Emerald Rugby Magazine

29/10/2024

Big news out of Munster

Munster Rugby and the IRFU today confirm the departure of Graham Rowntree as Head Coach by mutual agreement.

After joining the club in 2019, Rowntree spent three years as Forwards Coach before being appointed Head Coach ahead of the 2022/23 season.

In his first season as Head Coach, Rowntree led Munster to the URC title, the club’s first trophy in 12 years, before overseeing a top of the table finish in last season’s URC campaign.

Munster Rugby CEO, Ian Flanagan, said: “We would like to thank Graham for his passion and dedication to Munster Rugby over the past five years, and I would like to wish him and his family the very best for the future on behalf of Munster Rugby.”

The change to the senior men’s coaching team is with immediate effect, with Head of Rugby Operations Ian Costello taking over as Interim Head Coach. The recruitment process for a permanent Head Coach will get underway immediately.

Flanagan continued: “With the All Blacks XV coming to a sold-out Thomond Park this weekend and a number of big games on the horizon in November and December, our focus will be on continuing to support the coaches and the players for the season ahead.”

Graham Rowntree said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Munster working with a very talented group of players and coaches.

“I would like to thank the wider Munster family for all the support they have shown me in my time here but now is the right stage for my family and I to look forward to a new chapter.”

🔴

16/06/2024

Tough day yesterday for the Irish teams. Leinster & Munster both came up short but what a superb set of games.

South African teams introduction to the URC has been fantastic. The standard of rugby being played is phenomenal & all teams have raised their game.

Good luck to Glasgow & the Bulls in the final, I'll have a sneaky cheer for Glasgow, our fellow Celts, but no doubt it will be a fantastic game.

24/04/2024

IT'S DECISION TIME
- By Frank Quinn

Round 15 of the URC is coming this week - there are 18 rounds in total, the maths are : that's five rounds to go (Up to 31st May). A club does not need to win all of them as long as they stay in the top eight line-up for the quarter finals.

With the South African Clubs in the competition, travel plays a major part in the final run in. In the last round Munster play Ulster and Leinster play Connacht

There are five rounds to play, in the rounds section, followed by quarter finals by the top eight , semi finals and the final. To win the URC you have to win the last three games.

There are about 50 games still to be played in this season long competition to get a winner so if you want to speculate on the winner on the 22nd June 2024 be my guest. There is a long way to go in this competition during the next two months so I am not going to bore you with any more detail.

Whether they get a home draw or not in the final games is up to the club' performance. Munster as the current champions will undoubtedly be under the most serious pressure to retain the trophy

The quarter finals are scheduled 7/8th June, the semi finals for the 15th June and the final for the 22nd June.

We have four clubs which can qualify for the quarter finals, Leinster as No 1, Munster (the Champions) at 4, Ulster at 8 and Connacht at No 10 has an opportunity to join the knockout stages. The permutations are numerous still.

In the bottom end of the table, - CARDIFF, SHARKS, SCARLETS, DRAGONS AND ZEBRE all look to be out of their depth in this competition and will not qualify for the knockout stages.

We do know that Leinster is in the semi finals of the Investec Cup on the 3/4th May and the final is on the 25th May in London - Leinster has to build in this schedule and complete a rare double. Both Ulster and Connacht sides were knocked out of the Challenge Cup after exiting the Investec.

World Rugby has a lot to do to make a global fixture list to accommodate all the tournaments and tours around the world, and respect player welfare.

12/04/2024

Great news

🗞️ CONTRACT NEWS | Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm that Peter O'Mahony has signed a new one-year contract with the province 🥳

See full details here: https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2024/04/12/peter-omahony-signs-new-contract-with-munster/

🔴

09/04/2024

The Challenge Cup 2024 - Ulster & Connacht still in the running...

This competition has also reached the last eight stage and Ulster and Connacht have made it into the quarter finals, (Both away). There is a better spread on the Clubs involved as follows: Ireland 2, South Africa 1, Italy 1, Wales 1, Scotland 1, France 1 and England 1, the URC are better represented here with six teams still in contention.

The finals of both competitions are scheduled for the 24th / 25th May At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium London.

EPCR is pleased to announce the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-finals fixture dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage.

QUARTER-FINALS
(Pool stage rankings in brackets - all kick-offs local times)

Friday 12 April
QF 2: Gloucester Rugby (2) v Ospreys (7), Kingsholm (20.00)
TNT Sports / S4C / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / FloRugby

Saturday 13 April
QF 1: Hollywoodbets Sharks (1) v Edinburgh Rugby (8), Hollywoodbets Kings Park (13.30)
SuperSport / TNT Sports / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby

QF 4: ASM Clermont Auvergne (4) v Ulster Rugby (12), Stade Marcel-Michelin (13.30)
France TV / beIN SPORTS / TNT Sports / SuperSport / FloRugby

Sunday 14 April
QF 3: Benetton Rugby (3) v Connacht Rugby (11), Stadio di Monigo (13.30)
epcrugby.tv / beIN SPORTS / TNT Sports / SuperSport / FloRugby

Semi-finals – 3/4/5 May
SF 1: winner QF 1 v winner QF 4
SF 2: winner QF 2 v winner QF 3
NB The matches will be played in Europe and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage

2024 EPCR Challenge Cup final: Friday 24 May; Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (20.00)

09/04/2024

Quarter final stages of European Cups by Frank Quinn

- In the Investec Cup we lost Munster in the round of 16, beaten by Northampton - Leinster - four time winners are through with previous winners Toulouse (5 wins) Current Champions La Rochelle, Exeter (2020) , Northampton won in May 2000 by beating Munster 9/8 in Twickenham,.

So history does count, They are joined by Bordeaux, Harlequins, South African Bulls, and Harlequins . all with their own qualification rights and all ready For the Go. There are no grudge games here - this is 2024 - all teams play on their form merit, new squads maybe new coaches - new game plans, it is open season for the premier European competition.

Current Form: Leinster are top of the URC table and Bulls are third, - Northampton are top of the Gallagher Premiership - Harlequins are forth and Exeter are sixth, Toulouse are second in the Top 14 table in France - La Rochelle are fifth and Bordeaux are sixth
Leinster has not won the Cup since 2018 when they beat Racing 92 in Bilbao (for their fourth win - the players are six years older ), Exeter won it in this century - 2020

The breakdown by country for 2024 is: France 3, England 3, Ireland 1, South Africa 1, There are No remaining Clubs from Italy, Scotland or Wales. The result is that only two teams -(Out of the 16 ) from the URC - have qualified and remain in the competition

The draw is;
Leinster V. La Rochelle (Holders) at the Aviva,
Toulouse V. Exeter,
Northampton V. Bulls,
Bordeaux V Harlequins, this is the 2024 situation so all previous form is out the window for the quarter final stages, the Investec Cup has never lost its drawing power in spite of the name change.

The rules state that the highest ranked teams have home advantage.

It is the 29th Finals series having started in 1996 in the Cardiff Arms Park before a modest attendance of 21,800 - Toulouse beat Cardiff Blues 21/18 AET. and then beat La Rochelle in May 2021 at Twickenham for their fifth title.

The largest attendance at a final so far was on 20th May 2012 when Leinster beat Ulster at Twickenham 42-14. The attendance was 81,744 between two Irish Clubs, Leinster was captained by current Head Coach Leo Cullen and Munster by Johan Muller.

QUARTER-FINALS
(Pool stage rankings in brackets / All kick-offs local times)

Saturday 13 April
QF 4: Union Bordeaux-Bègles (4) v Harlequins (5), Stade Chaban-Delmas (16.00)
beIN SPORTS / France TV / TNT Sports / SuperSport / FloRugby

QF 2: Leinster Rugby (2) v Stade Rochelais (10), Aviva Stadium (17.30)
RTE / beIN SPORTS / TNT Sports / SuperSport / FloRugby

QF 3: Northampton Saints (3) v Vodacom Bulls (6), cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens (20.00)
TNT Sports / SuperSport / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby

Sunday 14 April
QF 1: Stade Toulousain (1) v Exeter Chiefs (8), Stade Ernest-Wallon (16.00)
France TV / ITV / beIN SPORTS / TNT Sports / SuperSport / FloRugby

Semi-finals – 3/4/5 May
SF 1: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4
SF 2: Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3
NB The matches will be played in Europe and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home country advantage

2024 Investec Champions Cup final: Saturday 25 May; Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (14.45)

27/03/2024

Still a much loved and greatly missed character. Forever young

“On the pitch he was so serious and driven, someone who expected the highest standards from everyone. Off the pitch he was fun loving. When he talked about rugby it was a different story.”

Remembering John McCall on the 20th anniversary of his passing.

https://irishrugby.ie/2024/03/27/remembering-john-mccall/

05/11/2023

Fantastic day for City of Armagh Rugby Club
There's only One fair county in Ireland👌

14/10/2023

Class 🤘
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGJT8cdnA

07/10/2023

👏👏👏

Peter O’Mahony’s garden is in the best of hands 👩‍🌾💚

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26/09/2023

We got what we came for ! NOW WE WANT GOLD

Week 3 resulted in Ireland getting what they came for - A place in the Sun - a place in the qualifiers of the RWC 2023 in France, we topped the pool table. It is very well deserved - playing 3 and winning 3 and a points difference of 122 and 2 bonus points.

We have a rest until the Saturday 7th October when we engage with Scotland in the final pool game in Paris. Scotland beat Tonga to scrounge five points from two games - and third place. Our top of the table win over South Africa has placed them firmly in 2nd place but the holders are not qualified yet, - they play Tonga to finish.

The quarter Finals are on the 14th & 15th October - divided between Marseilles and Paris. We are not worried about the venue or the opposition - we have been there and done that to all the nations who are left in contention at this point. it is the usual formula of Pool winners V. Pool runner up. Pool A V Pool B and it follows Pool C V. Pool D.

Try to look at the big picture with me - we want to win the RWC in 2023, we are waiting too long in rugby, 100 years to win a couple of grand slams, a 100 years to beat the All Blacks, we enjoy a good history but our successes are not really part of history - they are outdated And need updating in 2023. we can do all this in this century - put our name in the record books for all to see. From 1987 to now is a slow burning fuse in the RWC saga - that has taken 37 years.

Week 4 - Round 4, 27th September - is this week - to do the sorting of the pools;
We are not involved in this round- as we have qualified - with France Pool A, England Pool D, Wales Pool C ( LateSunday) Four places to be filled so these games are important to fill the quarter final places: However Pool D has Japan V. Samoa & then Argentina - to be runner up to England for a qualifier place on Thursday. This is followed by Japan V Argentina (Coaches Cheika / Contepomi) on 8th October. One point separates the three countries - who played two games each. In the top Pool A New Zealand play Italy and need the points (Bonus) to hang on to front runners France, followed on Saturday by Pool C Fiji V. Georgia to join in the fight between Wales and Australia. Wales has beaten Australia 40/6 and it looks like they eliminated the Wallabies. Fiji are in pole position to qualify with Wales (Warren Gatland coach).

The pool positions are important for future editions of the RWC. What is Eddie Jones position at the Wallabies after the defeats by Wales and Fiji is the wider question.

We need more quality in the qualified countries. As things stand now after three rounds with 20 countries in four Pools, we are left with five countries with no points and two countries with two points each (draw Georgia/Portugal).

Yellow Cards and the delayed reviews (to extend to red) by the TMO is trying for the viewers, what it is like for players you can only imagine , sitting like a stool pigeon on the side lines. The directions from the referee to the players has come under some scrutiny. It was originally designed to help continuity of play as a guide to players but it is over used by some referees as they bladder on to huge men - very well paid professionals, and very experienced in most cases. You just wonder if it is necessary - let them play and the referee is very much in control if something is wrong to call a halt to the play. Similarly in the scrum - if something is wrong according to the laws - blow the whistle and make the decision accordingly for six huge men in front and move on with the game with no resets. This is double copper fastened by the fact of reducing injuries in a scrum.

The RWC is getting good TV coverage and the viewers can see these areas for themselves, they don't need a sermon from the mount. It is there on the TV screens for all to see, millions of opinionated critics / viewers who should be listened to. They don't have "to be rugby people" to have an opinion, just TV watching sports fans. They don't need a monologue from referees / TMO's /assistant referees / and then the review panel, they just want to watch a game of Rugby,

16/09/2023

J10

An Ireland great with an excellent kick rate
Caps, a plenty to show
A hard earned trade, tough as a spade
Could make a backline flow

The glory days, his imaginative plays
In green, red and blue
A Mary's boy, brought the club much joy
His detractors they don't have a clue

I first saw his way, on a filthy day
Down in Donnybrook
Wind and rain causing heartache & pain
Even seeing the posts was a fluke

Most kids at home, playing games on a phone
You're mental going out today
For a young J10, alone and again
Kicked for posts, like a game winning play

I watched in my car, his kicks travelled far
Each one acutely angled
Battling rain & wind, each kick he grinned
Figuring his process new fangled

10 stone thin and soaked to the skin
He gathered the balls and walked near
I asked "what you at, being out in that"
His answer was crystal clear

In wind & rain we play the game
If I split the posts today
In difficult times, my process I'll find
Just working out my way

My words my gift, but you get the drift
Astounded by his dedication
The number of trophies that he would lift
The star of many an occasion

No challenge he'd shirk, unseen hard work
That day I got a privileged look
The drive & skill of that young lad
His success was never a fluke

His career is long and he wasn't wrong
I sure did remember his name
Johnny Sexton, with voice like a claxton
A legend of our great game.

It's not yet the end but this poem I'll send
With hopefully a few lines to come
Games still to play, in his intensive way
Enjoy J10, have fun.
ML

08/09/2023

Wow!!!
Opening game & France were absolutely blinding 🇫🇷
The speed both teams recycled ball was nothing short of majestic.
Non stop stuff.
I've a feeling the kids might starve over the next few weeks

02/09/2023

With the RWC looming large, we've put together a short list of Irelands games as well as some must see games

IN Pool B, Ireland
9th Sept V. Romania .(14.30)
16th Sept V Tonga, (20.00)
23rd Sept. V South Africa (Paris),(20.00)
7th October V. Scotland (Paris) 9 pm

MUST SEE GAMES:
8th September 9.15 pm France V. New Zealand Pool A
9th September England V. Argentina 9 pm Pool D
10th September 5.45 South Africa V. Scotland Pool B, Marseille
17th September England V. Japan 9 pm Pool D
23rd September, South Africa V. Ireland 9 pm in Paris, Pool B
24th September Wales V. Australia 9 pm Pool C
7th October Ireland V. Scotland (Paris) 9 pm Pool B.

The four quarter Finals start on the 14th & 15th October

The semi finals are on the 20th and 21st October

THE GRAND FINAL SAT 28TH OCTOBER 9 PM PARIS, SAINT DENIS. Stade de France

27/08/2023

Strong squad💪

Our 33-player squad for Rugby World Cup! 🟢

26/08/2023

Great workout, just what those players needed. Samoa were fantastic, the perfect warmup game.
Conditions favoured Ireland, anyone who says different has never been to Ireland!
On to the main event in 2 weeks💪

26/08/2023

***IRELAND TEAM MEDICAL UPDATE:☘️
Healy - Sore leg
Henshaw - Sore foot
Stockdale - Sore leg
Earls - Saving himself
***Ends***

26/08/2023

Question.
What's the weather like in Ireland?
What's the weather like in Samoa?
Quit yapping about the weather...

20/08/2023

💯 & not out 👏👏👏

When you score your 100th try on your 100th cap for Ireland, against England.

Congratulations Keith Earls

30/07/2023

Fantastic result for the Ulster men🏆

KINGS OF THE NORTH!

ALL IRELAND PREMIERSHIP WINNERS 🏆 🐎

ITS THE BRONCO BOYS MAKING ALL THE NOISE EVERYWHERE WE GOOOOOOO🐎🐎🐎

21/04/2023

Ulster Rugby, true to their word🙏

19/03/2023

Lots of great discussions about the Red card yesterday. Understandably many struggle to understand the decision, but the directive from WR is very clear for referees.

POINT 2: Steward turned his body & as a result of that action, his elbow & shoulder made contact with the head therefore it (contact with the elbow/shoulder) was deemed to be avoidable.

POINT 3: Direct Contact

POINT 4: None of these apply, there was no mitigation.

SANCTION
- Direct contact
- Upright
- Leading shoulder & elbow

All primary indicators for a red card.

Peyper actually spoke through this exact process to his team & none of the highly skilled & trained officials disagreed with him.

We must continue to educate ourselves in order to mitigate against brain injury.

17/03/2023

Get your weekend off to a flyer

Don’t forget to kick-off your weekend with the Irish Rugby Legends this evening!

Best of luck to everyone involved.

23/02/2023

Great to see Jeremy back in the game👍👍

Former British and Irish Lions lock Jeremy Davidson has landed himself a new Top 14 head coach role 18 weeks after he was dismissed by Brive.