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{{Rugby team
| teamname = Munster Rugby
| image = Munster rugby badge.png
| fullname = Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch
| nickname = The Red Army
| url = www.munsterrugby.ie
| founded = 1879
| location = [[Munster]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| countryflag = IRE
| countryflagvar = rugby
| ground = a) [[Thomond Park]]<br/> b) [[Musgrave Park, Cork|Musgrave Park]]
| capacity = a) 12,500 (currently being upgraded to 26,000)<br/> b) 8,300 (due to be upgraded to 16,000)
| coach = [[Tony McGahan]]<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2008/0618/munster.html RTE.ie - Sports news - ''Munster appoint McGahan as coach'' - Wednesday, 18 June 2008]</ref>
| appearances = [[Anthony Foley]] (200)
| top scorer = [[Ronan O'Gara]] (1,203)
| most tries = [[Anthony Horgan]] (33)
| league = [[Celtic League (rugby union)|Magners League]]
| season = 2007-08
| position = 3rd
| pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=|leftarm1=cc0000|body1=CC0000|rightarm1=CC0000|shorts1=000040|socks1=CC0000|
| pattern_la2=_redlower
|pattern_b2=_thinredsides|pattern_ra2=_redlower
| leftarm2=000040|body2=000040|rightarm2=000040|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF|
}}
'''Munster''' (also known as '''Munster Rugby''') is an [[Ireland|Irish]] professional [[rugby union]] team based in [[Munster]], that competes in the [[Celtic League (rugby union)|Magners League]] and [[Heineken Cup]]. They won the Heineken Cup final in 2006 and in 2008 to become the champions of Europe. The team represents the [[Irish Rugby Football Union]] Munster Branch, and encompasses 15 domestic 'All Ireland League' clubs and a strong number of junior clubs. Their main home grounds are [[Thomond Park]], [[Limerick]], and [[Musgrave Park, Cork|Musgrave Park]], [[Cork (city)|Cork]].

The Munster Rugby branch was formed in 1879. Its most famous victory occurred in 1978 when it defeated the [[All Blacks]]. It remains the only Irish side to have ever done so. With professionalism in rugby union in the mid 1990s the Munster team competed in the new European Heineken Cup. After three seasons of not making it past its group stage, Munster made the quarter finals in the 1998-99 season, and in the subsequent season made its first final appearance, though it lost to English club [[Northampton Saints|Northampton]]. It was again runners-up in 2001-02, losing to English club [[Leicester Tigers|Leicester]], though the following season it won its first Celtic League title, with the championship being introduced the previous season. In their third Heineken Cup final in 2005-06, Munster famously defeated French club [[Biarritz Olympique|Biarritz]], by a margin of 23-19, to win its first European championship. On 24 May 2008, they won the Heineken Cup for the second time when they beat Toulouse 16-13.

Munster is known for its fan support and game day atmosphere (the noise during play and complete silence during an attempt to kick a goal). Games involving Munster hold several Heineken Cup records for highest attendances in every stage of the finals, as well as the highest ever attendance for a rugby game in both [[Spain]] and [[Switzerland]]. Munster players play in a red jersey, navy shorts and red socks. The Munster Rugby logo consists of three crowns and a stag. The team motto is "To the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible." The ERC's European ranking system has placed Munster as the No. 1 team in Europe based on its performance in the last four seasons.

In 2008, Director of Coaching [[Declan Kidney]] left to take up the head coach job with the IRFU, and Munster ensured continuity by promoting [[Australian]] [[Tony McGahan]] to the position from within the coaching setup.

==History==
===Against the All Blacks===
Munster drew with [[All Blacks|New Zealand]] in 1973, and in 1978 became the only Irish side to have beaten the All Blacks. The 12-0 victory occurred on Tuesday [[31 October]] [[1978]] at Thomond Park. Christy Cantillon scored a [[try]] with [[Tony Ward (rugby player)|Tony Ward]] [[try#conversion|converting]]. Ward also added a [[drop goal]] in each half. The game now forms part of Munster rugby mythology, and a stage play named ''[[Alone it Stands]]'' (by [[John Breen]]) was based on the events. As was a book: ''Stand Up and Fight: When Munster Beat the All Blacks'' (by Alan English). Both have been commercially successful.<ref>"''Alone it Stands''" has had several sell-out runs in Ireland and abroad.[http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2002/05/12/story645307628.asp POST][http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/06/1068013334243.html SMH] "''Stand Up and Fight''" was a bestseller in 2005.[http://www.munsterrugby.ie/750_2787.php MR]</ref>

===Early 1990s===
In 1992, Australia, reigning world champions, having won the 1991 Rugby World Cup, visited Munster as part of a European Tour. Munster won 22-19 in a rough encounter in Cork.
Ten years later, London newspaper The Telegraph recounted part of the legend in a feature on Munster Prop Peter Clohesy:
"The then Wallabies coach, Bob Dwyer, who was not a man who readily accepted that opposition sides could legitimately score more points than his team, immediately branded the Munster No 3 a "disgrace".
It had been a typically rugged, robust and memorable Munster triumph, with leather and fists flying on both sides. Clohessy was no more guilty than the next man but world champions are not supposed to lose against a hastily assembled Irish provincial XV. There had to be a reason, an excuse, and Dwyer rounded on Clohessy".<ref name="australia">{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2002/01/30/srgall31.xml
| title=Ireland's great prop claws his way to 50 | author= Brendan Gallagher | publisher=The Telegraph | date= 30 Jan, 2002 |accessdate=2008-05-24}}</ref>

===Late 1990s and early 2000s===
They reached the Heineken Cup quarter-finals in 1998/1999, after three years of not being able to get out of the group stages. This led them to their first appearance in the competition's final in 1999/2000, where they lost by one point to [[Northampton Saints|Northampton]] at [[Twickenham]]. Nevertheless, that season was most memorable with a fantastic win over Toulouse 25-31 in Bordeaux. Their good form and bad luck continued in the following year (2000/2001) with a semi-final defeat to [[Stade Français]], again by one point. In 2001/2002 Munster lost the last match of their pool in [[Castres]], but qualified as best runners-up. Munster beat Stade Français 16-14 in Paris. The only try of the game coming from [[Anthony Horgan]]. It was then on to Béziers to meet [[Castres Olympique|Castres]] for the semi-final. Munster were triumphant and went to the final at [[Millennium Stadium]] to meet the reigning champions, [[Leicester Tigers|Leicester]]. Munster lost a tight game remembered as 'the hand of [[Neil Back|Back]]' final as a Leicester flanker used his hand illegally in a scrum when Munster had a last-chance attack.

In 2002/2003, they reached the quarter-finals after a win against [[Gloucester RFC|Gloucester]], later issued on [[DVD]] under the title "The Miracle Match". In this game, Munster needed to win by a margin of at least 27 points and score a minimum of four tries to earn a quarter-final berth. They won 33-6 with four tries in a game that has become part of Munster rugby folklore. They again faced Leicester, this time at the Tigers' home of [[Welford Road Stadium|Welford Road]], and defeated the reigning champions to progress to the semi-finals. They faced [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]] in the semi-finals and lost out on a place in the final after losing by a single point in France.

In 2003/2004 it was more of the same. After an assured performance in the Pool stage they defeated Stade Français at Thomond Park to set up a semi-final date with English champions [[London Wasps|Wasps]]. This was considered one of the best Heineken Cup matches of all time. Although leading by 10 points in the second half, having already lost [[Ronan O'Gara]] to injury early on, they succumbed to 2 Wasps tries in injury time resulting in a Wasps v Toulouse final. In 2004/2005, after a shaky performance in the Pool stage, they qualified as 5th seeds and played [[Biarritz Olympique|Biarritz]] away. The match was played at [[Real Sociedad]]'s ground, the [[Estadio Anoeta|Anoeta Stadium]], in [[Donostia|San Sebastián]] in [[Spain]] — the first Heineken Cup game ever played in Spain. Biarritz won 19-10 to avenge a 38-29 defeat at the same stage in 2001.

===2005-06 to present===
[[Image:HeinekenCupFinal06MunsterVBiarritz200506Small_ByMike.JPG|thumb|300px|right|Inside the Millennium Stadium for the 2005-06 final where over 65,000 Munster fans were present.]]
In 2005/2006, in order to qualify from the pool stage, they needed to beat [[Sale Sharks]] at Thomond Park. Unlikely though it seemed, to win the pool they needed to score four tries and avoid giving Sale a bonus point. This they did in some style, scoring a try in injury time to win the match 31-9 and reach the quarter-finals. To add to the drama, the team qualified for a home quarter-final thanks to [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] beating [[Bath Rugby|Bath]] the following day. This was achieved not just by Leinster winning the away fixture, but by their denying the home side a bonus point as well. Their quarter-final was played at [[Lansdowne Road]] in [[Dublin]] against [[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]]. Munster eventually won the game 19-10 to set up a semi-final against rivals [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]], which they won convincingly, 30-6.

They would return to the [[Millennium Stadium]] for the final against Biarritz which they won 23-19 to become European champions for the first time. Tries from [[Trevor Halstead]] & [[Peter Stringer]] along with 13 points from [[Ronan O'Gara]] kicks made up the Munster total. Alan English, author of ''Stand Up and Fight: When Munster Beat the All Blacks'' was commissioned to write an official account of the 2005/2006 European campaign, entitled ''Our Road To Glory'', with photographs by Billy Stickland. The book, a compilation of the players thoughts and feelings before and after the final, was launched to coincide with the 2006/2007 campaign.

In the 2006/2007 Heineken Cup, they started their campaign with a victory over [[Leicester Tigers|Leicester]] at [[Welford Road Stadium|Welford Road]] from a Ronan O'Gara penalty from his own half. Munster continued the group stage undefeated until they met [[Leicester Tigers]] again, this time at [[Thomond Park]]. Munster, previously undefeated at "Fortress Thomond Park" in Heineken Cup play, ended up losing the game 6-13, but still clinched a quarterfinal berth as one of the two top second-place teams.

In August 2007, Munster sent a team, minus its international players, to the USA to play the [[United States national rugby union team|US Eagles]] in a [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 World Cup]] warm up game, Munster winning the tie 10-6 with Anthony Horgan scoring the only try of the match. Munster clinched arguably the most audacious signing in the province's history on 30 August 2007, when [[Doug Howlett]], who succeeded [[Christian Cullen]], himself a Munster signing, as all-time leading try scorer for [[All Blacks|New Zealand]] during the 2007 World Cup, agreed to join on a two and a half year contract.

The Heineken Cup campaign for 2007/08 began on a losing note, with a 24-23 defeat to [[London Wasps]] at [[Coventry City F.C.]]'s [[Ricoh Arena]]. A home win against a weakened [[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont Auvergne]] side followed. Munster gained revenge for last season's quarter final exit at the hands of Welsh side [[Llanelli Scarlets]] with a victory over the Welsh side at a rain-sodden [[Stradey Park]] and a second win at [[Thomond Park]]. A bonus point 26-19 loss to Clermont, a match which marked [[Doug Howlett]]'s debut for the province, kept Munster in the hunt for qualification for the knockout stages. A win over [[London Wasps|Wasps]] at a wet and windy Thomond secured top spot in the "Pool of Death" for Munster and they booked a quarter-final berth against [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]] at [[Kingsholm]], which was duly won 16-3. The semi-final saw Munster beat [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] 18-16 at Ricoh Arena and in the final at Cardiff's [[Millennium Stadium]] they defeated [[Toulouse]] 16-13 to claim their second Heineken Cup title in 3 years. Denis Leamy's first half try along with 11 points from the boot of O'Gara accounted for the scores.

==Colours and logo==
The 'three crowns' emblem used by Munster alludes to the three constituent historic kingdoms of Munster; [[Thomond]] in the north, [[County Desmond|Desmond]] in the south, and [[Ormonde]] in the east. A revamped logo was introduced for the 2003-04 season which included the addition of a stag with the three crowns.<ref name="newcrest">{{cite web | url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2003/07/03/story931514581.asp | title=New Munster kit and logo to save revenue, not exploit fans | author= Simon Lewis | publisher=Irish Examiner | date= 3 July, 2003 |accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> The crest was designed to maintain the three crowns, and the new red stag symbolizes strength and competitiveness.<ref name="newcrest"/> The decision for change was a product of two years of planning of research and design.<ref name="newcrest"/> Elements of blue were also introduced into mainly red Munster jersey. The current kit consists of a red shirt with blue trimming (such as the collar), blue shorts and red socks. The kit is made by [[Adidas]], replacing [[Canterbury of New Zealand]], in a deal covering kit supply for the next three seasons. The name of Munster's title sponsors, [[Toyota]] appears on their shirt.

==Home grounds==
Munster have two main stadiums where they play their home matches - [[Thomond Park]] in [[Limerick]] and [[Musgrave Park, Cork|Musgrave Park]] in [[Cork (city)|Cork]]. Thomond Park is the bigger of the two, with a capacity of around 12,500, while Musgrave holds 8,300. As well as Munster, [[Shannon RFC]] and [[UL Bohemian R.F.C.]] play the grounds of Thomond Park. Thomond Park is famous for its atmosphere and unique history<ref name="thomond">{{cite web | url=http://www.worldstadia.com/ws/show-page.php?menuCommand=stadium&menuData=13 | title=Details for Thomond Park, Limerick | publisher=Worldstadia.com | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> - its noise during play and complete silence when a player (home and away) is kicking at goal. It is also famous for Munster's intimidating record that it held for over a decade - having never been beaten at home during the Heineken Cup.<ref name="Leicesterwin">{{cite web | url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_6232.php | title=Tigers storm Thomond Park | publisher=European Rugby Cup | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> However the record was broken during the [[2006-07 Heineken Cup|2006-07]] season when they were defeated by the Leicester Tigers.<ref name="Leicesterwin"/>

Thomond Park went through a major renovation in 1999, and in 2006, Munster announced plans to upgrade it to a new 26,000 stadium (15,000 stand seats and 11,000 terrace capacity).<ref name="thomondnew">{{cite web | url=http://www.thomondpark.ie/extendo/webstore/thomondPark/index.jsp?page=newsItem&newsIndex=1 | title=Munster aim to start work in March | publisher=Thomondpark.ie | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> The design for the redevelopment was unveiled in May of that year, and work on the stadium began in early 2007. Munster hope to open the ground around Autumn in 2008. Two sweeping arches will be one of the defining features of the stadium as well as the concourse outside of the new East Stand.<ref name="thomondnew"/> A long discussion and consultation on the new name concluded with the decision that the name would remain Thomond Park.<ref name="thomondname">{{cite web | url=http://www.ireland.com/sports/rugby/2008/0221/1203471576676.html | title=Thomond to keep it's name | publisher=Ireland.com | accessdate=2008-06-15}}</ref>

==Supporters==
[[Image:Munster rugby 2006.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Thousands of fans watch the 2006 Heinken Cup final in Limerick.]]
This support was demonstrated during Munster's recent (2006 & 2008) Heineken Cup wins. There were many news reports of the lengths some fans were willing to go to secure tickets to the game and to travel to the game. Some Munster fans traveled to Biarritz to buy up the French allocation of tickets.<ref name="tickets">{{cite web | url=http://www.irishabroad.com/news/irishpost/news/HuntforCupFinalticketsheatsup100506.asp | title= Hunt for Cup Final tickets heats up | publisher=The Irish Post| accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> On the day of the game the Millennium Stadium (which is in Wales) was filled with a capacity 74,500 crowd. Of those numbers it is estimated that in excess of 55-65,000 were Munster fans<ref name="fans">{{cite web | url=http://calbears.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20060521/ai_n16415103 | title= MUNSTER FANS | author=Kevin McDonnell | date=May 21, 2006 | publisher=Sunday Mirror | accessdate=2007-01-31}}</ref> with the remainder being neutrals and Biarritz supporters. The Millennium Stadium was intended to be a neutral venue but commentators on the day remarked that it could hardly be counted as such. In [[North America]] there is an official supporters club called Munster Rugby USA.<ref name="northamerica">{{cite web | url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/340_3239.php | title= Munster Rugby USA | publisher=Munster Rugby | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref>

Munster have played in the most-attended quarter-final and semi-final matches of the Heineken Cup:
*Semi-final. 2004, v London Wasps, Lansdowne Road, Dublin - 49,500<ref name="Wasps">{{cite web | url=http://ercrugby.com/eng/12_1023.php | title=Wasps Break Munster Hearts | publisher=European Rugby Cup | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref>
*Quarter-final. 2006, v Perpignan, Lansdowne Road, Dublin - 49,500<ref name="usap">{{cite web | url=http://ercrugby.com/eng/12_4920.php | title=Battling Munster see off Perpignan | publisher=European Rugby Cup | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref>

Munster's appearance in the 2002 final against Leicester at Millennium Stadium, which drew 74,600, was the record attendance for a Heineken Cup final<ref name="Leicester">{{cite web | url=http://ercrugby.com/eng/85_866.php | title=The seventh Heineken Cup final | publisher=European Rugby Cup | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> until the 2007 final between Leicester and Wasps at the newly expanded [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]], although it is estimated that as many as 10,000 Munster fans attended this game, having bought tickets before Munster were knocked out of the competition. Munster's 2005 quarter-final against Biarritz Olympique in Estadio Anoeta, played as it was across the border in San Sebastián, with an attendance of 32,000 also set the record for the biggest rugby match ever played in Spain.<ref name="sanseb">{{cite web | url=http://ercrugby.com/eng/12_1100.php | title=Biarritz Move Into Final Four | publisher=European Rugby Cup | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> Their October 2006 Celtic League game against Leinster at Lansdowne Road beat the record for that competition with an attendance of 27,252<ref name="oct">{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/leinster/5406318.stm | title=Leinster 27-20 Munster | publisher=BBC | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> - this record lasted just two months however with the Leinster and Ulster match on [[31 December]], [[2006]] filling Lansdowne Road (over 48,000 in attendance) for the last match at the stadium before redevelopment.<ref name="leinulster">{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/irish/6182811.stm | title=The final curtain | publisher=BBC | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref>

==Honours==
* '''[[Heineken Cup]]'''
**''Winners'': [[2005–06 Heineken Cup|2005-06]] , [[2007-08 Heineken Cup|2007-08]]: '''2'''
**''Runners-up'': [[1999-00 Heineken Cup|1999-00]], [[2001-02 Heineken Cup|2001-02]]: '''2'''
* '''[[Celtic League (rugby union)|Celtic League]]:'''
**''Winners'': 2002-03 : '''1'''
* '''[[Celtic League (rugby union)|Celtic Cup]]:'''
**''Winners'': 2004-05: '''1'''
* '''Irish Inter-Provincial championship:'''
**''Winners'': '''22'''

==Season records==
===Celtic League===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan=12 | '''Celtic League results'''
|-
! Year !! Played !! Win !! Draw !! Loss !! PF !! PA !! Diff !! BP !! Points !! Place
|-
! 2001-02
|6|| 5 || 0 || 1 || 228 || 120 || 118 || 0 || 15 || 1st (Pool B)
|-
! 2002-03
|7|| 6 || 0 || 1 || 227 || 129 || 98 || 4 || 28 || 1st (Pool A)
|-
! 2003-04
|22|| 10 || 0 || 12 || 422 || 456 || -34 || 11 || 51 || 7th
|-
! 2004-05
|20|| 15 || 1 || 4 || 470 || 331 || 139 || 7 || 69 || 2nd
|-
! 2005-06
|20|| 12 || 0 || 8 || 439 || 372 || 67 || 10 || 58 || 3rd
|-
! 2006-07
|20|| 12 || 0 || 8 || 379 || 294 || 85 || 6 || 54 || 6th
|}

===Heineken Cup===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan=12 | '''Heineken Cup results'''
|-
! Year !! Played !! Win !! Draw !! Loss !! PF !! PA !! Diff !! Points !! Pool place !! Play-offs
|-
! 1995-96
|2|| 1 || 0 || 1 || 33 || 27 || +8 || 2 || 2nd ||
|-
! 1996-97
|4|| 2 || 0 || 2 || 109 || 135 || -26 || 4 || 4th ||
|-
! 1997-98
|6|| 2 || 0 || 4 || 141 || 180 || -39 || 4 || 3rd ||
|-
! 1998-99
|6|| 4 || 1 || 1 || 144 || 108 || +36 || 9 || 2nd || Lost QF to [[US Colomiers]]
|-
! 1999-00
|6|| 5 || 0 || 1 || 188 || 132 || +56 || 10 || 1st || Lost F to [[Northampton Saints|Northampton]]
|-
! 2000-01
|6|| 5 || 0 || 1 || 154 || 109 || +45 || 10 || 1st || Lost SF to [[Stade Francais]]
|-
! 2001-02
|6|| 5 || 0 || 1 || 172 || 87 || +85 || 10 || 2nd || Lost F to [[Leicester Tigers|Leicester]]
|-
! 2002-03
|6|| 4 || 0 || 2 || 206 || 107 || +99 || 8 || 2nd || Lost SF to [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]
|-
! 2003-04
|6|| 5 || 0 || 1 || 172 || 76 || +96 || 24 || 2nd || Lost SF to [[London Wasps]]
|-
! 2004-05
|6|| 5 || 0 || 1 || 121 || 74 || +47 || 22 || 1st || Lost QF to [[Biarritz Olympique|Biarritz]]
|-
! 2005-06
|6|| 5 || 0 || 1 || 186 || 87 || +99 || 23 || 1st || Champions, defeating [[Biarritz Olympique|Biarritz]] (23-19)
|-
! 2006-07
|6|| 5 || 0 || 1 || 152 || 112 || +40 || 23 || 2nd || Lost QF to [[Llanelli Scarlets]]
|-
! 2007-08
|6|| 4 || 0 || 2 ||148 ||95 || +53 || 19 || 1st || Champions, defeating [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]] (16-13)
|}

==Current squad (Season 2008/2009)==
{{Rugby squad start}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=FB | name=[[Denis Hurley (rugby player)|Denis Hurley]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=WG | name=[[Brian Carney (rugby footballer)|Brian Carney]] | region=[[Clonakilty RFC|Clonakilty]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=WG | name=[[Ian Dowling]] | region=[[Shannon RFC|Shannon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=WG | name=[[Anthony Horgan]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=New Zealand| pos=WG | name=[[Doug Howlett]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=WG | name=[[Kieran Lewis]] | region=[[Garryowen Football Club|Garryowen]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=WG | name=[[Ciaran O'Boyle]] | region=[[Garryowen Football Club|Garryowen]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=CE | name=[[Keith Earls]] | region=[[Garryowen Football Club|Garryowen]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=CE | name=[[Tom Gleeson (rugby player)|Tom Gleeson]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Tonga | natvar=| pos=CE | name=[[Lifeimi Mafi]] | region=[[Nenagh Ormond]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=CE | name=[[Barry Murphy (rugby player)|Barry Murphy]] | region=[[UL Bohemians]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=New Zealand | pos=CE | name=[[Rua Tipoki]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=New Zealand | pos=FH | name=[[Jeremy Manning]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=FH | name=[[Ronan O'Gara]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}} ''(Vice Captain)''
{{rugby squad player | nat=Australia| pos=FH | name=[[Paul Warwick (rugby player)|Paul Warwick]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=SH | name=[[Tomás O'Leary]] | region=[[Dolphin RFC|Dolphin]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=SH | name=[[Peter Stringer]] | region=[[Shannon RFC|Shannon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=SH | name=[[Mike Prendergast]] | region=[[Young Munster|Young Munster]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=SH | name=[[Duncan Williams]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}

{{Rugby squad mid}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=PR | name=[[Tony Buckley]] | region=[[Shannon RFC|Shannon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=PR | name=[[John Hayes (rugby player)|John Hayes]] | region=[[Bruff R.F.C.]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=PR | name=[[Marcus Horan]] | region=[[Shannon RFC|Shannon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=PR | name=[[Darragh Hurley]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Italy | natvar=| pos=PR | name=[[Federico Pucciariello]] | region=[[Old Crescent]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=PR | name=[[Tim Ryan (rugby union player)|Tim Ryan]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=HK | name=[[Jerry Flannery]] | region=[[Shannon RFC|Shannon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=HK | name=[[Denis Fogarty]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=HK | name=[[Frankie Sheahan]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=HK | name=[[Michael Essex]] | region=[[UCC RFC|UCC]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=LK | name=[[Mark Melbourne]] | region=[[Garryowen Football Club|Garryowen]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=LK | name=[[Donncha O'Callaghan]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=LK | name=[[Paul O'Connell]] | region=[[Young Munster]]}} ''(Captain)''
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=LK | name=[[Mick O'Driscoll]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=LK | name=[[Donnacha Ryan]] | region=[[Shannon RFC|Shannon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=FL | name=[[Billy Holland]] | region=[[UCC RFC|UCC]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=FL | name=[[Denis Leamy]] | region=[[Cork Constitution]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=FL | name=[[Alan Quinlan]] | region=[[Shannon RFC|Shannon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=FL | name=[[Niall Ronan]] | region=[[Shannon RFC|Shannon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=FL | name=[[David Wallace (rugby player)|David Wallace]] | region=[[Garryowen Football Club|Garryowen]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=N8 | name=[[James Coughlan]] | region=[[Dolphin RFC|Dolphin]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Ireland| natvar=rugby | pos=N8 | name=[[John O'Sullivan (rugby player)|John O'Sullivan]] | region=[[Garryowen Football Club|Garryowen]]}}
{{Rugby squad end}}

==Players in (Season 2008/2009)==
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Mike Prendergast]] ''from'' [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]]
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Duncan Williams]] ''development contract''
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Tom Gleeson]] ''development contract''
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Michael Essex]] ''development contract''
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Mark Melbourne]] ''development contract''
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Billy Holland]] ''development contract''

==Players out (Season 2008/2009)==
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Sean Cronin (rugby player)|Sean Cronin]] ''to'' [[Connacht_Rugby|Connacht]]
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Anthony Foley]] ''retired''
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Gerry Hurley]] ''released''
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[John Kelly (rugby player)|John Kelly]] ''retired''
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Mossie Lawlor]] ''released''
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Eugene McGovern (rugby player)|Eugene McGovern]] ''released''
*{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Jake Paringatai]] ''released''
*{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[Shaun Payne]] ''retired''

==Notable Former Players==
* {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Peter Clohessy]]
* {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Mick Galwey]]
* {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Moss Keane]]
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[John Langford]]
* {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Donal Lenihan]]
* {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Tommy Moroney]]
* {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Tony Ward (rugby player)|Tony Ward]]
* {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Keith Wood]]
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Jim Williams (rugby player)|Jim Williams]]
* {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Christian Cullen]]
* {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Mike Mullins]]
* {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[Trevor Halstead]]
* {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Patrick Parfrey]]

==Major club competitions==
* [[Munster Senior Rugby Cup|Munster Senior Cup]]
* [[Munster Senior League]]
* [[Munster Junior Cup]]

==Schools cups==
* [[Munster Schools Senior Cup]]
* [[Munster Schools Junior Cup]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* English, A, (2005) ''Stand Up and Fight : When Munster Beats the All Blacks'', Random House, London
* English, A, (2006) ''Munster: Our Road to Glory'', Penguin Ireland, Dublin
* Murphy, E, (2006) ''Munster Rugby: The Secret of Their Success'', Maverick House Publishers, Dublin
* Cronin, C, (2006) ''Beyond Our Wildest Dreams: Munster's Heineken Cup Odyssey'', Tuatha Mumhan Books

==External links==
{{commonscat|Munster Rugby}}
{{wikinews|Munster Rugby}}

* [http://www.munsterrugby.ie Official site]
* [http://www.munsterfans.com Munster Supporters Site]
* [http://www.ercrugby.com European Rugby Cup]
* [http://www.celticleague.com Celtic League Site]
* [http://www.irishrugby.ie Irish Rugby Site]
* [http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/121_9900.php European Rankings]

{{Rugby Celtic League links}}
{{Heineken Cup}}
{{Rugby union in Ireland}}

[[Category:Munster Rugby| ]]
[[Category:Sports clubs established in 1879]]
[[Category:Celtic League teams]]
[[Category:Sport in Munster]]

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Revision as of 05:32, 30 July 2008

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