thomond Park
Sat 19 Dec Clermont Auvergne 31-39 Munster Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin
Sat 02 Jan Ulster 15-10 Munster Kingspan Stadium
Sat 09 Jan Connacht 10-16 Munster The Sportsground
Sat 23 Jan Munster 10-13 Leinster Thomond Park
Sat 30 Jan Benetton Rugby 16-18 Munster Stadio Comunale Monigo
Sat 20 Feb Edinburgh 10-22 Munster Murrayfield Stadium
Fri 26 Feb Cardiff Blues 11-20 Munster Cardiff Arms Park
Fri 5 Mar Munster 20-17 Connacht Thomond Park
Fri 12 Mar | 8pm Munster v Scarlets Thomond Park
Fri 19 Mar | 6pm Munster v Benetton Rugby Thomond Park
Sat 27 Mar Leinster v Munster Guinness PRO14 Final
Gilbert x Munster Programme Advert_165x12mm_5mm Bleed.pdf 1 06/10/2020 10:07
Apr 2/3/4 Munster v Stade Toulousain Heineken Champions Cup
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
45
46 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE
FULL MATCH REPLAYS
NOW AVAILABLE
WITH XTRA
MEMBERSHIP.
SIGN UP FOR FREE AT
PRO14.RUGBY
MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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