Official Newsletter

Team News | Munster Side To Face Zebre

February 29, 2024 12:00 pm By The Editor

Craig Casey and Josh Wycherley both start for Munster against Zebre in Cork. Inpho

The Munster team has been named for Friday night’s BKT URC Round 11 clash against Zebre at Virgin Media Park (7.35pm).

Buy €20 match tickets here. See event info here.

Four Academy players are included as Tony Butler and Ruadhán Quinn both start with Ethan Coughlan and Ben O’Connor, who returns from the Ireland U20s, among the replacements.

Tom Ahern and Casey return from senior international duty to start with Jeremy Loughman, who is also back from Ireland camp, among the replacements.

22-year-old Alex Kendellen captains the team with four changes to the side that beat Scarlets earlier this month.

There is a new half-back pairing of Butler and Casey as Josh Wycherley and John Ryan come into the front row.

Academy out-half Butler, who will move up to the senior squad on a two-year contract next season, and back-row forward Quinn both make their third starts for the province.

Mike Haley makes his 99th start for Munster at full-back with Seán O’Brien and Shane Daly on either wing.

Alex Nankivell and Antoine Frisch continue their centre partnership with Casey and Butler at 9 and 10.

Wycherley, Niall Scannell and Ryan pack down in the front row with Ahern and RG Snyman in the engine room.

Quinn, Kendellen and Gavin Coombes complete the side.

Eoghan Clarke, Loughman and Stephen Archer provide the front row back-up with Fineen Wycherley and Jack O’Sullivan completing the forward cover.

Coughlan, who is also moving up to the senior squad next season on a two-year contract, Rory Scannell and O’Connor are the backline replacements.

Joey Carbery picked up a slight knock in training and was unavailable for selection.

Munster: Mike Haley (Preston Grasshoppers); Seán O’Brien (Mullingar RFC), Antoine Frisch (Rugby Sud 77/Paris Universite Club), Alex Nankivell (Christchurch Boys High School), Shane Daly (Highfield RFC); Tony Butler (Ennis RFC), Craig Casey (Shannon RFC/Ardscoil Rís); Josh Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea), Niall Scannell (PBC Cork), John Ryan (Muskerry RFC/CBC Cork); Tom Ahern (Youghal RFC), RG Snyman (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool); Ruadhán Quinn (Ballina-Killaloe RFC/Crescent College Comp), Alex Kendellen (C) (PBC Cork/UCC), Gavin Coombes (Skibbereen RFC).

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke (CBC Monkstown), Jeremy Loughman (Athy RFC), Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution FC/CBC Cork), Fineen Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea), Jack O’Sullivan (Sunday’s Well RFC/PBC Cork), Ethan Coughlan (Ennis RFC), Rory Scannell (PBC Cork), Ben O’Connor (Highfield RFC/PBC Cork).

Press Pass

Hear from Attack Coach Mike Prendergast and full-back Mike Haley ahead of the game.

Tickets

Sign up for our

Official Newsletter

Report

Report | Munster Secure Bonus-Point Win At Home To Zebre

March 1, 2024 10:06 pm By The Editor

Mike Haley was awarded the BKT URC Player of the Match. Photo Credit: Inpho

Munster ran in seven tries to see off the challenge of Zebre Parma in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Virgin Media Park in Cork.

It was a highly entertaining encounter despite the strong wind, with some excellent rugby played by both sides in testing conditions.

Ruadhán Quinn, one of four Academy players in the matchday squad, scored his first Munster senior try after six minutes — and then added a second on the hour.

RG Snyman set him up for his opening try with a neatly delayed pass in the left corner, with Mike Haley marking his third match back after eight months out through injury with a try that put Munster 12-0 in front after as many minutes.

But Zebre Parma hit back with a try from prop Muhamed Hasa and a conversion and penalty from full-back Geronimo Prisciantelli after 22 minutes.

However, running some superb ball from deep, pushed 33-10 in front by the interval when they had the strong wind behind them.

Snyman got over for his second try for the province after 26 minutes when he scored from close range while Quinn was sin-binned, with out-half Tony Butler adding his second conversion of the night.

A good turnover from captain Alex Kendellen ended with Alex Nankivell putting Seán O’Brien in for the bonus point six minutes from the break.

But Munster didn’t relent and Antoine Frisch got their fifth try just before the interval after a quick tap from halfway by scrum-half Craig Casey.

The third quarter was scoreless but Quinn struck for his second try on the hour when he intercepted a long Zebre throw on their five-metre line, with the conversion making it 40-10.

Zebre hit back and tries from replacement scrum-half Thomas Dominguez, full-back Prisciantelli and replacement Dylan de Leeuw secured a bonus point for them.

But Munster had the final say as they made it 20 wins in a row over Zebre when Shane Daly got in for their seventh try in the final play.

Munster: Mike Haley (Preston Grasshoppers); Seán O’Brien (Mullingar RFC), Antoine Frisch (Paris Université Club), Alex Nankivell (Christchurch Boys High School), Shane Daly (Highfield RFC); Tony Butler (Ennis RFC), Craig Casey (Shannon RFC); Josh Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC), Niall Scannell (PBC Cork), John Ryan (Muskerry RFC); Tom Ahern (Youghal RFC), RG Snyman (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool); Ruadhán Quinn (Ballina-Killaloe RFC), Alex Kendellen (C) (PBC Cork), Gavin Coombes (Skibbereen RFC).

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke (CBC Monkstown) for N Scannell (51), Jeremy Loughman (Athy RFC) for J Wycherley (51), Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution FC) for Ryan (51), Fineen Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC) for Snyman (54), Ethan Coughlan (Ennis RFC) for Casey (54), Jack O’Sullivan (Sunday’s Well RFC) for Ahern (60) , Rory Scannell (PBC Cork) for Frisch (63), Ben O’Connor (Highfield RFC) for M Haley (79).

BKT URC Round 11 Round-Up

Mike Haley was awarded the BKT Player of the Match on his 99th appearance for the province.

Four Academy players, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler and Ben O’Connor featured on the night with Quinn notching his first two tries for Munster and Butler kicking 10 points.

Munster scored seven tries on the night and move up to fifth in the URC table ahead of the weekend’s remaining matches.