All You Need To Know | Connacht v Munster

Munster are back in United Rugby Championship action for the first time in 10 weeks on New Year’s Day as the province visit Connacht for what promises to be an exciting Interpro derby at the Sportsground.

Find out all you need to know ahead of the game below.

Where?

The Sportsground, Galway

When?

Saturday, January 1, 5.15pm

Tickets

General sale tickets for this game are not valid due to Covid restrictions. Connacht Rugby have issued refunds with full information emailed to all purchasers.

Team line-ups

See full Munster team news here.

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Shane Daly; Ben Healy, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Keynan Knox, Thomas Ahern, Jack Daly, Neil Cronin, Jack Crowley, Rory Scannell.

Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; John Porch, Sammy Arnold, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen; Jack Carty (C), Kieran Marmion; Matthew Burke, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Ultan Dillane, Oisín Dowling; Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler.

Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Tietie Tuimauga, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Eoghan Masterson, Abraham Papali’i, Matthew Devine, Conor Fitzgerald, Tom Farrell.

Broadcast

The game is live on URC TV (subscribe here), TG4 & Premier Sports.

Munster News

See this week’s best training pics

Munster Development v Ireland U20s teams

Conor Murray signs contract extension

Preview

Munster travel to Galway on Saturday eager to get back in action after a number of postponements in the URC over recent months.

Both of the province’s games in South Africa were postponed due to Covid along with the St Stephen’s Day fixture against Leinster.

Johann van Graan’s men have earned two wins from two in the Champions Cup this month, against Wasps and Castres.

Munster have won four out of five in the URC but sit seventh in the table, 10 points off leaders Leinster but with two games in hand.

Connacht are one place below after recording three wins in seven games.

The sides have already met once this season as Munster were 20-18 winners at Thomond Park in October.

Press Pass

Hear from Senior Coach Stephen Larkham and out-half Ben Healy ahead of the game.

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Busby

Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace & Eoghan Cross

TMO: Olly Hodges

Upcoming Fixtures

Saturday, January 1

URC: Connacht v Munster, the Sportsground, 5.15pm

Saturday, January 8

URC: Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm;

Friday, January 14

Champions Cup: Castres Olympique v Munster, Pierre-Fabre, 8pm Irish time;

Sunday, January 23

Champions Cup: Munster v Wasps, Thomond Park, 3.15pm;

Saturday, January 29

URC: Zebre Parma v Munster, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 5pm Irish time;

Friday, February 18

URC: Munster v Edinburgh, Thomond Park, 7.35pm;