Graham Rowntree and co. are convinced the best is yet ahead for the province.
FOR THE SECOND season in a row, Munster exited the Champions Cup at the Round of 16 stage. It’s certainly not what Graham Rowntree’s side aspire to.
They expect to have quite a few players back from injury in the coming weeks, including RG Snyman, and they’re intent on retaining their URC crown.There’s no doubt a lack of luck on the injury front was a factor in them limping into the Round of 16 and getting knocked out by Northampton. An injury crisis in the winter left Munster without 20 players at one point, while they were missing 17 last weekend for the Northampton game.
This summer promises to be one of further change in the southern province. Snyman is leaving for Leinster and though he obviously hasn’t played much rugby in his four seasons with Munster, he is a world-class player.Joey Carbery has also confirmed his exit as he gets set to join Bordeaux, while it looks increasingly possible that Antoine Frisch will go to the Top 14 this summer.
However, it’s understood that Munster will make at least two more new signings ahead of next season, while tighthead Jager only joined as recently as December, having initially been lined up to make the move from Crusaders later this year. Last season, the IRFU converted more than €4 million of Munster’s “operational debt” into a long-term loan, meaning the province now owes the IRFU a total of €10.75 million when also factoring in the remaining sum owed for the redevelopment of Thomond Park in 2007/08. This conversion of operational debt was accompanied by a renegotiation of Munster’s loan repayments to the IRFU, which have risen from €100,000 per season to €200,000 per season.
In terms of options within the other provinces, Connacht’s Tom Farrell is out of contract this summer and seems like the profile of player Munster could benefit from bringing in if Frisch goes. Munster were linked with Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar earlier this season but it’s believed that he will not be joining them. They were also thought to be interested in Leinster loosehead prop Michael Milne but it seems he has decided to stay where he is.
The province have been running more Munster Rugby dinners in cities like London and New York in recent times, bringing the Irish diaspora closer to the province and also connecting with possible investors. One of Rowntree’s other beliefs was that high-quality coaching could improve players who appeared to have plateaued or hit their ceiling of potential with Munster in recent years.
Then there are the younger Munster guns who have obvious potential. Rowntree has given lots of academy players chances already. 21-year-old Ennis halfbacks Ethan Coughlan and Tony Butler have shown promise in their senior appearances, while loosehead props Mark Donnelly and Kieran Ryan , as well as outside backs Shay McCarthy and Ben O’Connor , have also featured for Rowntree’s team.
Ireland U19 centre Gene O’Leary-Kareem is among the players who will likely go straight into the academy out of school next season, a growing trend in Munster as they fast-track the best talent.
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