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2020–21 Munster Rugby season

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2020–21 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s)Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600)[1]
Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,008)
ChairmanGerry O'Shea
CEOIan Flanagan
PresidentSeán McCullough
Coach(es)Johann van Graan
Captain(s)Peter O'Mahony
League(s)Pro14

The 2020–21 Munster Rugby season is Munster's twentieth season competing in the Pro14, alongside which they also compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It is Johann van Graan's fourth season as head coach.[2]

Events

As in the 2019–20 Pro14 season, Munster will spend the 2020–21 Pro14 season in Conference B, alongside Benetton, Cardiff Blues, Connacht, Edinburgh and Scarlets[3] South African side the Southern Kings were scheduled to participate in the conference, but they declared their withdrawal from rugby for the remainder of 2020 due to financial difficulties and travel restrictions enforced by the South African government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,[4] before the South African Rugby Union board placed the club into voluntary liquidation in September 2020.[5]

Due to the mid-season break during the 2019–20 season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season started later than usual.[6] The EPCR agreed a new format for the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup in response to COVID-19: the top eight eligible teams from the Pro14, the Gallagher Premiership and Top 14 will compete in a 24-team tournament divided into two pools of twelve teams, with each team playing four games in the pool stage - two at home and two away. The top four teams from each pool will qualify for the knockout stage, which will consist of home-and-away quarter-finals decided on aggregate score, before one-off semi-finals and the one-off final.[7]

For the purposes of drawing the pool stage, the 24 teams were separated into four tiers, with the number one and number two ranked teams from each league entering tier one, the number two and number three ranked teams entering tier two and so on. Clubs from the same league in the same tier could not be drawn in the same pool. As stated above, the top fours teams at the end of the pool stage will progress to the knockout stage, but those teams that finish 5th–8th will drop down into the Challenge Cup. In the quarter-finals, the top ranked team in pool A will play the fourth-placed team in pool B and vice-versa, with the second-ranked team in pool A playing the third-placed team in pool B and vice-versa. The teams ranked first and second in their pools will have the advantage of playing the second legs of their quarter-finals at home. The new format is scheduled to begin on the weekend of 11/12/13 December 2020.[7]

Ahead of the season, there were no changes to Munster's coaching stuff, though CEO Ian Flanagan told journalists that, while it isn't a priority, the search for a fifth coach to join the team remains active.[8] Head of athletic performance Denis Logan returned home to the United States with his family at the end of October 2020,[9] with Ged McNamara, previously the lead athletic development coach for Munster's academy, promoted to replace Logan.[10] Elite player development manager Peter Malone left his academy role with the province in early 2021.[11]

The big news in terms of player movements was the arrival of two of South Africa's 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning squad - centre Damian de Allende and lock RG Snyman. Irish-qualified fullback Matt Gallagher arrived from English club Saracens, while Hawaii-born prop Roman Salanoa made the move south from Leinster. Five academy players also graduated to the senior squad: prop Keynan Knox, hooker Diarmuid Barron, back-rower Jack O'Sullivan, centre Alex McHenry and winger Liam Coombes.[12]

Two players - fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal and prop Brian Scott - were forced to retire from rugby due to injury during the 2019–20 mid-season break, whilst prop Ciaran Parker, locks Darren O'Shea and Seán O'Connor, back-rowers Arno Botha and Conor Oliver and centre Sammy Arnold departed the province for new clubs.[13] Winger Alex Wootton also left the province on loan to Connacht for the 2020–21 season.[14]

On the academy front, three players joined year one of the programme: hooker Scott Buckley, back-rower Alex Kendellen and fly-half Jack Crowley. Jack Stafford and Alan Tynan completed their three years in the academy and were released by the province. It is possible that more players will join the academy over the course of the season.[15]

Munster opened their 2020–21 Pro14 season with a 30–27 away win against Scarlets on 3 October 2020. Despite nine penalties from Scarlets fullback Leigh Halfpenny and a red card for captain Peter O'Mahony, tries from Jack O'Donoghue and Chris Farrell kept Munster within touching distance of the hosts, and a try from replacement hooker Kevin O'Byrne, converted by Ben Healy, levelled the score going into the final minutes of the game, before academy fly-half Healy scored a 50-metre penalty in the 81st minute to earn what had previously looked like an unlikely win for the province.[16]

The draw for the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup was made on 28 October 2020, with Munster being drawn in pool B. The province will face English side Harlequins, where former Munster player and coach Jerry Flannery is a coach, and French side Clermont, who are, to date, the only French side to have ever won a Champions Cup game in Thomond Park. Munster will play both teams home and away over December 2020-January 2021.[17]

Munster's Champions Cup campaign commenced with a 21–7 home win against Harlequins on 13 December 2020, in which Gavin Coombes, Damian de Allende and Josh Wycherley made their tournament debuts. Coombes scored one try, with the other being a penalty try, with JJ Hanrahan and Ben Healy adding nine points of the kicking tee between them.[18] Munster travelled away to Clermont for round two on 19 December 2020 and, despite trailing 28–9 to the home side at one point, fought back to earn a stunning 39–31 win at the Stade Marcel-Michelin. The tries for Munster came from Mike Haley, star-of-the-match CJ Stander and Kevin O'Byrne, with JJ Hanrahan scoring a perfect nine from nine off the kicking tee for the other 24 points.[19]

It was announced in December 2020 that the 2020–21 Pro14 season would conclude after 16 rounds, with the winners of each conference advancing straight to the final on 27 March 2021. Four South African Super Rugby teams - the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers - will then be introduced in the Rainbow Cup, which will consists of two pools of eight team made up from two Irish, two South African, two Welsh, one Italian and one Scottish club. Each team will play their pool opponents once before the pool winners advance to the final on 19 June 2021.[20]

Coaching and management staff

Position Name Nationality
Head coach Johann van Graan  South Africa
Senior coach Stephen Larkham  Australia
Defence coach JP Ferreira  South Africa
Forwards coach Graham Rowntree  England
Team manager Niall O'Donovan  Ireland
Head of athletic performance Denis Logan (Until October 2020)[9]  United States
Head of athletic performance Ged McNamara (Since November 2020)  Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Damien O'Donoghue  Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Adam Sheehan  Ireland
Performance analyst George Murray  Ireland

Players

Senior squad

Munster Rugby senior squad[a]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Back three

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
L denotes a player on loan at the club.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[21]
  1. ^ Alex Wootton is contracted to Munster for the 2020–21 season, but is on a season-long loan at Connacht. Ulster academy prop Callum Reid joined Munster on a six-week loan as injury cover ahead of round 4 of the 2020–21 Pro14. Leinster sub-academy scrum-half Ben Murphy joined on a seven-week deal as cover ahead of round 5. Leinster academy scrum-half Paddy Patterson joined on a short-term contract at the end of January 2021.

Academy squad

Munster Rugby academy squad

Props

Hookers

  • Ireland Scott Buckley (1)
  • Ireland Eoghan Clarke (3)

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

  • None

Fly-halves

Centres

  • None

Back three

  • Ireland Jonathan Wren (3)

Universal backs

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players, number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[22]

Player movements

The 2020–21 season was unusual in that many of the players scheduled to join their new clubs during the summer pre-season ahead of the commencement of the new season were instead able to join during the mid-season break in the 2019–20 season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are the player movements originally scheduled for the 2020–21 season that instead took place in that mid-season break. Italics indicates players that transferred during the 2020–21 season.

Senior squad

Academy squad

2020–21 Pro14

2020–21 Pro14 table view · watch · edit · discuss
Conference A
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1 Ireland Leinster (CH) 16 14 0 2 576 285 +291 82 33 14 1 71
2 Ireland Ulster 16 14 0 2 469 263 +206 65 34 8 0 64
3 Wales Ospreys 16 8 0 8 301 318 -17 34 39 1 3 36
4 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 16 6 0 10 335 377 -42 40 47 2 4 30
5 Wales Dragons 16 6 0 10 215 394 -79 36 50 2 3 29
6 Italy Zebre 16 4 0 12 237 508 -271 22 69 0 1 17
Conference B
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1 Ireland Munster (RU) 16 14 0 2 413 250 +163 49 26 7 2 64
2 Ireland Connacht 16 8 0 8 396 353 +43 53 36 7 6 45
3 Wales Scarlets 16 8 0 8 319 333 -14 36 38 3 4 39
4 Wales Cardiff Blues 16 8 0 8 265 284 -19 30 32 3 1 36
5 Scotland Edinburgh 16 5 1 10 247 344 -97 29 43 1 4 29*
6 Italy Benetton 16 0 1 15 252 415 -164 34 53 1 6 7*
* Cancelled fixture: Edinburgh awarded four match points.
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[36]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams that will compete in the Pro14 Final, and also earn a place in the 2021–22 European Champions Cup

Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2021–22 European Champions Cup
Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2021–22 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
(CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (PO) Champions Cup play-off winners.

Round 1

3 October 2020
15:00
(1 BP) Scarlets Wales27–30Ireland Munster
Pen: Halfpenny (9/9) 16', 20', 25', 35', 45', 51', 55', 65', 70'Report
Report
Try: O'Donoghue 28' c
Farrell 67' c
O'Byrne 77' c
Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 28'
Healy (2/2) 69', 78'
Pen: Hanrahan (1/2) 48'
Healy (2/2) 72', 80'+1
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 0
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Round 2

10 October 2020
19:35
Munster Ireland25–23Scotland Edinburgh (1 BP)
Try: Stander 76' c
Con: Healy (1/1) 77'
Pen: Healy (6/7) 3', 6', 19', 40', 53', 57'
Report
Report
Try: Bennett 12' c
Nel 29' c
Con: Van der Walt (2/2) 13', 30'
Pen: Van der Walt (2/2) 49', 73'
Bennett (1/1) 66'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Round 3

26 October 2020
20:15
(1 BP) Munster Ireland38–27Wales Cardiff Blues
Try: G. Coombes (2) 6' c, 26' c
O'Byrne 51' c
O'Donoghue 58' c
Hanrahan 67' c
Con: Healy (4/4) 7', 27', 52', 59'
Hanrahan (1/1) 68'
Pen: Healy (1/2) 40'
Report
Report
Try: Lee-Lo 1' c
Summerhill 54' c
Halaholo 62' c
Con: J. Evans (3/3) 2', 55', 63'
Pen: J. Evans (2/2) 16', 29'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Round 4

1 November 2020
14:00
Dragons Wales16–28Ireland Munster
Try: S. Davies 31' m
Screech 79' m
Pen: S. Davies (2/3) 2', 46'
Report
Report
Try: Gallagher (2) 13' m, 71' c
Nash 24' c
Con: Hanrahan (2/3) 25', 72'
Pen: Hanrahan (3/3) 7', 22', 51'
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)

Round 5

7 November 2020
14:00
Benetton ItalyP–PIreland Munster
Stadio Monigo
  • Fixture postponed until 2021 due to COVID-19 cases amongst the Benetton squad.[37]

Round 6

15 November 2020
14:45
(1 BP) Munster Ireland38–22Wales Ospreys
Try: G. Coombes (3) 13' c, 43' c, 53' c
Haley 18' c
O'Byrne 37'
Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 14'
R. Scannell (1/1) 19'
Healy (3/3) 38', 44', 54'
Pen: Healy (1/1) 23'
Report
Report
Try: L. Morgan 5' c
Lake 64' m
Penalty try 76'
Con: Myler (1/2) 7'
Pen: Myler (1/1) 33'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Round 7

23 November 2020
20:15
Glasgow Warriors Scotland13–27Ireland Munster (1 BP)
Try: Bryce 13' m
Stewart 63' m
Pen: Thomson (1/1) 18'
Report
Report
Try: Holland 10' c
F. Wycherley 31' m
G. Coombes 68' c
Kleyn 77' m
Con: Healy (2/3) 12', 70'
Pen: Healy (1/3) 46'
Scotstoun Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

Round 8

30 November 2020
20:15
(1 BP) Munster Ireland52–3Italy Zebre
Try: Goggin 7' c
De Allende 26' c
Penalty try 36'
Sweetnam 40' c
Hanrahan 43' c
S. French 56' c
Casey 78' m
Ahern 80'+2 m
Con: Hanrahan (5/7) 8', 27', 40'+1, 44', 58'
Report
Report
Pen: Pescetto (1/1) 13'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Round 9

26 December 2020
19:35
Munster IrelandP–PIreland Leinster
Thomond Park
  • Fixture postponed until 2021 due to delayed COVID-19 test results from Leinster.[38]

Round 10

2 January 2021
17:15
Ulster Ireland15–10Ireland Munster (1 BP)
Try: Faddes 6' m
McIlroy 16' c
Con: Cooney (1/2) 17'
Pen: Cooney (1/1) 28'
Report
Report
Try: Sweetnam 80'+2 c
Con: Crowley (1/1) 80'+4
Pen: Healy (1/2) 12'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Round 11

9 January 2021
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland10–16Ireland Munster
Try: Sullivan 78' c
Con: Carty (1/1) 78'
Pen: Carty (1/2) 40'+1
Report
Report
Try: Farrell 18' c
Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 10'
Pen: Hanrahan (3/3) 19', 42', 61'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 0
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Rescheduled round 9

23 January 2021
19:35
(1 BP) Munster Ireland10–13Ireland Leinster
Try: Beirne 11' c
Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 11'
Pen: Hanrahan (1/3) 5'
Report
Report
Try: Larmour 69' c
Con: R. Byrne (1/1) 70'
Pen: Sexton (2/2) 25', 40'+4
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Rescheduled round 5

30 January 2021
17:00
(1 BP) Benetton Italy16–18Ireland Munster
Try: Esposito 25' m
Sarto 71' m
Pen: Allan (2/2) 33', 40'
Report
Report
Try: Sweetnam 2' m
N. Scannell 9' c
Con: Healy (1/2) 10'
Pen: Healy (1/1) 54'
Drop: Hanrahan (1/1) 80'+1
Stadio Monigo
Attendance: 0
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Round 12

20 February 2021
19:35
Edinburgh ScotlandvIreland Munster
Murrayfield
Attendance: 0

Round 13

26 February 2021
20:00
Cardiff Blues WalesvIreland Munster
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 0

Round 14

5 March 2021
19:35
Munster IrelandvIreland Connacht
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0

Round 15

12 March 2021
20:00
Munster IrelandvWales Scarlets
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0

Round 16

19 March 2021
18:00
Munster IrelandvItaly Benetton
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0

2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup

Munster were drawn in pool B for the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup. Due to the changed competition format for the 2020–21 season, Munster will play home-and-away fixtures against French side Clermont, who are the only French team to have ever won a Champions Cup game at Thomond Park to date, and English side Harlequins, where former Munster player and coach Jerry Flannery is currently a coach.[17]

In early January 2021, the EPCR took the decision to temporarily suspend rounds 3 and 4 of the 2020–21 Champions Cup, following a directive from authorities in France that French clubs should not participate in the scheduled matches in response to health risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is anticipated that the tournament will resume later in the season.[39]

Pool B

P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
France Lyon 2 2 0 0 83 10 +73 12 1 1 0 10
France Racing 92 2 2 0 0 75 29 +46 11 4 2 0 10
France Toulouse 2 2 0 0 57 22 +35 8 3 2 0 10
Ireland Munster 2 2 0 0 60 38 +22 5 5 0 0 8
France Clermont 2 1 0 1 82 77 +5 11 8 2 0 6
England Bristol Bears 2 1 0 1 65 69 -4 9 9 2 0 6
England Exeter Chiefs 2 1 0 1 42 28 +14 6 4 1 0 5
England Gloucester 2 1 0 1 48 89 -41 6 12 1 0 5
Ireland Ulster 2 0 0 2 56 67 -11 7 9 1 2 3
Ireland Connacht 2 0 0 2 40 53 -13 5 8 0 1 1
England Harlequins 2 0 0 2 14 70 -56 2 9 0 0 0
Scotland Glasgow Warriors 2 0 0 2 0 70 -70 0 10 0 0 0

[40]

Key to colours
     Top 4 of each pool, advance to quarter-finals.
     Teams 5–8 in pool advance to 2020–21 European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Round 1

13 December 2020
17:30
Munster Ireland21–7England Harlequins
Try: Penalty try 49'
G. Coombes 69' m
Pen: Hanrahan (2/3) 12', 37'
Healy (1/1) 62'
Report
Report
Try: Murley 55' c
Con: Smith (1/1) 56'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (FFR)

Round 2

19 December 2020
17:30
(1 BP) Clermont France31–39Ireland Munster
Try: Raka 0' c
Penalty try 6'
Penaud 14' c
Fourcade 23' c
Con: Lopez (3/3) 1', 15', 25'
Pen: Lopez (1/1) 60'
Report
Report
Try: Haley 28' c
Stander 69' c
O'Byrne 77' c
Con: Hanrahan (3/3) 29', 71', 77'
Pen: Hanrahan (6/6) 4', 8', 19', 43', 52', 57'
Stade Marcel-Michelin
Attendance: 0
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

Round 3

16 January 2021
17:30
Munster IrelandP–PFrance Clermont
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0

Round 4

23 January 2021
18:30
Harlequins EnglandP–PIreland Munster
The Stoop
Attendance: 0

2020–21 Munster A season

Friendlies

19 September 2020
14:00
Connacht Eagles Ireland19–22Ireland Munster A
Report
The Sportsground
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
26 September 2020
15:00
Munster A Ireland40–12Ireland Connacht Eagles
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)
12 December 2020
16:30
Ulster A Ireland22–10Ireland Munster A
Report
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 0
18 December 2020
17:00
Munster A Ireland34–25Ireland Leinster A
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0

Interpro Challenge Match

13 February 2021
13:00
Connacht Eagles IrelandvIreland Munster A
The Sportsground
Attendance: 0

References

  1. ^ Thomond Park's official capacity is 25,600 but can be expanded up to 26,276 with temporary seating.
  2. ^ "Johann van Graan to join Munster as head coach". South African Rugby Union. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Conferences Confirmed For Next Two Guinness PRO14 Seasons". Munster Rugby. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Pro14 reduced to 12 teams as South African clubs miss out for new campaign". The42. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  5. ^ "SA Rugby board puts Southern Kings in financial liquidation". SA Rugby Magazine. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Target Date Set For Guinness PRO14 Restart". Munster Rugby. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  7. ^ a b "EPCR confirm new 24-team Champions Cup next season, and Connacht are in". The42. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Munster's search for a fifth coach still active but not main priority". The42. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Munster begin hunt for a new Head of Athletic Performance". Irish Examiner. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Podcast | The Crooked Feed – Ged McNamara". Munster Rugby. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Academy Update". Munster Rugby. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. ^ "The Munster depth chart: Big-name signings and fascinating selection battles". The42. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Squad Update | Off-Season". Munster Rugby. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Player Update | Alex Wootton". Munster Rugby. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Report | Healy Caps Incredible Comeback For 14-Man Munster". Munster Rugby. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Munster To Face Clermont & Harlequins In Champions Cup". Munster Rugby. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Report | Munster Make Winning Start To Champions Cup". Munster Rugby. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Match Report | Munster Secure Dramatic Comeback Victory In Clermont". Munster Rugby. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Guinness PRO14 Campaign To Conclude In March Ahead Of New "Rainbow Cup"". Munster Rugby. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Munster Rugby | 1st Team Squad". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  23. ^ "Contract Update | Five Players Put Pen To Paper". Munster Rugby. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  24. ^ a b c "Six Players Commit To Munster". Munster Rugby. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  25. ^ a b c "Munster Sign De Allende, Gallagher And Snyman". Munster Rugby. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  26. ^ "Squad Update | Sammy Arnold, Conor Oliver & Roman Salanoa". Munster Rugby. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  27. ^ "Diarmuid Barron Promoted From Academy To Senior Squad". Munster Rugby. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  28. ^ "Player News". Munster Rugby. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Squad Update | Benetton Preparations". Munster Rugby. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Squad Update | Munster Prepare For Benetton Away". Munster Rugby. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  31. ^ "Arno Botha Departing For Blue Bulls". Munster Rugby. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  32. ^ a b "Connacht announce signings of four players ahead of 2020/21 season". Connacht Rugby. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Championship side Jersey confirm signings of outgoing Munster pair". The42. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  34. ^ "Irish lock O'Shea signs for French Pro D2 club after leaving Munster". The42. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  35. ^ "Scrum-half Stafford joins Premiership club Harlequins after leaving Munster". The42. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  36. ^ Competition Rule 3.1.4 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Fixture Update | Benetton v Munster Postponed". Munster Rugby. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  38. ^ "Munster v Leinster Postponed". Munster Rugby. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  39. ^ "EPCR confirms suspension of Champions Cup and Challenge Cup". The42. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  40. ^ "Pool Tables". Heineken Champions Cup. EPCR. Retrieved 29 October 2020.

External links