Munster 200 Club | Stephen Archer

30th June 2020 By The Editor

Stephen Archer leads Munster out on his 200th appearance in November 2019. Inpho

In our series profiling the players who have reached the 200-cap landmark for Munster, we take a look back at the careers of the 11 Munster men who played over 200 games for the province.

Stephen Archer is the most recent player to reach the landmark and follows Anthony Foley, Alan Quinlan, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, John Hayes, David Wallace, Marcus Horan, Mick O’Driscoll, Donncha O’Callaghan and Billy Holland in reaching 200 caps, you can read more about their careers below.

Munster 200 Club | Anthony Foley

Munster 200 Club | Alan Quinlan

Munster 200 Club | Peter Stringer

Munster 200 Club | Ronan O’Gara

Munster 200 Club | John Hayes

Munster 200 Club | David Wallace

Munster 200 Club | Marcus Horan

Munster 200 Club | Mick O’Driscoll

Munster 200 Club | Donncha O’Callaghan

Munster 200 Club | Billy Holland

Stephen Archer – 208 Caps (2009 – present)

A hugely popular Munster man, tighthead prop Stephen Archer has been a vital member of the squad since making his debut against Edinburgh at Murrayfield in October 2009.

He became the 11th player to reach the 200-cap milestone for Munster against Edinburgh at Irish Independent Park in November 2019. To date, he has scored four tries in 208 appearances for the province.

Stephen Archer and Billy Holland with fans at the Open Training Session at Irish Independent Par in August.

Stephen Archer and Billy Holland with fans at the Open Training Session at Irish Independent Park in August.

Last season Archie made more appearances for the province than any other player, featuring in 29 of Munster’s 32 outings. He has continued that fine run this year and had made 17 appearances before the season was postponed in March.

Jack O’Donoghue and Stephen Archer celebrate after the 2018 European Cup quarter-final win over Toulon.

A Cork native and product of the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy, Archer played schools rugby with CBC and has lined out for UCC and Cork Constitution in the All Ireland League.

Stephen Archer in action for the Ireland U20s in 2008.

He was an All Ireland League winner with Cork Con in 2010 and featured with the Ireland U20s before securing a development contract for 2010/11, moving on to a senior contract at the start of 2011/12.

Archer lining out for Cork Constitution in 2011.

His first European Cup appearance was off the bench against Castres in Thomond Park in January 2012, and he then went on to start for Ireland A against England in Sandy Park.

His first Irish senior cap came as a replacement against Italy in the 2013 Six Nations in Rome, with his second against Australia in the 2013 Guinness Series.

2013 Guinness Series clash against Australia.

He was part of the Emerging Ireland squad that won the 2015 Tblisi Cup in Georgia and won his 100th Munster cap against Dragons in March 2016.

Celebrating the Tblisi Cup win with James Cronin, Rory Scannell, Billy Holland, JJ Hanrahan and Andrew Conway.

Celebrating the 2015 Tblisi Cup win with James Cronin, Rory Scannell, Billy Holland, JJ Hanrahan and Andrew Conway.

The following season he featured in Munster A’s successful B&I Cup winning campaign in 2016/17.

Over the last three seasons, Archer has enjoyed a fine injury-free run. He made 28 appearances in the 2017/18 campaign, including his 150th appearance against Ulster, 29 appearances last season and is in line to play another 20+ games this year.