Quinlan confirms retirement from rugby

Munster and Ireland back rower Alan Quinlan has confirmed that he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the current season.

 

Alan Quinlan, who will shortly celebrate his 37th birthday, confirmed the news today at Munster's weekly media briefing at the University of Limerick ahead of their Magners League match against the Scarlets.

The Clanwilliam clubman, who has been named in the province's squad to face the Scarlets, has played 210 competitive games for Munster since making his debut in November 1996.

He was capped 27 times for Ireland at Test level, with his six-try haul including touchdowns against Namibia and Argentina at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Quinlan has been part of all of Munster's successes in the modern era - their Celtic League, Celtic Cup and Magners League triumphs and both of their Heineken Cup wins.

Munster team to face Brive.

O'Driscoll is just one of three changes coach Tony McGahan makes, from the side that started against Leinster, for the game tomorrow in the Stade Municipal (2pm local time).

Denis Leamy who replaced Donnacha Ryan in the 54th minute against Leinster retains the number 6 shirt while Sam Tuitupou, off to join an English Premiership side at the end of the season, partners his cousin Lifeimi Mafi in the centre with Johne Murphy slipping to the bench.

Munster: F Jones; D Howlett, L Mafi, S Tuitupou, K Earls; R O'Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; D Leamy, D Wallace, J Coughlan.

Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, J Hayes, D Ryan, N Ronan, P Stringer, P Warwick, J Murphy.

Munster squad for Leinster Clash

Munster head coach Tony McGahan has named a 27-man squad for Saturday's Magners League encounter with Leinster at Thomond Park (kick-off 7.30pm).

The selected squad includes all 23 players who were on duty for the 16-15 victory over the Cardiff Blues last Friday, plus Paul Warwick, who has returned from Australia, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan and David Wallace.

Tony McGahan met with press today in UL and gave his thoughts on Saturday's derby game, saying: "We can't afford to lose any game and we've worked so hard with last weekend's win over Cardiff away from home.

Cardiff Blues 15-16 Munster

Munster grabbed a rare win in Wales to keep them top of the Magners League and put a dent in Cardiff Blues' ambitions of a top-four play-off place at the end of this season.
 Fly-half Ronan O'Gara, who had a mixed night with the boot, landed the vital penalty midway through the second half to secure Munster's first win on Welsh soil in six visits and only Cardiff's second home defeat in the league all season.

Munster, though, were well worth their win over a Blues side who never really got going but did rally when Scotland fly-half Dan Parks put them ahead with a trademark drop goal before O'Gara, who had missed four earlier penalties, had his say.

David Young, the Blues coach, knows this defeat keeps his side in fifth place as the race for the Magners League Grand Final hots up and the side from the Welsh capital have a mountain to climb as most of their remaining games are away from home.

Munster 38-17 Newport Gwent Dragons

Munster continued their charge towards a home Magners League semi-final as they ran five tries past Newport Gwent Dragons in Cork.
 Penalties from Paul Warwick and Jason Tovey were the only scores until Doug Howlett blitzed through for a brace of tries, handing Munster an 18-9 half-time advantage.
Steve Jones touched down for the Dragons, but tries from man of the match Mick O'Driscoll, Johne Murphy and Alan Quinlan made certain of the bonus point for Munster.
The visitors had to realign their backs division before kick-off. An injury to Will Harries saw Pat Leach move to full-back with Ashley Smith brought into midfield.

Both sides showed an eagerness to attack but early penalties prevented any momentum being built up as Warwick and Tovey traded blows.
 Warwick nudged Munster ahead before Tovey struck an upright with his first penalty. He made amends in the eighth minute before Warwick kicked Munster back in front.
 Tovey then moved the Dragons 9-6 ahead with two well-struck efforts as the likes of Joe Bearman and Toby Faletau made the hard yards.

Mike Ross set to remain with Leinster

Ireland tighthead Mike Ross is set to remain with Leinster despite speculation linking him with a move to Munster, according to a report.

Cork-born Ross began his top level rugby career with Munster but left the province after failing to win a contract there. He established himself as a professional prop with Harlequins in England before moving to Leinster in 2009.

Tony Buckley's decision to leave Munster for Sale Sharks at the end of the season and Leinster's imminent acquisition of Connacht prop Jamie Hagan have fuelled speculation that Ross is set to leave.

But a Leinster source told the Irish Times that they would be 'very disappointed' if Ross decided to move to Munster.

Ross, who has started both of Ireland's RBS 6 Nations so far in this campaign, is currently negotiating a new deal with the Irish Rugby Football Union and it is understood he has said wants to remain at Leinster.

Tony Buckley to join Sale Sharks and Mike Ross may join Munster.

Ireland and Munster prop Tony Buckley has signed a three-year deal to join Aviva Premiership side Sale Sharks from the start of next season.

Commenting on his move to England next season, Buckley said: 'I felt I needed a new challenge. I believe the best club to give me that challenge and also help me become a better player is Sale Sharks. They are hungry and ambitious for success and I want to be a part of that.

'However, at this moment in time, I am a Munster player until the end of June. My priorities for now are to help Munster achieve success in the Amlin Challenge Cup and the Magners League and to regain a place in the Irish squad.'

Buckley's move could pave the way for Mike Ross to return to Munster. Ross began his career with the southern province before moving to English Premiership side Harlequins and then joining Leinster.

It has been suggested that Ireland tighthead Ross will move back to Munster at the end of this year with current Connacht tighthead Jamie Hagan set for a return to Leinster.

Rautenbach banned for Wallace incident

London Irish prop Faan Rautenbach has been given a three-week ban for stamping on the head and shoulder of Munster flanker David Wallace.

Rautenbach was yellow-carded following the incident during Munster's victory in the teams' Heineken Cup clash in Limerick last Saturday.

The subsequent citing was upheld with an initial suspension of five weeks reduced by two weeks by an independent disciplinary hearing because of mitigating factors.

Rautenbach is free to play from Friday, 18 February.

Munster's Amlin Cup details revealed

Munster's clash with Brive in the European Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals will take place at the Stadium Municipal Amédée-Domenech.

The match will kick-off at 2pm on Saturday, 9 April. The stadium's capacity is 15,000.

Munster were knocked out of the Heineken Cup after failing to secure one of the best runner-up spots in the group stages.

Munster 28-14 London Irish

Munster scored three converted tries in the final 10 minutes to break clear of London Irish and earn a confidence-boosting bonus point win.

Irish were just 12 minutes away from becoming only the second team to beat Munster in a Heineken Cup tie at Thomond Park.

Their captain Seilala Mapusua scored a try and set up the second for Sailosi Tagicakibau as the visitors edged into a 14-7 lead, after a scoreless first half.

But Munster, who are Amlin Challenge Cup-bound now, hit back decisively with late tries from Niall Ronan, Keith Earls and replacement Darragh Hurley.

That closing barrage of points put a gloss on the final scoreline, but Munster can take heart from how they raised their game when staring at a possible third pool defeat.

Smarting from their Toulon nightmare, Munster made a sprightly start in heavy underfoot conditions, getting Johne Murphy and Denis Hurley involved early on.

Mapusua, in his final Heineken Cup outing for Irish, announced himself with a typical midfield burst, and Munster were unable to convert their early territory into points.

A solid lineout platform and some clever kicking from Darren Allinson brought the visitors forward, but they were hampered by prop Faan Rautenbach's sin-binning for stamping on David Wallace at a ruck.

O'Leary back in Munster starting XV

Tomás O'Leary has reclaimed the starting scrum-half jersey in a Munster side to face London Irish which also shows several other changes from the team beaten by Toulon (3.30pm).

Munster crashed out of the Heineken Cup thanks to a 32-16 defeat against the well-financed French outfit last week and can now only qualify for the Amlin Challenge Cup.

O'Leary, who was recently left out of Ireland coach Declan Kidney's initial RBS 6 Nations squad, replaces Peter Stringer, who drops to the bench. Ronan O'Gara continues at out-half.

Elsewhere in the backline, full-back Paul Warwick, who suffered a heavy knock against Toulon, and centre Sam Tuitupou, who strained his hamstring during training this week, also miss out on selection.
 Johne Murphy shifts from wing to full-back in place of Warwick with Denis Hurley coming into the starting XV on one wing. Doug Howlett continues on the other wing. Keith Earls and Lifiemi Mafi start together in the centre.

Munster squad shows three changes

The Munster squad shows just three changes in personnel from last week's squad, for the Heineken Cup game with London Irish at Thomond Park Stadium on Saturday.
 Donnacha Ryan misses out having injured a hamstring after coming on as a replacement, while Billy Holland and Tommy O'Donnell are named in Munster's British & Irish starting XV for the game against Esher on Friday (Garryowen FC 7.30pm), with Holland set to skipper the side.

Munster squad to play London Irish in the Heineken Cup at Thomond Park:

Wian Du Preez, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, John Hayes, Mike Sherry, Damien Varley, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Mick O'Driscoll, Ian Nagle, Niall Ronan, James Coughlan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer, Scott Deasy, Ronan O'Gara, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Tom Gleeson, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Denis Hurley, Doug Howlett, Paul Warwick

Munster call up Nagle for London Irish clash

Ian Nagle has been added to the Munster squad for their final Heineken Cup pool game against London Irish this Saturday.

Munster submitted the additional player documentation to the ERC today.

Second row Nagle, who secured a development contract at the start of the season after spending two years with the Munster Rugby Academy, has made five appearances in the Magners League and put in a Man of the Match performance against Australia last November.

Ian Dowling, who is suffering from an ongoing hip injury, has been submitted as the player to be de-registered.

McGahan "Munster paid for indiscipline"

Munster head coach Tony McGahan conceded that a lack of discipline had let his side down as they crashed out of the Heineken Cup at the hands of Toulon.

Donncha O'Callaghan and Ronan O'Gara were both yellow-carded as the Irish province bowed out with an untypical whimper, losing 32-16 in the south of France.

England star Jonny Wilkinson punished almost every infringement by Munster in kicking 22 points, while Christian Loamanu and Paul Sackey helped themselves to tries.

McGahan said: 'I'm absolutely shattered to be out of the Heineken Cup at this point in the term, especially after a very disappointing performance.

'I think the first thing was our discipline. Conceding 13 points with two men off the field and a couple of penalties from scrums certainly added to the scoreline. But I think, most of all, our lack of accuracy in trying to put anything together.

'I thought we were very frantic at times, especially in the first half. We had a bit of a dried up source from our set-piece, so we really needed to make sure that we controlled the ball, played in the right areas of the field and put some pressure on them. But unfortunately we weren't able to do that.'

Toulon 32-16 Munster

Munster failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup for the first time in 13 years after slumping to defeat in Toulon.

Half-backs Jonny Wilkinson and Pierre Mignoni drove Toulon to a 26-9 half-time advantage, with Munster lock Donncha O'Callaghan sin-binned shortly before the break.
 Wingers Christian Loamanu and Paul Sackey scored first-half tries at a partisan Stade Felix Mayol, and any hopes of a Munster comeback evaporated when Ronan O'Gara was yellow carded in the 49th minute.
 

Wilkinson finished with 22 points as the big-spending French outfit reached the knock-out stages in their first season in the competition.
 Lying two points behind leaders Toulon heading into this pivotal Pool Three clash, Tony McGahan's men knew it was win or bust if they wanted to retain their interest in this season's Heineken Cup.

O'Connell returns for Munster.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made three changes to the side that started against the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup for Sunday's clash with Toulon, kick-off 3pm.

Two of those changes are in the pack with the return of Paul O'Connell relegating Mick O'Driscoll to the replacements bench and Tony Buckley makes way for John Hayes.
 Peter Stringer come in from the start ahead of Tomas O'Leary.

Munster team to play in the Heineken Cup on Sunday, kick-off 3pm: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, S Tuitupou, J Murphy; R O'Gara, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Varley, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; J Coughlan, D Wallace, D Leamy.

Replacements: M Sherry, D Hurley, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, N Ronan, T O'Leary, L Mafi.

O'Connell named in Munster squad.

Paul O'Connell has been brought straight back into the Munster squad for their Heineken Cup clash against Toulon, after serving a four week suspension.

O'Connell was handed the ban for striking' Wales number eight Jonathan Thomas in a Heineken Cup match between Munster and the Ospreys, but is now set for a return to action with his province.

Head coach Tony McGahan has also opted against naming a third hooker in the squad, despite the absence of Jerry Flannery, who is sidelined with a calf injury.

The Heineken Cup team will be announced at midday on Friday.

Munster squad to play Toulon in the Heineken Cup on Sunday 16 January:
Wian Du Preez, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, John Hayes, Mike Sherry, Damien Varley, Billy Holland, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Paul O'Connell, Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Niall Ronan, James Coughlan, Tommy O'Donnell, David Wallace Denis Leamy, Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer, Scott Deasy, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Denis Hurley, Doug Howlett.

It's all or nothing for Munster.

Munster face a must-win Heineken Cup clash away against Toulon on Sunday, a challenge which lock Donncha O'Callaghan is relishing.

Munster are flying high atop of the Magners League but they have yet to find their best form in Europe this season and presently lie second behind Toulon in Pool Three.

The showdown on Sunday at Stade Felix Mayol therefore presents a huge game for both sides in their bid to top the pool and in the process book a quarter-final place. Added pressure for Munster is that they have not missed out on a Heineken Cup quarter-final on their last 12 attempts.

"We're playing for our lives," O'Callaghan told the Irish Independent.

"It's a massive week, cup-final rugby.

"This is where you test yourself, this is where you want to be. People say we're not playing well, but tables reflect what we're doing. There's a huge standard expected with this team."

Munster 22-20 Glasgow.

Ronan O'Gara came to Munster's rescue as his 76th minute penalty denied Glasgow Warriors a famous win at Musgrave Park.

Glasgow outscored the Magners League leaders by two tries to one, and Ruaridh Jackson's drop goal gave them a 20-19 lead inside the final quarter.

But the Scots had Bernardo Stortoni sin-binned as Munster pummelled the visitors' try-line, and O'Gara mopped up with the match-winning penalty.

Jackson's seventh-minute penalty opened the scoring after O'Gara had a kick charged down and John Hayes was pinged for not rolling away after a tackle.

Munster, who brought Denis Hurley in for the injured Doug Howlett (calf), mounted a swift response.

Paul Warwick attacked with vigour and his kick forward was deflected into the path of Johne Murphy, who was brought to ground close to the Glasgow posts. Richie Gray killed the ball at the ensuing ruck and was promptly yellow carded.

Munster make changes for Glasgow visit.

Munster coach Tony McGahan makes nine changes from the side that started against Ulster for Saturday's clash with Glasgow Warriors in Cork.

Of those changes, one is positional with Ronan O'Gara's return to the side meaning Paul Warwick reverts to full-back in a backline that sees Lifeimi Mafi start at inside centre in place of Sam Tuitupou, who is listed among the replacements.

Johne Murphy coming back onto the left wing with Denis Hurley this time providing the cover.
Up front there are changes aplenty starting in the front-row where Darragh Hurley replaces Wian du Preez at loosehead and John Hayes starts ahead of Tony Buckley at tighthead, who has been struck down with a virus.
 Donncha O'Callaghan returns from his enforced rest to partner the bang in-form Mick O'Driscoll in the second row while James Coughlan is named at blindside and David Wallace at openside in a back-row that again will be led by Denis Leamy.

Two Academy players, Mike Sherry and Dave Kilcoyne fill two of the three front row places on the replacements.

For Glasgow, Scotland number eight Johnnie Beattie will make his return to frontline action. Beattie has been out with a shoulder injury since he returned from Scotland's historic Test series win in Argentina last summer.

Munster team to play Glasgow at Musgrave Park on Saturday at 7.30pm on Saturday, 8 January:

P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, J Murphy; R O'Gara, P Stringer; D Hurley, D Varley, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, J Coughlan, D Wallace, D Leamy capt.

Replacements: M Sherry, D Kilcoyne, P Borlase, D Ryan, N Ronan, T O'Leary, S Tuitupou, D Hurley.