URC
Williams and Evans start at half-back for Edinburgh showdown

Lloyd Williams and Jarrod Evans will form the half back partnership for Cardiff as they welcome Edinburgh to the Arms Park on Sunday (15:00).
Scrum-half Williams, who will move within three appearances of his 250th for the club, will make his first start of the season, while outside-half Evans recovers from a groin injury to replace Wales squad member, Rhys Priestland.
The Blue and Blacks head into the encounter on the back of three consecutive BKT United Rugby Championship wins and the backline that finished last week’s win over holders, DHL Stormers, remains unchanged.
A young centre partnership of Max Llewellyn and Mason Grady is joined by the back three trio of Ben Thomas, and last week’s try scorers Jason Harries and Theo Cabango.
With Kristian Dacey and Dillon Lewis unavailable, Kirby Myhill and Dmitri Arhip are reintroduced into the front row alongside an in-form Rhys Carré. The back five of the scrum remains unchanged, with Josh Turnbull captaining the side from the second row.
Cardiff Director of Rugby, Dai Young said: “We’re looking forward to another big challenge on Sunday against Edinburgh to finish this opening block of fixtures.
“We have been pleased with our recent results and the steps we have taken forward in terms of our performances but we know it is going to be another step up this weekend.
“Edinburgh are on the back of two good wins and have scored more points and more tries than any other team this season. So we will need to be at our best, particularly in defence.
“They have a good core to their squad and will be targeting this game but we are at home and we have a good record at the Arms Park. The atmosphere, and the energy it has given us, has been massive in recent weeks and we are looking forward to more of the same.
“We have spoken a lot about consistency and if we can finish this block with a fourth consecutive victory, it will be a pleasing start to the season.”
With Cameron Winnett and Ellis Bevan coming into the matchday 23 for the first time this season, the average age of Young’s bench is only 23.5 years old.
While this is the final fixture of the opening block of URC games, Cardiff will face Bristol Bears in a fortnight before they travel to South Africa in late-November.
Cardiff: Ben Thomas; Jason Harries, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn, Theo Cabango; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Rhys Carré, Kirby Myhill, Dmitri Arhip, Josh Turnbull (capt.), Rory Thornton, James Botham, Thomas Young, James Ratti
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Corey Domachowski, Will Davies-King, Teddy Williams, Gwilym Bradley, Ellis Bevan, Aled Summerhill, Cameron Winnett
Wales: Dillon Lewis, Taulupe Faletau, Tomos Williams, Rhys Priestland, Josh Adams
Injury:
Kristian Dacey
Seb Davies
Matthew Screech
Shane Lewis-Hughes
Josh Navidi
Willis Halaholo
Rey Lee-Lo
Owen Lane
Liam Williams
Jacob Beetham
Matthew Morgan
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
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