URC
Academy Update | February 2024
14 Munster Rugby Academy and pathway players have featured for the Munster senior team so far this season as young players continue to develop on the Munster Rugby pathway.
Ireland U20 internationals Ben O’Connor and Brian Gleeson, who are both in the first year of the Academy, have even made their Champions Cup debuts and are the only members of the Ireland U20 squad who have featured in the URC this season.
We spoke to Munster Rugby Academy & Pathway Manager Gar Prendergast for the latest update on the province’s young players.
Season so far & what’s coming up…
“It’s been great. We‘re getting a lot of exposure to the different teams and representative teams. Starting with the seniors, we’ve had numerous Academy player appearances in the URC, Champions Cup and the game against Crusaders.
“We love to see all these Academy lads getting their opportunity. It’s huge for accelerating their development, getting exposed to that standard of rugby is fantastic.
“That’s the key, the exposure to game time, it can’t be replicated. The training we do with the senior team is fantastic but getting that game time as well complements that.
“I’ve said it many a time that the AIL provides that platform for these lads and it’s a real test to play adult level rugby. To get those reps in the AIL is crucial.
“More representation in the IRFU’s Combined Academies squad has been fantastic and coming up at Easter we’ll have the representative teams then – the Irish U19s and Schools etc.
“We’ve also had development games against Ulster and the Ireland U20s.”
Crusaders involvement…
“It was an incredible opportunity to play in front of 41,000 people. You had Ruadhán Quinn, Mark Donnelly, Ethan Coughlan, Shay McCarthy, Tony Butler and Daniel Okeke all involved from the Academy along with Kamil Nowak, who made his debut.
“What a golden few weeks for them to stick their hands up while lads are away on international duty.
“We had a couple of NTS (National Talent Squad) lads involved in the warm-up as travelling reserves and it was a huge experience for them. It shows the importance of the NTS programme as well – we have NTS and PTS (Provincial Talent Squad) players who are developing all the time.
Evan O’Connell captaining the Ireland U20s & Academy graduates making their mark for Ireland…
“Evan captaining the Ireland U20s at the weekend is a huge achievement for him and his family and we’re delighted for him. It’s a great reflection on Evan and it’s been brilliant to have six Munster players involved in the opening two rounds.
“At senior level, the performances from Jack [Crowley] and Calvin [Nash] so far are a great reflection on the two lads themselves and a great reflection on the coaching. It was brilliant to see two lads who came up through the Academy in recent years play so well.
“These are all really positive stories for us.”
Schools & underage club rugby…
“We’re right in the middle of the schools and underage clubs competitions now as well, which are important platforms.
“When you look across the whole spectrum, there are lads getting opportunities at all levels and it’s all leading towards one direction which is our north star, playing senior representative rugby for the province – that’s the ultimate goal.
“Getting these opportunities at different age-grades is a huge part of their development on the pathway.”
Open day for schools coaches at HPC…
“Those connections are so important. We did it with the AIL coaches at the start of the season and then the schools coaches at the start of January, which proved to be a really worthwhile day.
“We had the NTS players in for a session and the coaches were able to watch and get a sense of how we plan and preview our sessions, they also got the chance to speak with the senior coaches too. It was a really positive experience and something we really want to build on next year again with both clubs and schools.”
See more information on the day here with a video below.
Injury update…
“Fionn Gibbons (centre/wing) and Max Clein (hooker) are just back and Kieran Ryan (prop) is due back training shortly. Ronan Foxe (prop) and Edwin Edogbo (lock) are long-term absentees.”
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Ulster ready for interpro derby against Connacht in Belfast
41 minutes ago
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
The Munster squad started preparations on Monday ahead of Saturday’s URC round four clash against Leinster at Croke Park (5.45pm).
In player news, Seán O’Brien returns from the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa ahead of Saturday’s game.
Following Munster’s win over Ospreys on Saturday, Oli Jager (neck) and Peter O’Mahony (hamstring) are both going for scans and are unavailable this weekend.
Mike Haley has a leg contusion and his availability will be determined later in the week.
There is good news for Tom Ahern (ankle) and Alex Nankivell (shoulder) as they are both returning to training this week. Their respective availability for Croke Park will be determined later in the week.
Ruadhán Quinn is following the return to play protocols and his availability will be determined later in the week.
Billy Burns is increasing his training exposure this week and the out-half’s availability will be determined later in the week.
Shane Daly is unlikely to be available this week as he continues to recover from an elbow injury.
Thaakir Abrahams sustained a low-grade thigh injury against Zebre and is unavailable this week.
Long-term absentees Rory Scannell (ankle) and Paddy Patterson (knee) are making good progress and will increase their training exposure this week.
Patrick Campbell will have surgery on a shoulder injury he sustained in AIL action last month.
Josh Wycherley will visit a specialist this week for a neck injury.
Continuing to rehab: Liam Coombes (leg), Diarmuid Kilgallen (leg), Brian Gleeson (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
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
Ulster ready to take on Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria
10 minutes ago
News
Ulster Head Coach, Richie Murphy, has named his Ulster side to take on Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Round 3 of the BKT United Rugby Championship.
The starting XV features three players who make their first competitive starts in an Ulster jersey.
Hooker, James McCormick, and centre, Ben Carson, are given the nod for their first starts, with academy lock, Charlie Irvine, in line for his Ulster debut, starting in the second row alongside captain, Iain Henderson.
Joining McCormick in the front row is loosehead prop, Andrew Warwick, and tighthead prop, Corrie Barrett, who scored his first try in an Ulster shirt last weekend against Emirates Lions.
The back row features Development talent, James McNabney, at blindside flanker, with Sean Reffell starting on the openside and David McCann coming in at eight.
The half-back partnership sees Nathan Doak start at scrum-half alongside fly-half, Aidan Morgan, who last weekend made it two tries in his opening two appearances for the province.
Jacob Stockdale starts on the left wing, with Werner Kok starting on the right wing. Kok also scored his first try for the province in last weekend’s match in Johannesburg.
Outside Centre, Stewart Moore, joins Ben Carson at twelve, to form the midfield partnership.
Mike Lowry completes the starting XV at full-back.
Murphy opts for a 5:3 split for the reinforcements on the bench.
Two replacements, hooker Tadgh McElroy and development fly-half, James Humphreys, are also in line to make their debuts for Ulster’s senior side.
Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor and Nick Timoney form the forward options from the bench, with Dave Shanahan and Ben Moxham providing the back options.
Vodacom Bulls v Ulster Rugby, Saturday 5th October, 3pm, Round 3, BKT United Rugby Championship, Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Live on Premier Sports)
(1-8) Andrew Warwick, James McCormick, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson (C), Charlie Irvine, James McNabney, Sean Reffell, David McCann
(15-9) Mike Lowry, Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Ben Carson, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak;
Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Nick Timoney, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Ben Moxham.
Images & Content – Ulster Rugby
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