2018–19 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s) |
Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600) Irish Independent Park (Capacity: 8,008) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Coach(es) | Johann van Graan | ||
Captain(s) | Peter O'Mahony | ||
League(s) | Pro14 | ||
|
The 2018–19 Munster Rugby season is Munster's eighteenth season competing in the Pro14, alongside which they will also compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It is Johann van Graan's second season as Head Coach and his first full season in the role, having joined partway through the previous season.[1]
Events
Munster played two pre-season fixtures ahead of the 2018–19 campaign, the first against London Irish, whose directory of rugby is former Munster and Ireland head coach Declan Kidney, and the second against Exeter Chiefs, which was be the first meeting between the two clubs.[2] Munster beat London Irish 32–28, but lost 12–0 against Exeter Chiefs.[3][4]
Drawn alongside French Top 14 champions Castres and English sides Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester, Munster will compete in Pool 2 of the 2018–19 European Rugby Champions Cup.[5]
Munster opened their 2018–19 Pro14 season with a six-try 38–0 victory against South African side Cheetahs in Thomond Park on 1 September 2018. Rory Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Tommy O'Donnell, JJ Hanrahan, Dave O'Callaghan and Man-of-the-Match Darren Sweetnam scored the tries, with Hanrahan adding four conversions, in a match that saw Arno Botha, Mike Haley, Joey Carbery and academy players Shane Daly and Gavin Coombes make their competitive debuts for the province, whilst Neil Cronin also made his first appearance for Munster since March 2015.[6]
Tadhg Beirne made his debut for Munster in the provinces 25–10 defeat away to Glasgow Warriors on 7 September 2018.[7] Munster's 64–7 win against Ulster on 29 September 2018 was a record win for the province in the Pro14; Munster's previous record win being 47–0 against Zebre in 2016.[8] In round one of the 2018–19 Champions Cup on 13 October 2018, a try from CJ Stander and five points from the boot of Joey Carbery secured a 10–10 draw in Sandy Park against Exeter Chiefs, in a match in which Dan Goggin and Neil Cronin made their competitive European debuts, whilst Tadhg Beirne, who was Man-of-the-Match, Mike Haley and Joey Carbery made their European debuts for Munster.[9]
Coaching & Management Staff 2018–19
Position | Name | Nationality |
---|---|---|
Head Coach | Johann van Graan | |
Defence Coach | JP Ferreira | |
Backs & Attack Coach | Felix Jones | |
Forwards Coach | Jerry Flannery | |
Team Manager | Niall O'Donovan | |
Head of Athletic Performance | Denis Logan | |
Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach | Aidan O'Connell | |
Strength & Conditioning Coach | Adam Sheehan | |
Strength & Conditioning Coach | PJ Wilson | |
Performance Analyst | George Murray |
Senior Playing Squad 2018–19
Munster player movements for the 2018–19 season. For a full list, see List of 2018–19 Pro14 transfers.
Players In
|
Players Out
|
The Munster senior squad for 2018–19 is:[22]
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
- Internationally capped players in bold
- Players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality *
- Irish provinces are currently limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player").[23]
- Notes:
Pre-season
2018–19 Pro14
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
21 September 2018 19:35 |
(1 BP) Cardiff Blues |
37–13 | |
---|---|---|
Try: N. Williams 6' c T. Williams (2) 16' c, 76' c Halaholo 44' c Con: Anscombe (3/4) 7', 17', 45', 77' Pen: Anscombe (3/3) 52', 63', 70' |
Report[29] | Try: Conway (2) 10' m, 13' m Pen: Carbery (1/1) 23' |
Round 5
29 September 2018 19:35 |
(1 BP) Munster |
64–7 | |
---|---|---|
Try: Goggin (2) 5' c, 37' c O'Donnell (2) 8' c, 30' m O'Mahony 50' c Carbery 62' c Arnold 66' c Earls 70' c Wootton 77' c Con: Carbery (5/6) 5', 9', 37', 51', 63 Keatley (3/3) 67', 71', 78' Pen: Carbery (1/1) 16' |
Report[30] | Try: Cave 46' c Con: Burns (1/1) 47' |
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Round 21
2018–19 European Rugby Champions Cup
Munster will face Castres, Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester in pool 2 of the 2018–19 European Rugby Champions Cup. They were seeded in tier 3 following their fourth place finish overall and exit from the 2017–18 Pro14 season at the semi-finals stage.[5][32]
Team |
P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 10 | +0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 10 | +0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 19 | -5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Round 1
13 October 2018 15:15 |
Exeter Chiefs |
10–10 | |
---|---|---|
Try: Cowan-Dickie 38' c Con: Steenson (1/1) 39' Pen: Steenson (1/1) 18' |
Report[34] | Try: Stander 63' c Con: Carbery (1/1) 64' Pen: Carbery (1/1) 31' |
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
References
- ↑ "Johann van Graan to join Munster as head coach" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ↑ "Munster To Host London Irish & Exeter Chiefs In August". Munster Rugby. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- ↑ "Munster Edge Past London Irish In Cork". Munster Rugby. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ↑ "Match Report: Munster 0-12 Exeter Chiefs". Munster Rugby. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- 1 2 "Tough Draw For Munster In Champions Cup". Munster Rugby. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ↑ "Match Report | Winning Start at Thomond Park". Munster Rugby. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ↑ "Report | Munster Fall To Defeat In Glasgow". Munster Rugby. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ↑ "Report | Record PRO14 Win For Munster Over Ulster". Munster Rugby. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ↑ "Report | Munster Draw Against Exeter Chiefs". Munster Rugby. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ↑ "Beirne To Join Munster". Munster Rugby. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- 1 2 3 "Contract Signings". Munster Rugby. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ↑ "Munster Sign Mike Haley". Munster Rugby. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ↑ "Player Contract Update". Munster Rugby. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ↑ "Munster Sign Arno Botha". Munster Rugby. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ↑ "Carbery Update". Munster Rugby. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ↑ "Munster Sign Alby Mathewson". Munster Rugby. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ↑ "Squad Update Pre-Ospreys". Munster Rugby. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ↑ "Simon Zebo: Racing 92 reveal signing of Munster back before Champions Cup game". BBC Sport. 10 January 2018.
- ↑ "Connacht Rugby announce signing of Robin Copeland". Connacht Rugby. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ↑ "David Johnston to sign from Munster Rugby". Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "South African lock Grobler links up with Cherry and Whites". Gloucester Rugby. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ↑ "Munster Rugby | 1st Team Squad". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ↑ "Not all rules are made to be broken". Irish Independent. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
Ireland's set-up demands a maximum of five NIEs - one of whom is a project player
- ↑ "Munster Edge Past London Irish In Cork". Munster Rugby. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ↑ "Match Report: Munster 0-12 Exeter Chiefs". Munster Rugby. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ↑ "Munster serve up six of the best to beat Cheetahs". GuinnessPro14. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ↑ "Hastings inspires Warriors to impressive victory at fortress Scotstoun". GuinnessPro14. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ↑ "Vibrant Munster power past the Ospreys". GuinnessPro14. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- ↑ "The Blues bounce back to win first game of the season". GuinnessPro14. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ↑ "Dazzling Munster put nine tries past Ulster". GuinnessPro14. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ↑ "Byrne guides Leinster to win over rivals Munster". GuinnessPro14. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ↑ "Munster's Champions Cup Fixtures Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ↑ "Heineken Champions Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ↑ "Spoils shared between Exeter and Munster". EPCR. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.