Guest Eagerly Awaits Barbarians Clash

The Munster Women’s side, sponsored by Keanes jewellers, and Head Coach Laura Guest are eagerly awaiting Friday evening’s historic clash against the Barbarians as Guest takes the reins at the province for the first time (4.45pm).

One of the finest players to line out for Munster in her playing days, Guest is also a former Ireland international and spent the last five season as Head Coach of the Highfield Women.

She sees Friday evening’s game as perfect preparation for December’s Interprovincial Championship and is excited by the challenge posed by a star-studded Barbarians line-up.

“It gives us the chance to play opposition that we don’t know anything about as a team, we know plenty about the individuals but it gives us a great opportunity to play a team unfamiliar to us,” said Guest.

“I hope that the girls really enjoy it first and foremost because it’s a history-making opportunity and it’s something that might never come around again – the chance to play a Barbarians side in the home of Munster Rugby.

“Obviously when you play well you enjoy it even more but it’s a great opportunity for all of us to be involved in. Credit must go to Amanda Greensmith [Munster Rugby Women’s Community Rugby Officer] for all her hard work in getting this fixture right.”

The Barbarians have named a 23-strong squad with 1,019 international caps between them as seven different nations will be represented by the side.

“I would certainly know all of the former Irish internationals and played against a number of the other internationals and it is a really high quality side,” said Guest.

“They have over a thousand caps between them so it’s going to be a challenge, that’s for certain, and it will be a good test for our team in that you’re playing a side that have massive, massive international experience. It’s a great opportunity to learn from how these players play, some of them might be retired but you never lose that quality that those players have.”

With Women’s All Ireland League fixtures scheduled for Sunday, Guest was delighted that the clubs allowed their players to be released for the fixture.

“We’ve gotten permission from the clubs to use their players and we’re very grateful for that,” she said.

“We’re mindful that they have games at the weekend so it allows us to play all 30 members of our squad and see how certain combinations match up. It is a great opportunity for the entire squad to be involved rather than just the traditional 23, it guarantees that all of our players will get 40 minutes and that’s something you can’t guarantee too often.”

Looking ahead to the Interprovincials next month, Guest is delighted with how training has gone thus far as Munster look to reclaim the title.

“It has been great to get 30 players who want to be there and are working hard to get into a red shirt. Everyone involved with Munster either as a player or a fan finds Munster special so I’m very lucky in that I have the pick of the players from the province and all of them want the same outcome.”

Friday, November 10

Barbarians Women v Munster Women, Thomond Park, 4.45pm;

Tickets to both games are available from €15 (adults).