2024–25 Munster Rugby season

Munster Rugby
Full nameMunster Rugby
Union IRFU
Nickname(s)The Red Army
Founded1879 (1879)
LocationLimerick and Cork, Ireland
Ground(s)Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600)[note 1]
Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,800)
ChairmanGerry O'Shea[1]
CEOIan Flanagan[1]
PresidentMichael Carroll[2]
Coach(es)Mike Prendergast (interim)
Captain(s)Tadhg Beirne
Top scorerJack Crowley : 112
Most triesTom Farrell : 10
League(s)United Rugby Championship (2024-25)
European Champions Cup (2024-25)
2024-25URC : 6th (ladder)
Quarter-final (play-offs)
Irish Shield - 2nd
EPCR CC : Quarter-final
1st kit
2nd kit
3rd kit
Official website
www.munsterrugby.ie

The 2024–25 season was Munster Rugby's fourth season in the United Rugby Championship, and their 137th season of representative rugby since their foundation. Along with competing in the URC and its Irish Shield competition, the club also participated in the 2024-25 European Rugby Champions Cup, their 31st season of European and professional competition.

On 29 October 2024, Munster announced the departure of Graham Rowntree by mutual agreement after four losses in six games in the United Rugby Championship.[3] Ian Costello took over as interim head coach. In February, Munster announced that New Zealander Clayton McMillan had agreed to take the role from the end of the season, and that Mike Prendergast would take the interim role for the remainder of the campaign[4].

Following a poor start, including four losses from six games in the league, that was eventually to cost coach Graham Rowntree his position, the province was able to salvage its position somewhat, making the knock-out stages of both the European Rugby Champions Cup and the United Rugby Championship; in the former, an impressive away win in the Round of 16 at Stade Rochelais led to a quarter-final defeat against eventual champions Bordeaux Begles (UBB); in the latter Munster were eliminated after a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-final away to Sharks.

Senior squad

Coaching and management staff

Position Name Nationality
Head coach vacant

Mike Prendergast (interim)

Ireland
Attack coach Mike Prendergast Ireland
Forwards coach Andi Kyriacou England
Defence coach Denis Leamy Ireland
Skills coach Mossy Lawler Ireland
Performance analyst and technical coach George Murray Ireland
Team manager Niall O'Donovan Ireland
Head of rugby operations Ian Costello Ireland
Head of athletic performance Ged McNamara Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Adam Sheehan Ireland

Senior squad

Munster Rugby senior squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Back three

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
L denotes a player on loan at the club.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[5]

Academy squad

Coaching and management staff

Position Name Nationality
Academy and pathway manager Gearóid Prendergast Ireland
Elite player development officer Brendan O'Connor Ireland
Elite player development officer Tommy O'Donnell Ireland
Pathway development coach Matt Brown Ireland
National talent coach Mark Butler Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Danielle Cunningham Ireland

Academy squad

Munster Rugby academy squad

Props

  • George Hadden (2)
  • Ronan Foxe (2)
  • Darragh McSweeney (3)
  • Kieran Ryan (3)

Hookers

  • Danny Sheahan (1)
  • Max Clein (2)

Locks

  • Michael Foy (1)
  • Evan O'Connell (3)

Back row

Scrum-halves

  • Jake O'Riordan (1)
  • Jack Oliver (3)

Fly-halves

  • Dylan Hicks (2)

Centres

Back three

  • Shay McCarthy (2)
  • Ben O'Connor (2)
Bold denotes internationally capped players, number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[6]


Transfers

United Rugby Championship

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Leinster 18 16 0 2 542 256 +286 79 35 11 1 76 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
2 Bulls 18 14 0 4 542 361 +181 71 44 9 3 68
3 Sharks 18 13 0 5 436 402 +34 55 59 7 3 62
4 Glasgow Warriors 18 11 0 7 468 327 +141 70 40 10 5 59
5 Stormers 18 10 0 8 507 418 +89 66 57 11 4 55 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
6 Munster 18 9 0 9 444 429 +15 67 59 11 4 51
7 Edinburgh 18 8 1 9 471 407 +64 66 57 9 6 49
8 Scarlets 18 9 1 8 427 382 +45 50 52 6 4 48
9 Cardiff 18 8 1 9 409 477 −68 63 65 10 3 47 Qualification for the 2025–26 Challenge Cup
10 Benetton 18 9 1 8 393 478 −85 50 65 7 1 46
11 Lions 18 8 0 10 402 440 −38 53 60 5 3 40
12 Ospreys 18 7 1 10 437 454 −17 60 63 6 4 40
13 Connacht 18 6 0 12 420 472 −52 64 62 9 6 39
14 Ulster 18 7 0 11 414 506 −92 59 72 5 5 38
15 Zebre Parma 18 5 1 12 302 503 −201 38 72 3 4 29
16 Dragons 18 1 0 17 335 637 −302 43 92 1 4 9
Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[7]



Round 1

21 September 2024 (1 BP) Munster 35–33 Connacht (2 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Nankivell 28' c
Haley 31' c
Hodnett 44' c
Coombes 58' c
Daly 69' c
Con: Burns (3/3) 28', 32', 45'
Butler (2/2) 59', 70'
Try: Ioane 13' m
B. Murphy (2) 20' c, 39' c
Hawkshaw 53' c
Forde 63' c
Con: Ioane (3/4) 21', 54', 64'
Forde 40' (1/1)
Attendance: 15,705[8]
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)

Round 2

28 September 2024 (1 BP) Zebre Parma 42–33 Munster (1 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
16:00 Try: Trulla (2) 22' m, 41' m
Fusco (2) 26' c, 59' c
Licata 51' c
Prisciantelli 62' m
Con: Montemauri (3/6) 27', 52' 60'
Pen: Montemauri 11'
Da Re 80'
Try: Coombes (2) 19' c, 30' c
Haley 33' c
Fitzgerald 40' c
McCarthy 76' m
Con: Butler (4/5) 20', 31', 34', 41'
Attendance: 2,300[9]
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)

Round 3

5 October 2024 (1 BP) Munster 23–0 Ospreys Musgrave Park, Cork  
19:35 Try: McCarthy 1' m
Farrell 26' m
Nash 39' m
O'Donoghue 63' m
Pen: Crowley 9'
Attendance: 8,293[10]
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Round 4

12 October 2024 (1 BP) Leinster 26–12 Munster Croke Park, Dublin  
17:45 Try: Lowe 5' c'
Doris 10' c
Keenan 14' c
Snyman 40' m
Con: Frawley (3/4) 6', 11', 15'
Try: O'Brien 34' m
Haley 65' c
Con: Crowley (1/2) 66'
Attendance: 80,468[11]
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)

Round 5

19 October 2024 Stormers 34–19 Munster Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town  
18:00 Try: Hartzenberg 5' c
Theunissen 33' c
R. Nel (2) 46' c, 80'+2
Con: Willemse (4/4) 6', 34', 47', 80'+3
Pen: Willemse 75'
Drop: Willemse 76'
Try: Farrell 17 c'
Clarke 26' m
Coombes 67' c
Con: Crowley (2/3) 19', 68'
Attendance: 28,013[12]
Referee: Mike Adamson, Scotland

Round 6

26 October 2024 (1 BP) Sharks 41–24 Munster (1 BP) Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
16:00 Try: Fassi 0' c
Mapimpi 4' c
Williams 23' c
Esterhuizen 36' c
Tshituka 65' c
Con: Jo. Hendrikse (5/5) 1', 5', 24', 37', 66'
Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (2) 13', 48'
Try: Ahern 18' m
Haley 30' m
Nash 73' c
Beirne 80'
Con: Burns (2/2) 73', 80'+1
Attendance: 19,465[13]
Referee: Hollie Davidson, Scotland

Round 7

30 November 2024 Munster 17–10 Lions (1 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:35 Try: Abrahams 15' c
S. Daly 42' m
Kendellen 53' m
Con: Burns (1/3) 16'
Try: van Wyk 27' c
Con: Wolhuter (1/1) 28'
Pen: Wolhuter 32'
Attendance: 11,836[12]
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)

Round 8

20 December 2024 '(1 BP)' Ulster 19–22 Munster (1 BP) Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:35 Try: O'Toole 7 c'
Sheridan 64' m
McNabney 75' c
Con: Cooney (2/3) 8' 76
Report Try: Farrell, 27', 51', 78' c
S. Daly, 66'
Con: Crowley (1/4) 80'
Attendance: 14,313[13]
Referee: Ben Whitehouse

Round 9

27 December 2024 Munster 7–28 Leinster (1 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:35 Try: Ahern 44'
Con: Burns (1/1) 46'
Report Try: McGrath 8'
Prendergast 32'
van der Flier 53'
Doris 73'
Con: Prendergast (3/3) 9', 33', 53'
R. Byrne 74'
Attendance: 26,267[14]

Round 10

25 January 2025 Dragons 19–38 Munster Rodney Parade, Newport  
19:35 Attendance: 4,562

Round 11

15 February 2025 (1 BP) Munster 29-8 Scarlets Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:15 Try: McCarthy, 20'c
Coombes (2), 44', 63'
Kendellen, 51'c
Farrell, 81'
Con: Burns (2)
Report Try: Page, 57'
Pen: Lloyd, 17'
Attendance: 13,714

Round 12

28 February 2025 (2 BP) Munster 28-34 Edinburgh (1 BP) Musgrave Park, Cork  
19:35 Try: Nankivell, 15'c, 51'c
O'Connor, 64'c
O'Brien, 80'c
Con: Burns (3)
Butler
Report Try: Thompson, 23'c
Currie, 28'c, 34', 57'
Bradbury, 39'c
Con: Thompson (3)
Pen: Thompson, 5'
Attendance: 8,800[15]

Round 13

21 March 2025 (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors 28–25 Munster (1 BP) Scotstoun Stadium  
7.35pm Try: Horne, 27’c
Steyn, 35’c
Fagerson, 68’c
McBeth, 75’c
Con: Hastings (4)
Report Try: Hodnett, 16’c
O'Brien, 22’m, 65'c
Con: Butler
Scannell
Pen: Butler, 32', 55'
Referee: Morne Ferreira

Round 14

29 March 2025 (2 BP) Connacht 24-30 Munster (1 BP) MacHale Park, Castlebar, County Mayo  
14:30 Try: Jansen, 21', 62'
Blade, 45'
Ioane, 73'
Con: Ioane, 45'
Hanrahan, 63'
Report:ESPN Try: Ahern, 24',
Casey, 23'
Crowley, 51'
Barron, 59'
Con: Crowley, 52', 13'
Pen: Crowley, 7', 38'
Attendance: 27,580

Round 15

19 April 2025 (1 BP) Munster 13 - 16 Bulls Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:15 Try: Abrahams, 37'
Con: Crowley, 38'
Pen: Crowley, 9', 51'
Report Try: Coetzee,16'
Con: Goosen, 16'
Pen: Goosen, 23', 49'
Johannes, 73'
Attendance: 14,733
Referee: Andrea Piardi

Round 16

25 April 2025 (1 BP) Cardiff 26 - 21 Munster (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park  
19:35 Try: Hamer-Webb, 26'
Millard, 28'
penalty try, 54'
Mulder, 63'
Con: Sheedy, 28', 64'
Report, 2 Try: Nash, 12'
Haley, 37'
Farrell, 50'
Con: Crowley, 13', 38', 51'
Attendance: 11,253
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi

Round 17

9 May 2025 (1 BP) Munster 38 – 20 Ulster Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:35 Try: Milne, 13'
Farrell, 24', 55'
Beirne, 28'
Scannell, 35'
O'Mahony, 58'
Con: Crowley, 29', 36', 56', 59'
Report, 2 Try: McCloskey, 6'
Postlethwaite, 26'
Con: Murphy, 7', 27'
Pen: Murphy, 18', 41'
Attendance: 17,684

Round 18

16 May 2025 (1 BP) Munster 30–21 Benetton Musgrave Park, Cork  
20:00 Try: Crowley, 14'
Barron, 44'
Abrahams, 49'
Wycherley, 73'
Con: Crowley, 15'
Casey, 50'
Pen: Crowley, 21'
Casey, 57'
Try: Rhyno Smith, 19', 28'
Bautista Bernasconi, 69'
Con: Jacob Umaga, 20', 29', 70'
Attendance: 8,800

Munster Rugby qualify for the play-offs.

Play-offs

Bracket

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
         
1 Leinster 33
8 Scarlets 21
1 Leinster 37
4 Glasgow Warriors 19
4 Glasgow Warriors 36
5 Stormers 18
1 Leinster 32
2 Bulls 7
3 Sharks 24 (6)
6 Munster 24 (4)
2 Bulls 25
3 Sharks 13
2 Bulls 42
7 Edinburgh 33

Quarter-final

31 May 2025
5:30pm
Sharks 24-24 (a.e.t.) Munster
Try: Hooker, 46'
Fassi, 68'
Mbatha, 73'
Con: Jaden Hendrikse, 47', 69', 74'
Pen: Jaden Hendrikse, 55'
Try: Nash, 10'
Josh Wycherley, 57'
Kilgallen, 61'
Con: Crowley, 11', 58', 62'
Pen: Murray, 77'
Penalties
Jordan Hendrikse Y
Jaden Hendrikse Y
DavidsY
Jordan Hendrikse Y
Jaden Hendrikse Y
DavidsY
6-4Crowley Y
Scannell N
Murray Y
CrowleyY
Scannell Y
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Attendance: 22,247

Munster are eliminated from the Championship.

URC Irish Shield

2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools
Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Leinster (S) 6 6 0 0 175 80 +95 26 11 5 0 29 1
2 Munster 6 4 0 2 144 150 –6 22 22 4 0 20 6
3 Ulster 6 2 0 4 125 162 –37 16 26 1 2 11 14
4 Connacht 6 0 0 6 115 167 –52 18 23 3 3 6 13
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[16]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

European Rugby Champions Cup

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 3
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Northampton Saints (3) 4 3 0 1 137 106 +31 20 15 4 0 16 Home Champions Cup round of 16.
2 Castres (6) 4 3 0 1 105 86 +19 13 13 2 0 14
3 Munster (9) 4 2 0 2 96 69 +27 13 7 2 2 12 Away Champions Cup round of 16.
4 Saracens (13) 4 2 0 2 91 71 +20 11 9 2 1 11
5 Bulls (11CC) 4 1 0 3 84 113 −29 12 15 1 0 5 Away Challenge Cup round of 16.
6 Stade Français 4 1 0 3 76 144 −68 11 21 1 0 5
Source: EPCR[17]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Pool matches

Round 1

7 December 2024 (1 BP) Munster 33–7 Stade Français Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Abrahams 15' c
Daly 29' c
Kendellen 49' c
Farrell 54' c
Coombes 78' m
Con: Crowley (4/5) 16', 30', 50', 55'
Report Try: Castets 58' c
Con: Henry (1/1) 59'
Attendance: 17,241
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Round 2

13 December 2024 Castres 16–14 Munster (1 BP) Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres  
20:00 Try: Papali'i 12' m
Walcker 29' m
Pen: Fernandez (1/1) 48'
Le Brun (1/1) 72'
Report Try: Hodnett (2) 37' c, 68' c
Con: Crowley (2/2) 38', 69'
Attendance: 9,615
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

Round 3

11 January 2025 Munster 17–12 Saracens (1 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Bleuler 59'
Hodnett 64' c
Con: Crowley (1/1) 60'
Pen: Crowley (2/3) 25', 65'
Report Pen: Lozowski (3/3) 1', 10', 69'
Daly (1/1) 45'
Attendance: 22,030
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)

Round 4

18 January 2025 (1 BP) Northampton Saints 34–32 Munster (1 BP) cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens, Northampton  
15:15 Try: Seabrook (3) 13' m, 48' m, 67' c
Langdon 40+1' c
Ramm 54' c
Con: Smith (3/5) 40+2', 55', 68'
Pen: Smith (1/1) 59'
Report Try: Nash (2) 22' c, 32' m
Kilgallen (2) 63' c, 78' c
Con: Crowley (3/4) 23', 64', 79'
Pen: Crowley (2/2) 32', 57'
Attendance: 15,153
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Knockout stages
Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
1 Bordeaux Bègles 43
16 Ulster 31
1 Bordeaux Bègles 47
9 Munster 29
8 La Rochelle 24
9 Munster 25
1 Bordeaux Bègles 35
5 Toulouse 18
4 Toulon 72
13 Saracens 42
4 Toulon 18
5 Toulouse 21
5 Toulouse 38
12 Sale Sharks 15
1 Bordeaux Bègles 28
3 Northampton Saints 20
2 Leinster 62
15 Harlequins 0
2 Leinster 52
7 Glasgow Warriors 0
7 Glasgow Warriors 43
10 Leicester Tigers 19
2 Leinster 34
3 Northampton Saints 37
3 Northampton Saints 46
14 Clermont 24
3 Northampton Saints 51
6 Castres 16
6 Castres 39
11 Benetton 37

Round of 16

Munster finished their European Rugby Champions Cup pool campaign as the ninth seed, and were therefore drawn away in the round of 16 to the eighth seed, La Rochelle.

5 April 2025 La Rochelle (8) 24–25
HT : 10–7
(9) Munster Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle  
18:30 Try: Botia, 10'
Penalty try, 65'
Bosmorin, 76'
Con: West, 11'
Hastoy, 76'
Pen: West, 42'
Report:EPRC Try: Casey, 24'
Coombes, 47'
Smith 51'
Con: Crowley, 24', 48'
Pen: Crowley, 41'
Drop: Crowley, 68'
Attendance: 16,700
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Quarterfinal

12 April 2025 Bordeaux (1) 47–29 (9) Munster Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux  
16:00 Try: Penaud, 5’
Lucu, 12’
Samu, 24’
Echegaray, 33’
Lamothe, 56’
Bielle-Biarrey, 77’
Con: Jalibert, 13', 25', 34', 78'
Pen: Jalibert, 11', 53', 76'
Report Try: Nankivell, 43’
Smith, 50', 72'
penalty try, 67'
Con: Crowley 33', 73'
Pen: Crowley, 9'
Attendance: 32,215
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)


Munster are eliminated from the competition.


Friendlies and challenge matches

31 August 2024 Bath Rugby 24–21 Munster Recreation Ground  
18:30 Report Attendance: 9.603
6 September 2024 Munster 19–33 Gloucester Rugby Musgrave Park  
18:30 Report Attendance: 4,487
2 November 2024 Munster 24–38 All Blacks XV Thomand Park  
18:30 Report Attendance: 26,267

Overall Record

Competitive ties only:

Munster Rugby Played Won Drawn Lost % PF PA +/- TF TA +/-
16 12 1[18] 12 50.00 618 593 +25 90 78 +12

Home attendance

End of season.

Domestic League European Cup Total
League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance
2024–25 United Rugby Championship 9 [19] 129,931 14,437 26,267 8,193 [19] 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup 2 39,271 19,636 22,030 17,241 169,104 [20] 15,378

References

  1. ^ a b "Ian Flanagan Appointed Munster Rugby CEO". Munster Rugby. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Michael Carroll Elected Munster Rugby President". Munster Rugby. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Graham Rowntree departs as head coach of Munster". RTE Sport. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Irish Rugby: Munster name Chiefs boss Clayton McMillan as Graham Rowntree's successor at Thomond Park". BBC Sport. 2025-02-26. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  5. ^ "Munster Rugby | 1st Team Squad". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Munster Rugby Confirm Academy Squad For 2024/25". Munster Rugby. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  8. ^ "WATCH: Munster Rugby edge Connacht in thrilling 10-try URC interpro derby at Thomond Park", limericklive, 22 Sep 2024
  9. ^ "Impresa Zebre! Munster Fermato 42-33 Al Lanfranchi", Zebre Parma, 29 Sep 2024
  10. ^ "Munster make the most of harsh conditions to get back to winning ways in Cork", The Irish Times, 5 Oct 2024
  11. ^ "Leinster secure bonus point win over misfiring Munster in front of URC record attendance", Irish Examiner, 12 October
  12. ^ a b "Munster Rugby Fixtures & Results"
  13. ^ a b "Munster Fixtures & Results"
  14. ^ Munster Rugby Fixtures & Results
  15. ^ Kinsella, Colm (2025-02-28). "Munster Rugby stunned by five-try Edinburgh in URC try-fest". www.limerickleader.ie. Virgin Media Park Cork. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  16. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  18. ^ The play-off match against Sharks ended 24-24 after extra time and is counted as a draw. Sharks won the penalty kick battle 6-4.
  19. ^ a b Including two matches at Musgrave Park
  20. ^ not including friendly matches
  1. ^ Thomond Park's official capacity is 25,600 but can be expanded up to 26,276 with temporary seating.