Champions Cup
Will Addison, splits Twitter with MOTM display
Some fans are stoked, others are…ripping
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Will Addison helped Ulster to a first win in Llanelli in 6 years and he played a key role in their 25-24 bonus point Champions Cup win away from home. The newly capped Irish International put in a huge shift with 2 clean breaks, 5 defenders beaten, 8 tackles, 1 try (Video below) and the Man of The Match award.
It was a man-of-the-match performance from @WillAddisonB3 as @UlsterRugby held off a @scarlets_rugby comeback ?
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 8, 2018
Here’s the centre slicing through the Welshmen’s defence to put the visitors in the driving seat last night ? #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/zBBNnURltg
Here’s what Addison had to say when he spoke with BT Sport Rugby after his MOTM performance.
“It’s kind of overwhelming at the moment!”
An absolutely delighted Will Addison gives his view after Ulster leave Parc Y Scarlets with a massive, massive win! ? pic.twitter.com/kor2mTdbs8
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 7, 2018
Twitter was full of chat surrounding Addison’s performance at the Parc y Scarlets. The vast majority delighted for him.
Addison MOTM. Been excellent in attack & D.
— Brian O’Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) December 7, 2018
Wonderful win for Ulster tonight. They looked really well prepared. And Addison looks some player.
— Gerry Thornley (@gerrythornley) December 7, 2018
Is it hyperbole to suggest Addison is almost single handedly responsible for the vast improvement this season? What a signing and impact.
— Mike White (@miguelblanco85) December 7, 2018
Will Addison is different gravy. Had a B&I Lion on toast for the majority of the game and set the tempo for a great Ulster defence.
So many players put in their best performances in an Ulster jersey including Coetzee, Burns, Moore, Murphy, Speight and Addison.
— Ross Barnett (@rbarnett08) December 7, 2018
Will Addison is the best Addison since this guy #SCAvULS pic.twitter.com/NzIFzlsA1X
— Oisin Langan (@oisinlangan) December 7, 2018
Then we had a few “unhappy’ tweeters …
@SaleSharksRugby @UlsterRugby @EnglandRugby remind me again why we let Will Addison leave Sale? He’s now been capped by Ireland and is ripping Scarlets apart for Ulster. Something has to be done about the southern bias of the RFU ?
— JonnyBravo82 (@Bravo82Jonny) December 7, 2018
#SCAvULS Will Addison, English born, played for England U20s, ignored by Eddie Jones and now starring for Ulster and selected for Ireland. Meanwhile Eddie selects Piers Francis.
— Bruce Lawson (@Sapere_vivere) December 7, 2018
Couldn’t get close to England squad but will go to World Cup with Ireland, can England not identify talent? Or is it the old boys club? Sale not a fashionable club, Haley and Addison away now
— brian gallagher (@brigal1) December 7, 2018
The former Sale Shark has certainly had a huge impact on Irish soil since making the move across the Irish sea, many predicting he will be a shoe in for Ireland’s 2019 RWC Squad.
Addison wasn’t only scoring tries, he could probably claim “assist” for his fellow Irish International Jacob Stockdale whose try scoring run continued as he stormed in for a long ranger.
What a try for Ulster! Sensational start! ?
Try machine Jacob Stockdale puts the finishing touches on a move that went all of 60 meters in 10 seconds! pic.twitter.com/ztDIKofdK3
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 7, 2018
Champions Cup
Academy Trio Stepping Up & Contract News
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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.
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.
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.
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Champions Cup
New Signing & Contract News
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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.
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.
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.
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Champions Cup
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For Northampton
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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.
Video | Graham Rowntree Interview
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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