Munster Rugby v Scarlets Match Programme

v SCARLETS | FRI 12 MAR 2021 | THOMOND PARK | 8PM 

MUNSTER v SCARLETS | 12.03.21 | THOMOND PARK 

1

Loved in Munster. 

Followed the world over. 

Always represented. 

2 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE 

© 2020 adidas AG

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 


3

FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION ON 

PRO14.RUGBY 

YOUR GUINNESS 

PRO14 HOME 

LATEST NEWS, LIVE MATCH 

CENTRES, STATS & MORE 

VISIT NOW 

WWW.PRO14.RUGBY 

4 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE

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 


5


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. 


7

Moving Ahead 

tra 

Quality Fuel Technology 

Inver 

is available at all 

Inver Service Stations. 

Inver Xtra keeps your engine clean, improving 

its performance, reducing carbon emissions! 

Proud Sponsors of Junior Munster Rugby Supporters Club 

www.inverenergy.ie 


For your business or home energy needs 

Call us on 0818 363 749 

Visit www.pinergy.ie 

Official Energy Partner of Munster Rugby 


9

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.” 


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." 


11



13

Laya Healthcare are proud to be 

Official Health and Wellbeing Partner 

to Munster Rugby 


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

EVERY FIXTURE 

EVERY TRY 

EVERY TACKLE 

ALL IN 

ONE APP 


SHARP ALL SEASON 

FORMAL WEAR PARTNERS TO MUNSTER RUGBY 

PATRICK ST & CRESCENT SHOPPING CENTRE, LIMERICK • O’CONNELL ST, CLONMEL 

CONNOLLYMAN.COM


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 


19

DISCOVER THE 

SPIRIT WITHIN. 

“ THE INDOMINABLE SPIRIT OF OUR PEOPLE 

IS THE VERY SOUL OF OUR WHISKY” 

Product available to purchase at 

WWW.LOCHLOMONDWHISKIES.COM 

@lochlomondmalts @lochlomondwhiskies 

THE SPIRIT OF PRO14 RUGBY 

Enjoy Responsibly 


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 


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 


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 


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 


JEAN KLEYN 

Lock 

26.08.93 

H: 2.03 m 

W: 125 kg 


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 


JACK O’DONOGHUE 

Back Row 

08.02.94 

H: 1.91 m 

W: 107 kg 


PETER O’MAHONY 

Back Row 

17.09.89 

H: 1.91 m 

W: 106 kg 


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 


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 


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 


Lock 

11.12.97 

H:1.93 m 

W: 111.82 kg 

Hons: Ire U20 

FINEEN WYCHERLEY 

FORWARDS 

Munster Rugby Squad - 2020/21 Season 


JOEY CARBERY 

Fly Half 

01.11.95 

H: 1.83 m 

W: 85kg 


Scrum Half 

19.04.99 

H: 1.65 m 

W: 75kg 


CRAIG CASEY 

ANDREW CONWAY 

Full Back / Wing 

11.07.91 

H: 1.80 m 

W: 89 kg 


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 


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 


CHRIS FARRELL 

Centre 

16.03.93 

H: 1.93 m 

W: 110 kg 


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 


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 


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 


Wing 

05.05.93 

H: 1.85 m 

W: 95 kg 


DARREN SWEETNAM 

BACKS 


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 


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 


25

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. 


These clubs have chosen Macron 

Contact us for a quotation 

CORK: Unit 8, Metro Business Park, Ballycurreen, Kinsale Road Ck04095 

T: 0866640916 

john.orourke@macronstore.com 


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 


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.” 


29

Visit eirsport.ie to subscribe 


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 


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. 


“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. 


33

Celebrating 40 years in Ireland, Marks & Spencer is delighted to have 

Peter O’Mahony as its first Irish sports ambassador. 

The Big Hitters in 

Data Intelligence 

tqsintegration.com 


Meet our 

new fly half... 

We’re making it easy for you to book your perfect holiday from 

Shannon Airport. With great speed, efficiency and handling 

ability, paired with a vision to see all options, flyshannon.ie 

has the expert skills to kick start your perfect sun holiday or 

city break. Let us do the hard work so you can enter into full 

holiday mode as soon as you visit Flyshannon.ie. 

Book Now 

061 575 490 

flyshannon.ie 

Find & Book at 


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.” 


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 


37

STAND UP 

AND FIGHT 

Cara O'Sullivan 


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. 


39


GET INVOLVED 

FOLLOW 

ALL THE 

ACTION 

@PRO14Official 



@PRO14Rugby 




41


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 

the official medical supplies and sport support partner to 

Munster Rugby 

@Medicarefirstaid 

@PhysiologixSports 

@Physiologix_ 


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 


45


FULL MATCH REPLAYS 

NOW AVAILABLE 

WITH XTRA 

MEMBERSHIP. 

SIGN UP FOR FREE AT 

PRO14.RUGBY 


47


48

Munster Rugby v Scarlets Match Programme

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?