Champions Cup
Leinster Hammer Northampton to Stay Perfect
Leinster have made it 10 wins from 10 at the start of the season with another brilliant victory in the Champions Cup
Leinster have defeated the Northampton Saints 43-16 away at the Franklin’s Gardens this afternoon in Pool 1 of the Champions Cup.
Tries from James Lowe, Rhys Ruddock, Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath and Ed Byrne saw the away side ease past the current Premiership leaders.
Leinster had the perfect start to the game with Lowe going over for the opening try of the game after just two minutes following a break by Jordan Larmour, who left him with the easy task of placing the ball over the line. Captain Johnny Sexton slotted over the conversion to make it 7-0 early on.
However, the hosts hit back almost immediately through Ashee Tuala, who was fed by Dan Biggar on the wing and he dived over the try-line. Biggar made it honours even with the kick with only six minutes on the clock.
Things got better for Biggar and the Saints minutes later as he knocked over a penalty to give the home side a three-point lead.
Although the topsy turvy game continued with the men in blue notching up their second try just before the quarter hour mark with some nice work from Jamison Gibson-Park leaving him just short of the line. Leinster recycled the ball well and Ruddock powered over from close range. Again Sexton kicked the extras to make it 14-10.
Over the next 10 minutes Northampton went ahead once again thanks to the boot of Biggar as he kicked another two penalties.
The Saints couldn’t hold on to the lead going into half-time however as Porter slipped over following sustained pressure from the away side in the Northampton 22. Sexton couldn’t add the extras this time around, but it was 19-16 to Leinster come the half-time whistle.
Leinster began the second-half just like they did the first going over for an early try through Healy after some brilliant work from the pack. The downside for the team was that Sexton was injured just before the score, but his replacement Byrne made no mistake with the conversion to stretch the lead.
Five minutes later and Byrne was in for a try of his own as Caelan Doris burst through the opposition defence before passing to the playmaker to touchdown. Byrne missed the conversion but things got worse for Saints as Alex Waller was sent to sin-bin.
Garry Ringrose followed him to the bin a couple of minutes later for a poor tackle on Biggar.
Northampton went in search of a score to get themselves back into the game, but error after error meant they failed to add to the scoreboard.
Leinster were ruthless in attack on the other hand and when they broke into the Northampton half they made no mistake once they got close to the try-line as substitute McGrath barrelling over from right in front of the line. Byrne couldn’t kick the conversion from the touchline but it was a sixth try of the game for the four time champions with less than five minutes left.
Last season’s runners-up weren’t finished yet with replacement front-row Ed Byrne charging over as the clock struck red to make it a seventh try of the afternoon for Leinster. Ross Byrne converted with the last kick of the game to make 43-16 come full-time.
The win leaves Leinster at the top of Pool 1 and means they have won all 10 of their opening games of this season, while Northampton now face a tough challenge to get out to the knock-out stages.
To make matters worse for the Saints is that they must head away to Leinster for the reverse fixture this day next week and will be hoping for a much improved performance to try and get one over on the Irish province, but Leinster look on course early on to add a record fifth title to their name come the end of the season.
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to announce that Academy trio Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan and Mark Donnelly will be promoted to the senior squad in the summer.
We can also confirm that hooker Scott Buckley, who graduated from the Academy to the senior squad in 2022, has signed a contract extension.
Out-half Butler, scrum-half Coughlan (both 21) and 22-year-old prop Donnelly have all signed on for the next two seasons after impressing over their three years in the Academy.
Butler and Coughlan become the first Ennis RFC players to earn senior Munster contracts.
As previously confirmed, Academy lock Edwin Edogbo (21), who also came up through the Munster Youths system with Cobh Pirates, will graduate from the Academy to the senior squad on a two-year deal next season.
Buckley, Butler, Coughlan and Donnelly all made their Munster debuts in the famous Champions Cup win over Wasps in December 2021.
Tony Butler in action against Dragons.
Ennis out-half Tony Butler has earned his first senior contract after a very productive three years in the Academy.
He has made six senior appearances to date, including two starts so far this season against Dragons and Connacht.
A Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s in 2022, Butler now plays his AIL rugby with Young Munster having previously lined out for Garryowen.
He captained Ennis at underage level, teaming up with Coughlan in the half-backs as they enjoyed success in the Munster U16 and U18 Clubs competitions.
Scrum-half Ethan Coughlan is enjoying an excellent campaign with three starts so far this year and eight senior appearances in total since joining the Academy.
He enjoyed great success alongside Butler with Ennis RFC at underage level before captaining the Ireland U18 Clubs team.
He also won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s in 2022 and plays his AIL rugby with Shannon.
Prop Mark Donnelly has already made nine senior appearances for Munster after coming up through the ranks at Midleton RFC, Midleton College and CBC.
He was a Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup winner with CBC in 2019 and featured for the Ireland U20s in the 2021 Six Nations.
He joined the Academy that summer before making his Munster debut along with Buckley, Butler and Coughlan against Wasps in December 2021
Along with his nine senior Munster appearances, Donnelly has also played regularly for Garryowen in the AIL over the past three years.
Mark Donnelly at Munster training.
Hooker Scott Buckley (23) has signed a one-year contract having made 25 appearances for Munster to date.
A product of the Munster Rugby Academy, Buckley started out with Kinsale RFC before captaining CBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup in 2019.
He was Player of the Match against Wasps on his Munster debut and made nine appearances last season as Munster won the URC title.
A UCC clubman, he scored the match-winning try against Crusaders at Páirc Ui Chaoimh earlier this month.
Scott Buckley scores a try against Leinster in pre-season.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby are pleased to confirm the signing of 23-year-old winger Diarmuid Kilgallen on a two-year deal ahead of the 2024/25 season.
In further contract news, hooker Eoghan Clarke has signed a one-year deal for next season after rejoining Munster in November.
Prop Keynan Knox has completed his time at the province after scoring three tries in 33 appearances and we wish him all the best for the future.
Diarmuid Kilgallen in action against Ulster in November.
Kilgallen hails from Eadestown in Kildare and has scored 12 tries in 22 appearances for Connacht to date.
He started out at Naas RFC before playing schools rugby for Cistercian College Roscrea on the Tipperary-Offaly border.
He joined the Connacht Academy in 2019 and made his debut against Munster in 2020.
A tall, athletic winger, he scored five tries in eight appearances last season and has five tries in six appearances so far this year.
Eoghan Clarke made his first start for Munster against Crusaders earlier this month.
25-year-old hooker Clarke has signed on for next year after impressing since returning to the province in November.
Clarke spent three years in the Munster Academy before departing for Jersey Reds in 2021. He won the English Championship with Jersey last season but the club went into liquidation in October.
He has made five appearances for Munster since returning, including a debut against Bayonne in December and a first start against Crusaders at Páirc Uí Chaoimh earlier this month.
24-year-old tighthead prop Knox departs after over seven years at Munster Rugby.
He joined the Academy midway through the 2017/18 season after completing his second level education with Michaelhouse in South Africa.
The Young Munster clubman made his senior debut against Dragons in September 2019 and moved up to the senior squad in 2020.
Knox featured in eight games last season as Munster clinched the URC title. In total, he scored three tries in 33 Munster appearances.
We wish Keynan all the best with his next move.
Keynan Knox at training last month.
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The Munster squad started preparations on Monday ahead of Saturday’s vital Investec Champions Cup clash against Northampton at Thomond Park (5.30pm).
There are a limited number of tickets remaining here.
Find out all you need to know ahead of the match here.
There were no new injuries to report after the win over Toulon on Saturday.
Following a consultation last week, Jack O’Donoghue will not require surgery on his knee injury and will be managed conservatively by the medical department. He is unavailable for three to four months.
Oli Jager is continuing to follow the return to play protocols and his availability for the Northampton game will be determined later this week.
There is good news for Jack Daly (ankle) as he returns to training this week.
Cian Hurley (ankle/achilles) and Mike Haley (hip) are increasing their training demands and will target a return to play in the coming weeks.
Continuing to rehab: Jack O’Donoghue (knee), Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Jean Kleyn (eye/knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), RG Snyman (chest/shoulder), Roman Salanoa (knee), Mike Haley (hip), Cian Hurley (ankle/achilles).
There were eight Munster players in AIL action at the weekend.
Academy out-half Tony Butler kicked two penalties and a conversion for Young Munster as they were beaten 23-13 by Cork Constitution at Temple Hill. Chris Moore started at hooker for the Cookies.
Academy scrum-half Jack Oliver kicked two penalties and a conversion for Garryowen in their 23-10 win over UCC at the Mardyke. Colm Hogan scored a try for Garryowen with Academy prop George Hadden also featuring.
Jack O’Sullivan started at no.8 for College.
Evan O’Connell was in action for UL Bohs as they were beaten 34-7 by Old Crescent.
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Tickets
Champions Cup Round 4: Saturday, January 20
Munster Rugby v Northampton Saints, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here
Saturday, February 3
Munster Rugby v Crusaders, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5pm; SOLD OUT
URC Round 11: Friday, March 1
Munster v Zebre Parma, Musgrave Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
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Munster Rugby Announce Contract Deals For Murray, Daly & Gleeson
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