International
All Blacks Retain Key Play-Maker for 3 more years.
3 year deal.
One of the rising stars of New Zealand Rugby, All Blacks and BNZ Crusaders Out-Half Richie Mo’unga, has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby and his Super Rugby club and his Canterbury province, inking a new deal through to 2022.
The news is further good news for New Zealand Rugby, which has extended contracts with several All Blacks in recent weeks, including Aaron Smith, Ngani Laumape, Nathan Harris, Liam Coltman, Patrick Tuipulotu and Dalton Papalii, with a strong core of experienced players committed to New Zealand Rugby post-2019.
24-year-old Mo’unga made his provincial debut for Canterbury in 2013 and his Investec Super Rugby debut with the Crusaders three years later. He first played for the All Blacks against a France XV on the Vista Northern Tour in 2017 and made his full Test debut against France last year in Dunedin. He has played nine Tests to date.
Mo’unga said:
“I’m really fortunate to have had some amazing opportunities with Canterbury, the Crusaders, and the All Blacks, and I feel there is still plenty I want to achieve in New Zealand rugby, which was a huge motivation for me to re-commit.”
“I’m really grateful to be part of a club that means a lot to me and that has given me the opportunity to better myself as a rugby player and as a person. I want to keep striving to be the best I can be, which ultimately is why I’ve made the decision to stay in this environment.”
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said:
“Congratulations to Richie on his re-signing. He is developing into a very good rugby player and it’s great that he’s staying, as he is only going to get better and better.”
“He made a great start last year in his first All Blacks season and we look forward to him going to an even higher level this year. It’ll be exciting to watch just how far he can go.”
BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson added:
“Richie is world class – at just 24 years old he’s quickly established himself as an integral member of our squad and a leading first five-eighth in Super Rugby.
“We’re proud of his ability to step up and make big plays under pressure. He’s proved that over the past three seasons with the Crusaders and was rewarded for his consistency with selection in the All Blacks. Richie has a big future in the game and it’s exciting that his playing future is with the Crusaders.”
That sentiment has been echoed by BNZ Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge.
“We’re thrilled Richie has re-committed to the Crusaders and New Zealand Rugby beyond our 2019 campaign. Not only is Richie a talented athlete and a quality man, he’s a fan favourite and I know our supporters will be pleased to see such an exciting young player remain with this Crusaders team through the 2022 season.”
Canterbury Head Coach Joe Maddock said: “Richie has had a rapid rise over the past few seasons, and we’re fortunate to retain a player of his immense talent. He’s a proud Canterbury man, and such a positive representative of red and black rugby, so we’re looking forward to seeing all that he’ll achieve in seasons to come.”
Here’s what Richie Mo’unga had to say about his deal.
Head Coach Simon Easterby has today named a 33-player Emerging Ireland squad for the upcoming three-match Tour to South Africa.
Easterby, along with the National Coaching Team, have identified high potential players from across the four Provinces to assemble for camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre next week, before departing for Bloemfontein on Saturday, 28 September.
Munster’s Alex Kendellen, who previously captained Ireland U20s, has been named as Tour captain.
Two players who were part of Andy Farrell‘s Ireland squad for the recent Summer Tour of South Africa – Sam Prendergast and Cormac Izuchukwu – are included in the travelling party, while former Ireland U20 captains Gus McCarthy and Evan O’Connell are named by Head Coach Easterby.
Ulster forward Izuchukwu is one of two players set for their second Emerging Ireland Tour alongside Leinster back row James Culhane.
Emerging Ireland will face the Pumas in their campaign opener on Wednesday, 2 October (Kick-off 4pm local time/3pm Irish time), before going head-to-head with Super Rugby outfit Western Force on Sunday, 6 October (Kick-off 1pm local time/12pm Irish time).
Easterby’s side will then conclude the Tour against defending Currie Cup champions the Cheetahs on Wednesday, 9 October (Kick-off 7pm local time/6pm Irish time), with all matches being played at Toyota Stadium.
The Tour schedule is designed to challenge the players in a National Team environment, providing them with a window to impress the coaches and train and play to the National Team’s tactical and technical approach, while presenting them with access to meaningful game time in a green jersey.
Broadcast details for Emerging Ireland’s three matches will be confirmed in due course.
Emerging Ireland Squad:
Forwards (18):
Jack Aungier (Lansdowne FC/Connacht)
Jack Boyle (UCD RFC/Leinster)
James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Jordan Duggan (Naas RFC/Connacht)
Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
Ronan Foxe (Garryowen FC/Munster)
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
Sean Jansen (Connacht)
Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster)(captain)
Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
Backs (15):
Shayne Bolton (Connacht)
Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster)
Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
Tommy O’Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Sean O’Brien (Clontarf FC/Munster)
Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
Jude Postlethwaite (Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Rob Russell (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens).
Emerging Ireland Tour Fixtures:
- Wednesday, 2 October: Emerging Ireland v The Pumas, 4pm local time/3pm Irish time
- Sunday, 6 October: Emerging Ireland v Western Force, 1pm local time/12pm Irish time
- Wednesday, 9 October: Emerging Ireland v The Cheetah, 7pm local time/6pm Irish time.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Harry Sheridan commits future to Ulster Rugby
Tadhg Beirne Named As New Munster Rugby Captain
