URC
Peel Praises Hundred-Cap Hero McCloskey
Ton.

Stuart McCloskey put in a man of the match performance as Ulster edged out Ospreys 8-0 at Brewery
After 47 minutes, it was McCloskey who broke the deadlock with a crucial try, beating two defenders before finding full-back Pete Nelson with a clever off-load out of the back door. Nelson was stopped just short of the line but the ball was spread wide and McCloskey was in the right place to touch down in the corner.
Speaking after the game, Ulster backs coach, Dwayne Peel, heaped praise on McCloskey’s performance – his 100th cap for the province.
“He’s huge – a great leader for us. Anyone who watches us knows how big he is for us. He never takes a step backwards and he carries a lot of ball for us. He’s probably battered after every game but fair play to him. He’s key for us.”
Peel was quick to emphasise it is not only McCloskey’s physical
“If you watch him in training, his catch-pass stuff is excellent. He can pass a ball as well as anyone. Showing that in games, people are surprised but they shouldn’t be. He’s one of the best ball-players in our squad, definitely.”
Michael Lowry also earned plaudits from Peel, starting his first game at out-half for Ulster, having previously been primarily deployed at full-back.
“I actually thought he was excellent in his first start at 10. He’s played a lot at 15 but I thought he controlled the game really well. I’m really pleased with him. He’s brave. I thought defensively he was excellent.”
Following his impressive display pulling the strings for Ulster, unfortunately, Lowry was forced to leave the field early following a head injury.
Overall, Peel was happy with his team’s defensive performance but acknowledges his side could have been more clinical.
“It wasn’t a classic but held onto the ball well in that first half especially. We were disappointed not to finish in the corner but we created enough. We held onto the ball and we put a good Ospreys defence under pressure. They play a difficult style to break down.”
“We’re a bit disappointed not to score a few more tries but in terms of making
chance , we’re pretty happy.”
“We were disappointed after the Treviso draw at home because we felt we didn’t fire any shots. Tonight we fired shots and that’s the biggest thing for me.”
Ulster now
URC
Squad Update | Preparations Continue For Glasgow At Thomond


The Munster squad continued their training schedule at the HPC on Monday morning as preparations continue for Saturday evening’s vital URC clash against Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park (5.15pm).
It is our final home game of the URC regular season with tickets available here.
See the state of play in the URC ahead of round 16 here.
On the senior international front, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray helped Ireland to a Grand Slam-clinching victory over England in Dublin on Saturday.
Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley and Dave Kilcoyne also featured during the successful campaign. Joey Carbery, Gavin Coombes, Keith Earls and Roman Salanoa were part of the squad at different stages over the past two months.
Ben Healy made his Scotland debut as a replacement on Saturday, steering the team to victory over Italy at Murrayfield.
Academy player Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent) and fellow Munster men Brian Gleeson (Garryowen) and Danny Sheahan (UCC) helped the Ireland U20s to their second Grand Slam in-a-row with a victory over England at Musgrave Park on Sunday. Gleeson picked up his second Player of the Match award of the campaign after another excellent display.
Academy man Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian) and Jacob Sheahan (UCC) also featured over the campaign with Academy player Jack Oliver (Garryowen) and Conall Henchy (DUFC) part of the squad.
Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes, Jack Crowley, Dave Kilcoyne, Roman Salanoa and Ben Healy have returned to training at the HPC ahead of Munster v Glasgow.
Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray are on a down week after both playing in all five games of Ireland’s 6 Nations campaign and will return to the HPC next week.
There is good news on the injury front for Tom Ahern (shoulder) and Mike Haley (ankle) as they both return to full team training this week.
On the Academy front, there is a similarly positive injury update for Edwin Edogbo (ankle) as he also returns to full team training.
Continuing to rehab: Niall Scannell (shoulder), Liam Coombes (thigh), Jeremy Loughman (thigh), Keith Earls (calf), Tadhg Beirne (ankle), Liam O’Connor (neck), Chris Moore (neck), Eoin O’Connor (shoulder), Paddy Kelly (head), Jack Daly (knee), Andrew Conway (knee).
Tickets
URC Round 16 – Saturday, March 25
Munster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
URC
Munster Rugby Unveil Plans For Limerick Centre of Excellence


Munster Rugby have submitted a planning application to Limerick City and County Council for the development of a new sports facility in Rosbrien, Limerick.
The proposed new facility would be built primarily for Munster’s underage and development sides, and the surrounding community with local clubs, schools and community groups set to benefit.
Incorporated into the plan is an indoor full-size pitch; a state-of-the-art artificial full-size pitch and grass training pitch, both of which will be floodlit; a gym; clubhouse and administration building. The proposal also makes provision for an amenity walkway, greenspace, secure bicycle parking and limited parking.
This development is hailed as a major expansion of the sports facilities available to the grassroots game and the sporting community across the province, and it will be available for use to a wide range of clubs, schools, and organisations in the region and beyond.
The province, with a base for the elite game at the High Performance Centre in the University of Limerick, is already progressing with a Centre of Excellence in Musgrave Park with work to commence later this year, and last year partnered with Fethard Town Park in establishing a Regional Centre of Excellence.
Commenting on the exciting plans, Munster Rugby CEO Ian Flanagan said, “We are always looking to develop our infrastructure across the province in ensuring we can develop and resource our grassroots game leading to further participation in sport.
“This is an ongoing strategic objective of ours and we believe a facility such as this, in the heartland of Limerick, will hugely benefit the local clubs and schools and ensure young people have access to world class facilities.
“The plans we are submitting will not only benefit rugby, but this development will also improve the sporting and recreational facilities available to the surrounding community and we are hopeful of a positive planning outcome.”
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
URC
Squad Update | Preparations Begin For Glasgow At Thomond


The Munster team have started preparations for our URC round 16 clash against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, March 25, at Thomond Park (5.15pm).
You can purchase a Family Pack of four tickets for €40 with adult tickets from €20 available here.
Fourth-placed Glasgow are two points and one place ahead of Munster in the URC table.
See the state of play in the race for the URC play-offs here.
There were four Munster players in action for Ireland and the Ireland U20s in Scotland at the weekend with both sides aiming to win a Grand Slam on home soil next weekend.
Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray started for the Ireland senior men as they won at Murrayfield to make it four wins from four ahead of Ireland v England in Dublin next Saturday (5pm).
Player of the Match Ruadhán Quinn and Evan O’Connell were the Munster Academy members in action for the Ireland U20s along with fellow Munster men Brian Gleeson and Danny Sheahan. Quinn scored a hat-trick of tries and Sheahan also touched down.
Their Grand Slam decider against England at Musgrave Park takes place on Sunday at 5pm with the game selling out weeks in advance.
In player news, it was confirmed last week that Malakai Fekitoa will join Benetton at the end of the season on completion of his Munster contract.
French club Oyonnax have announced the signing of Chris Farrell after the centre departed the province earlier this month.
Final Home Game Of Regular Season
Saturday, March 25
URC Round 16: Munster v Glasgow Warriors, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets from €20 here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
-
Premiership1 week ago
Polledri set to depart
-
6 Nations1 week ago
Ireland Squad in Recovery Mode After Murrayfield Mayhem
-
6 Nations6 days ago
Ireland Sevens Star to join Connacht Rugby
-
URC1 week ago
Squad Update | Preparations Begin For Glasgow At Thomond
-
Premiership6 days ago
Davison signs for Saints as Heffernan heads north
-
6 Nations4 days ago
England side to face Ireland in Six Nations
-
6 Nations4 days ago
Wales name much changed team for France
-
6 Nations6 days ago
Tom O’Toole – A Tight-Head’s Journey