Munster Influences From Abroad

17th April 2020 By The Editor

Rua Tipoki, Doug Howlett and Lifeimi Mafi lead the Munster Haka. INPHO/Billy Stickland

The influence of players from outside of Munster has been a constant in the 25 years of professional rugby.

While the bulk of the squad have always been Munster born and bred, outside influences have played a big role in shaping the province.

The number of games played per season has grown rapidly since 1995 (Munster played six games in the 1995/96 season), with squads growing accordingly.

We look back at some of the imports to have played for Munster down the years.

Sean McCahill

Sean McCahill, still residing in Cork, became one of the first New Zealand-born players to represent the province when he made his debut in Munster’s first ever European Cup game against Swansea in November 1995, the first year of professionalism in the game.

The Auckland native was called up to the Munster squad after starring for Sunday’s Well in the All Ireland League and went on to win a cap for Ireland in 1995.

Rhys Ellison

The tenacious Rhys Ellison followed in McCahill’s footsteps as the inside centre’s stellar performances for Shannon saw him called up to the Munster side in the late 90s after moving from New Zealand via Japan.

Ellison played a central role as Munster qualified for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals in 1999 and went into coaching with Old Crescent following his retirement.

John Langford

Australian lock John Langford joined Declan Kidney’s Munster in the summer of 1999 and was an integral part of the side that established Munster as a force in European rugby.

He had won four Australian caps in 1997 and proved to be a huge hit in his three years at Munster, making 30 appearances and lining out for Shannon and Garryowen.

Mike Mullins

The next notable New Zealander to represent Munster was the brilliant Mike Mullins. After joining Young Munster in 1999 and making his provincial debut that August, the centre went on to make 114 appearances for Munster and earn 16 caps for Ireland.

Mike Mullins of Munster.
©INPHO/Patrick Bolger

Jason Holland

Another hugely important figure at that time was Jason Holland, now Head Coach of the Hurricanes. Holland arrived in Cork more than 20 years ago, in November 1998, to play All Ireland League rugby with Midleton RFC.

His plan was to stay for one season but that all changed when Declan Kidney rang him in February 1999 and offered him a provincial contract. The rest is history as Holland went on to play 102 games for the province and played a leading role in Munster’s rise in European rugby. Holland became Munster’s Backs Coach after he retired, a position he held between 2008 and 2012.

Munster’s Jason Holland.
©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Jim Williams

Ahead of the 2001/02 season, Munster signed International Australian back-row Jim Williams. A natural leader within the group, such was his standing, that he became the first overseas player to be named squad captain before turning his hand to coaching after his retirement in 2005.

Williams held the position of Assistant Coach for two seasons before taking control of the forwards in 2007/08. He left the province in 2008 to take up an Assistant Coach role with the Australian national team.

Jim Williams – Munster pre-season tour.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

Christian Cullen

Munster’s next big New Zealand import, in 2003, was the country’s record Test try-scorer at the time and the record Super 12 try-scorer Christian Cullen, a man who also lined out for the Maori All Blacks. Cullen scored 14 tries in 41 appearances for the province, but injury problems meant the Munster faithful rarely saw the superstar at his devastating best.

Christian Cullen of Munster on the attack.
©INPHO/Billy Stickland

Shaun Payne

South African full-back Shaun Payne won two European Cups in a five-year spell at the province between 2003 and 2008.

Payne scored 18 tries in 109 appearances for Munster after joining the province from Swansea. He was appointed Munster Team Manager in 2007 and eventually departed home for South Africa in 2012 after nine years in Munster.

Jeremy Manning

Jeremy Manning was one of the youngest players to join the province when he moved from New Zealand to join the Academy and UCC as a teenager in 2004. Manning made 50 appearances between 2005 and 2010 and played against New Zealand in 2008. He was part of the ‘Munster haka’ with Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi and Doug Howlett.

Federico Pucciariello

Argentine-born Italy international Federico ‘Freddie’ Pucciariello was a cult hero in Munster after joining in 2005. He won two Heineken Cups in four years at the province along with coaching and occasionally playing for Old Crescent.

Federico Pucciariello scores a try.
©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Trevor Halstead

South African centre Trevor Halstead joined Munster ahead of the 2005/06 campaign and played a big role in securing the province’s first European Cup that season. Halstead was a try-scorer in the final win over Biarritz and made 40 appearances over two seasons.

Lifeimi Mafi

The aforementioned Mafi and Tipoki spearheaded the Munster attack as one of the most effective midfield partnerships to ever line out for the province.

The duo played a big part in Munster’s second Heineken Cup triumph in 2008 with Mafi playing 144 times over six years between 2006 and 2012.

Rua Tipoki

Tipoki spent two seasons at Munster having previously captained the New Zealand Maori side. Played a pivotal role in the 2008 European Cup win and made 29 appearances for the province.

Doug Howlett

Munster signed all-time leading try-scorer for the All Blacks in January 2008 when Doug Howlett joined the province. Still the proud holder of that record, Howlett proved a superb acquisition and scored 35 tries in 114 Munster appearances.

The Auckland native became the first back in the professional era to be named as squad captain in the 2012/13 season and worked in the province’s commercial department before returning to New Zealand in the summer.

Jean de Villiers

South African World Cup winner Jean de Villiers was another blockbuster signing when he joined for the 2009/10 campaign. The big centre made 23 appearances for Munster and finished the season’s top try-scorer with eight tries.

Paul Warwick

Australian Paul Warwick was a hugely popular signing from Connacht and won the European Cup with Munster in 2008. Warwick famously scored two long-range drop-goals against Ospreys in a European quarter-final and kicked all of Munster’s points in the 2010 victory over Australia. Warwick made 95 appearances and scored 461 points over four years.

Wian de Preez

South African prop Wian du Preez initially joined on a short-term contract in late 2009 but ended up spending three-and-a-half seasons at Munster and making 87 appearances.

Wian de Preez

South African prop Wian du Preez initially joined on a short-term contract in late 2009 but ended up spending three-and-a-half seasons at Munster and making 87 appearances.

BJ Botha

South African World Cup winner BJ Botha joined from Ulster in 2011 and made the most appearances in the 2012/13 and 2014/15 seasons and won a grand total of 111 Munster caps. Testament to his consistency was the fact that Botha featured in all but three of Munster’s European encounters across five seasons.