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Munster Grind Down Kings for Big Win – Irish Star withdrawn after 18mins.

Munster got past the Kings eventually to continue their quest to finish top of Conference A

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Photo By Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile via Getty Images

Munster secured a bonus-point 43-0 win over the Southern Kings at Irish Independent Park on Friday night and they didn’t need to hit top form.

The win now means that Munster remain top of Conference A while the Kings are rock bottom of Conference B with only two wins this season.

With five internationals back for Munster it was actually the visitors who got off to a good start to the game with breaks from the likes of Martinus Burger and Michael Willlemse showing their attacking qualities.

However, it was the hosts that struck first with Neil Cronin diving over in the 13th minute. With Rory Scannell converting in front of the posts for a 7-0 lead.

From there the Kings frustrated Munster for a large period of the half following that try but Munster also caused their own downfall with a number of mistakes.

The visitors No 8 Ruaan Lerm was sin-binned after 35 minutes as he took out Cronin in a ruck.

That yellow card left more space for Munster and within a couple of minutes, Andrew Conway was in for try number two following some great work from Jean Kleyn and Tyler Bleyendaal.

The kick was missed, and it was 12-0 at half-time.

The second half began as a scrappy affair until kicks from Conway and Alby Mathewson in the 53rd minute sent Darren Sweetnam rushing over the line and Scannell converted to push them out to a 19-point lead.

On the hour mark, Billy Holland secured the bonus-point try after a couple of quick carries from Arno Botha. The two points were missed meaning it stayed at 24-0 heading into the final quarter.

The last 20 minutes were dominated by the hosts and replacement Luke Marshell added try number five from a maul which was converted by Scannell once more.

Kings subs Tertius Kruger and Andisa Ntstila were binned for a high tackle on Sweetnam and a tip tackle on Conway respectively.

Man of the match Kleyn got in on the scoring act with 10 minutes remaining, but the extras were missed.

Scannell made up for his missed kicks with a last-minute try of his own which he converted himself to leave the score at 43-0.

The biggest upset of the night was seeing Chris Farrell come off after 18 minutes with a knee injury which is a worry for both Munster and Ireland.

Speaking after the win assistant coach Jerry Flannery gave a quick update on Farrell’s injury.

“I think Chris just tweaked his knee on a carry. We already had it strapped beforehand so it is just precautionary at this stage,” he said.

Cronin also spoke after the game about his team’s content at winning the match.

“We knew what we had to do to win but they didn’t make it easy for us, so we’re delighted with the five points,” he said.

The win leaves Munster seven points clear at the top of conference A for now, while the Kings remain joint-bottom of Conference B with only 19 points.

Next up for the men in red is a trip to Wales to face the Ospreys, while the Kings continue their tour of the northern hemisphere with another tough test away to reigning champions Leinster.

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URC

Jordan signs for Bristol Bears

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Jordan signs for Bristol Bears

Glasgow Warriors can confirm that Tom Jordan will depart the club at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, after agreeing to join English Premiership side Bristol Bears from next season.

The Auckland-born play-maker moves on from Scotstoun after four seasons with the club, having initially signed for the club in November 2021 after impressing for Ayrshire Bulls in the FOSROC Super Series.

Jordan played an integral role in Glasgow’s historic BKT United Rugby Championship triumph in 2023/24, featuring in all 21 of the club’s fixtures en route to lifting the title.

He has made 55 appearances to date for Franco Smith’s side, scoring 104 points, a tally that includes nine tries.

Equally comfortable at fly-half, centre and full-back, the 26-year-old made his Scotland debut in the opening match of The Famous Grouse Nations Series, coming off the bench against Fiji at Scottish Gas Murrayfield before winning Player of the Match in the win over Portugal a fortnight later.

“I’ve had an incredible time with Glasgow Warriors and I’m really grateful to the club for the opportunities they have given me,” Jordan told glasgowwarriors.org.

“Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff and fans I’ve met over the years, and I’m completely committed and focused on finishing the season on a high and giving my all for this club.”

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Champions Cup

Squad Update | Munster Prepare For All Blacks XV At Thomond

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The Munster squad have started preparations at the HPC ahead of Saturday’s sold-out clash against the All Blacks XV at Thomond Park (5.30pm).

The game will be exclusively live-streamed on Access Munster, sign up here.

Pinergy, Munster Rugby’s official energy partner, are the presenting partners for the clash.

On the injury front, there were no fresh concerns following Saturday’s clash against the Sharks in Durban.

Peter O’Mahony (hamstring), who has been included in Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series squad but is continuing his rehabilitation at the HPC, will increase his training load this week. His availability for this weekend’s clash against the All Blacks XV will be determined later in the week.

Brian Gleeson (shoulder) and Diarmuid Kilgallen (leg) came through the weekend with no issues after returning to action with Garryowen in the AIL.

On the international front, Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Alex Kendellen have travelled to Portugal with the Ireland squad ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.

Continuing to rehab: Shane Daly (leg), Jeremy Loughman (knee), Alex Nankivell (hip), Josh Wycherley (neck), Mark Donnelly (ankle), Dave Kilcoyne (ankle), Oli Jager (neck), Liam Coombes (leg), Thaakir Abrahams (thigh), Patrick Campbell (shoulder), Cian Hurley (knee), Edwin Edogbo (Achilles), Roman Salanoa (knee).

Tickets

Saturday, November 2

Munster v All Blacks XV, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; SOLD OUT – Watch live on Access Munster here

URC Round 7: Saturday, November 30

Munster v Emirates Lions, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

Champions Cup Round 1: Saturday, December 7

Munster v Stade Francais, Thomond Park, 5:30pm; Buy tickets here

Champions Cup Round 3: Saturday, January 11

Munster v Saracens, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 9: Friday, December 27

Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 11: Saturday, February 15

Munster v Scarlets, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 12: Friday, February 28

Munster v Edinburgh, Virgin Media Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 15: Saturday, April 19

Munster v Bulls, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 17: Friday, May 9

Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 18: Friday, May 16

Munster v Benetton, Virgin Media Park, 8pm; Buy tickets here

Images & Content from Munster Rugby


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URC

Ulster ready for interpro derby against Connacht in Belfast

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Ulster ready for interpro derby against Connacht in Belfast

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Fixture News

Ulster Head Coach, Richie Murphy, has named his Ulster side to take on Connacht on Saturday night in Round 4 of the BKT United Rugby Championship (kick-off 8pm).

Iain Henderson captains the side and is joined in the second row by Kieran Treadwell.

Prop, Andrew Warwick, and lock, Alan O’Connor, are in line for their 200th Ulster caps this weekend.

Limited tickets are still available for Saturday’s big game via the link below.

Warwick starts at loosehead prop, joined by experienced hooker, John Andrew, and Irish international prop, Tom O’Toole, at tighthead prop.

In the back row, David McCann, starts as the openside flanker, with Sean Reffell starting on the blindside.

Nick Timoney starts at eight and marks a milestone of his own, making his 150th cap for Ulster.

The half-back partnership this weekend sees John Cooney start alongside Aidan Morgan, who has two tries in his opening three matches for Ulster.

After scoring a superb individual try against the Bulls last weekend, Jacob Stockdale, starts on the left wing, with Werner Kok making his first start at Kingspan Stadium on the right wing.

Jude Postlethwaite returns to the team, following an impressive Emerging Ireland tour, that saw the Lisburn man score a try against Western Force last weekend, before being released to play for the province.

He starts at inside centre and is joined by Stewart Moore, who scored a great try last weekend against the Bulls.

Ethan McIlroy starts at full-back, completing the back-field.

Murphy opts for a 5:3 split on the bench, with James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor and Marcus Rea providing the forward replacement options.

Nathan Doak, Ben Carson and Mike Lowry provide the back options from the bench.

Ulster Rugby v Connacht Rugby, Saturday 12 October, 8pm, Kingspan Stadium (Live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, Premier Sports and TG4):

(1-8) Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson (C), Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney;

(15-9) Ethan McIlroy, Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, John Cooney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson, Mike Lowry.

The Opposition:

Images & Content – Ulster Rugby


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