2016–17 Munster Rugby season

2016–17 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s) Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600)
Irish Independent Park (Capacity: 9,500)
Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus
Coach(es) Anthony Foley (Head Coach)
Captain(s) Peter O'Mahony
League(s) Pro 12
1st kit
2nd kit
← 2015–16 2017–18 →

The 2016–17 Munster Rugby season is Munster's sixteenth season competing in the Pro12, alongside which they will also compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It is Anthony Foley's third season as Head Coach and Rassie Erasmus's first season as Director of Rugby.

Events

In August 2016, Munster started using the new central training base at the University of Limerick campus, thus marking an end to the days of splitting training between Cork and Limerick.[1]

Munster opened their pre-season with a 17-0 victory over Zebre in a pre-season friendly at Waterford Regional Sports Centre on 19 August.[2]

The new Pro12 season was launched on 23 August at the Aviva Stadium. Munster began the new season on 3 September with an away game against Scarlets.[3]

On 26 August, Munster defeated Worcester in their final pre-season friendly at Musgrave Park, scoring seven-tries during the game.[4]

On 16 October 2016, head coach Anthony Foley died suddenly while in Paris with Munster.[5] The team was preparing to face Racing 92 in their opening game of the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup. The match was postponed as a result of Foley's death.[6][7][8][9]

On 22 October Munster paid tribute to the late Anthony Foley with a 38-17 bonus-point win over Glasgow in the European Champions Cup.[10][11] A minutes silence was observed before the match during which a special tribute took place in the West Stand with the words "AXEL" spelled out with the number 8 on either side. The Munster Rugby Supporter's Club Choir performed 'There Is An Isle', and soprano Sinead O'Brien joined the Choir to perform 'Stand Up And Fight.[12][13][14][15]

Coaching & Management Staff 2016–17

Position Name Nationality
Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus  South Africa
Head Coach Anthony Foley  Ireland
Defence Coach Jacques Nienaber  South Africa
Team Manager Niall O'Donovan  Ireland
Scrum Coach Jerry Flannery  Ireland
Technical Coach Felix Jones  Ireland
Head of Fitness Aled Walters  Wales
Strength & Conditioning Coach Aidan O'Connell  Ireland
Strength & Conditioning Coach Adam Sheehan  Ireland
Performance Analyst George Murray  Ireland
Operations Manager Bryan Murphy  Ireland

Senior Playing Squad 2016–17

For player movements leading up to the 2016–17 season, see List of 2016–17 Pro12 transfers § Munster.

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Casey, DuncanDuncan Casey Hooker Ireland Ireland
O'Byrne, KevinKevin O'Byrne Hooker Ireland Ireland
Scannell, NiallNiall Scannell Hooker Ireland Ireland
Sherry, MikeMike Sherry Hooker Ireland Ireland
Andress, JohnJohn Andress Prop Ireland Ireland
Archer, StephenStephen Archer Prop Ireland Ireland
Cronin, JamesJames Cronin Prop Ireland Ireland
Kilcoyne, DavidDavid Kilcoyne Prop Ireland Ireland
McCabe, PeterPeter McCabe Prop Ireland Ireland
Ryan, JohnJohn Ryan Prop Ireland Ireland
Chisholm, MarkMark Chisholm Lock Australia Australia
Foley, DaveDave Foley Lock Ireland Ireland
Holland, BillyBilly Holland Lock Ireland Ireland
Kleyn, JeanJean Kleyn Lock South Africa South Africa
Madigan, JohnJohn Madigan Lock Ireland Ireland
McCarthy, SeanSean McCarthy Lock Ireland Ireland
O'Shea, DarrenDarren O'Shea Lock Ireland Ireland
Ryan, DonnachaDonnacha Ryan Lock Ireland Ireland
O'Callaghan, DaveDave O'Callaghan Flanker Ireland Ireland
O'Donnell, TommyTommy O'Donnell Flanker Ireland Ireland
O’Mahony, PeterPeter O’Mahony (c) Flanker Ireland Ireland
Copeland, RobinRobin Copeland Number 8 Ireland Ireland
O'Donoghue, JackJack O'Donoghue Number 8 Ireland Ireland
Stander, CJCJ Stander Number 8 Ireland Ireland
Player Position Union
Murray, ConorConor Murray Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
O'Leary, TomásTomás O'Leary Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Williams, DuncanDuncan Williams Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Keatley, IanIan Keatley Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Arnold, SamSam Arnold Centre Ireland Ireland
Bleyendaal, TylerTyler Bleyendaal Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Bohane, CianCian Bohane Centre Ireland Ireland
Johnston, DavidDavid Johnston Centre Ireland Ireland
Saili, FrancisFrancis Saili Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Scannell, RoryRory Scannell Centre Ireland Ireland
Taute, JacoJaco Taute Centre South Africa South Africa
Conway, AndrewAndrew Conway Wing Ireland Ireland
Earls, KeithKeith Earls Wing Ireland Ireland
O'Mahony, RonanRonan O'Mahony Wing Ireland Ireland
Wootton, AlexAlex Wootton Wing Ireland Ireland
Sweetnam, DarrenDarren Sweetnam Fullback Ireland Ireland
Zebo, SimonSimon Zebo Fullback Ireland Ireland

2016–17 Pro12

Main article: 2016–17 Pro12
3 September 2016
15:00
Scarlets Wales 13–23 Ireland Munster
Try: G. Davies 31' c
Con: Patchell (1/1)
Pen: Patchell (2/4) 26', 47'
 Report Try: Cronin 18' c
O'Mahony 29' c
Con: Bleyendaal (2/2)
Pen: Bleyendaal (2/3) 37', 53'
Keatley (1/1)
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,107
Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU)
9 September 2016
19:35
(1 BP) Munster Ireland 23–24 Wales Cardiff Blues
Try: Conway 9' c
Kilcoyne 61' c
Con: Keatley (2/2)
Pen: Keatley (3/3) 29', 54', 71'
 Report Try: James (2) 7' c, 35' c
Fish 67' c
Con: Anscombe (2/2)
Shingler (1/1)
Pen: Anscombe (1/2) 14'
Irish Independent Park
Attendance: 7,405
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
17 September 2016
17:15
(1 BP) Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 16–20 Ireland Munster
Try: Amos 32' c
Con: O'Brien (1/1) 32'
Pen: O'Brien (3/3) 14', 49', 54'
 Report Try: Kleyn 20' c
Bohane 56' c
Con: Bleyendaal (2/2) 20', 56'
Pen: Bleyendaal (2/2) 11', 51'
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 3,841
Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU)
24 September 2016
15:00
(1 BP) Munster Ireland 28–14 Scotland Edinburgh
Try: Murray (2) 27' c, 38' c
Oliver 42' c
O'Callaghan 57' c
Con: Bleyendaal (4/4) 27', 38', 42', 57'
 Report Try: Dean 23' c
Hardie 67' c
Con: Weir (1/1) 23'
Kinghorn (1/1) 67'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 12,826
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
1 October 2016
17:00
(1 BP) Munster Ireland 49–5 Italy Zebre
Try: Sweetnam 2' c
Murray 22' c
Stander (2) 28' c, 78' c
Zebo 31' c
Penalty try 52' c
Archer 63' c
Con: Bleyendaal (4/4)
Keatley (3/3)
 Report Try: Di Giulio 71' m
Thomond Park
Attendance: 11,737
Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)
8 October 2016
14:05
Leinster Ireland 25–14 Ireland Munster
Try: Nacewa (2) 35' m, 55' c
Gibson-Park 68' c
Con: Sexton (1/1) 55'
Nacewa (1/1) 68'
Pen: Sexton (2/2) 6', 10'
 Report Try: O'Mahony 26' c
Taute 74' c
Con: Bleyendaal (2/2) 26', 74'
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 40,527
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)
28 October 2016
19:35
(1 BP) Ulster Ireland 14-15 Ireland Munster
Try: Piutau 4' c
Lyttle '34 c
Con: Jackson (2/2) 5', 35'
 Report Try: Scannell 40' c
Taute 63' c
Con: Scannell (1/1) 64'
Drop: Scannell 74'
4 November 2016
19:35
(1 BP) Munster Ireland 33–0 Wales Ospreys
Try: Kilcoyne (2) 8' c, 69' c
Sweetnam 14' c
O'Mahony 54' m
Copeland 78' c
Con: Bleyendaal (4/5) 8', 14', 69', 78'
 Report
Irish Independent Park
Attendance: 8,008
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
26 November 2016
14:00
(1 BP) Munster Ireland 46-3 Italy Benetton Treviso
Try: Copeland 20' c
Conway 25' m, 34' c
O'Shea 42' c
R. O'Mahony 64' m, 71' m
Wootton 69'
Con: Bleyendaal (3/5) 21', 35', 43'
Keatley (1/2) 69'
Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 14'
 Report Pen: McKinley (1/1) 8'

2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup

Munster will face Racing Metro, Glasgow Warriors and Leicester, in Pool 1, of the 2016-17 Champions Cup. They were seeded in the bottom tier following their sixth placed position in the 2015-16 Pro12.[28]

22 October 2016
13:00
(1 BP) Munster Ireland 38–17 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Try: Bleyendaal 4' c
Taute 14' c
Zebo 30' c
Penalty try 47' c
Scannell 75' c
Con: Bleyendaal (4/4) 4', 14', 30', 47'
Keatley (1/1) 75'
Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 7'
 Report Try: MacArthur 66' c
Bennett 70' c
Con: S. Hogg (2/2) 66', 70'
Pen: Russell (1/2) 10'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 25,600
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (FFR)

References

  1. ↑ "'It's the 1st time I've been in his house': Munster squad learning to love centralised training". The 42. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "'Solid start' for Rassie Erasmus". Irish Examiner. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Dublin's Aviva Stadium to host 2017 Pro12 final as Guinness extends league sponsorship". The 42. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Tyler Bleyendaal impresses as Munster earn emphatic pre-season win". The 42. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "Losing hurt him deeply, losing him hurts deeper still". Irish Independent. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Statement On The Sudden Passing Of Anthony Foley". munsterrugby.ie. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "'Heartbroken…We have lost an incredible man': Rugby world mourns Munster great Anthony Foley". Irish Examiner. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "'He is part of the history of Munster, he is Monsieur Munster'". The 42. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "Frankie Sheahan: 'It seems so wrong to be talking about Anthony Foley in the past tense'". Irish Independent. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "Munster reborn on a day when the province finds new strength in adversity". Irish Independent. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "Inspired Munster deliver stunning Anthony Foley tribute". Irish Examiner. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Anthony Foley To Be Remembered At Munster V Glasgow". Munster Rugby. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  13. ↑ "Alan Quinlan: Axel impact shines through on tough occasion". Irish Independent. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  14. ↑ "Munster 'Stand Up and Fight' at emotional send-off for their great number eight Foley". Irish Independent. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "'From boys to men' - Munster pay Foley the ultimate compliment". Irish Independent. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "Munster sign Ulster prospect centre Sam Arnold". Independent.ie. 4 February 2016.
  17. ↑ "Munster sign Edinburgh prop John Andress and Worcester lock Darren O'Shea". Sky Sports. 29 March 2016.
  18. ↑ "Munster sign Stormers second-row forward Jean Kleyn". Sky Sports. 25 July 2016.
  19. ↑ "Taute hoop hy kan sy vuur by Munster herwin". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  20. ↑ "Nottingham sign Munster back-rower Jordan Coghlan". Nottingham Rugby. 22 April 2016.
  21. ↑ "Nottingham sign Munster fly-half Gearoid Lyons". Nottingham Post. 13 May 2016.
  22. ↑ "Nottingham sign Munster back-row forward Shane Buckley". Nottingham Post. 13 May 2016.
  23. ↑ "London Scottish to sign Munster scrum-half Jack Cullen". London Scottish. 29 June 2016.
  24. ↑ "Former Munster scrum-half takes player/coach role with UL Bohemians". Limerick Leader. 24 August 2016.
  25. ↑ "Lyon sign former Springboks prop BJ Botha for next season". Rugby365.fr (in French). 30 August 2016.
  26. ↑ "Munster fly-half Johnny Holland force to retire at 25 from recurring hamstring injury". Sky Sports. 1 September 2016.
  27. 1 2 "Departing Players". Munster Rugby. 10 May 2016.
  28. ↑ "O'Donovan On Champions Cup Draw". Munster Rugby. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.

External links

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