2025–26 Munster Rugby season

Munster Rugby
2025–26 season
Head coachClayton McMillan
Chief executiveIan Flanagan[1]
Top try scorerAll: Michael Milne - 2
Top points scorerAll: Jack Crowley - 20
Highest home attendance16,512
Lowest home attendance8,800
Average home attendance12,949.75
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2024–25 2026–27 →

The 2025–26 season is Munster Rugby's fifth season in the United Rugby Championship, and their 138th season of representative rugby since their foundation. Along with competing in the URC and its Irish Shield competition, the club will also participate in the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup, their 32nd season of European and professional competition.

For the first time, Munster will bring a competitive in-season fixture to the 45,000 capacity Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Cork, with one of the two European Rugby Champions Cup home matches designated for the venue. Munster had previously played a number of high-profile 'friendly fixtures' at the venue.[2] Munster will become the third Irish province to bring a major competitive home fixture to a larger GAA ground, Munster having played away fixtures against both Leinster at Croke Park, and Connacht at MacHale Park, in the previous season.

Munster has appointed a new head coach for the 2025–26 season, Clayton McMillan.[3] McMillan was previously head coach of Super Rugby side, The Chiefs.

Men's squad

Main article: Munster Rugby

Full squad

Munster Rugby senior squad

Prop

Hooker

Lock

Back Row

Scrum-Half

Fly-Half

Centre

Wing

Fullback

(c) denotes the team captain.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[19]

Pre-season and Friendlies

Munster's men will begin their season with two pre-season friendlies against English opposition. Both ties will be reversals of upcoming European Rugby Champions Cup pool matches.[20]

5 September 2025 Gloucester 14–12 Munster Kingsholm  
19:30 Report
12 September 2025 Munster 28-28 Bath Virgin Media Park  
19:00 Report

Munster will also play a friendly match against Argentina XV during the 2025 end-of-year rugby union internationals at Thomond Park.[21]

1 November 2025 Munster v Argentina XV Thomond Park  
17:00

United Rugby Championship

Matches

27 September 2025 Scarlets 21 – 34 Munster (1 BP) Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
17:30 Try: Murray (48')
Mee (64')
Plumtree (75')
Con: Costelow (49', 65')
Hawkins (76')
 Report Try: Casey (10')
Haley (42')
D. Kelly (59')
Ahern (69')
Con: Hanrahan (12')
Crowley (43', 60', 70')
Pen: Hanrahan (23', 29')
 Attendance: 9 078
Referee: Sam Grove-White
4 October 2025 Munster 23 – 20 Cardiff (2 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: Quinn (29')
Coombes (52')
Barron (61')
Con: Crowley (53')
Pen: Crowley (67')
Drop: Crowley (77')
 Report Try: J. Adams (15')
Bowen (44', 57', 82')
 Attendance: 12,066
10 October 2025 (1 BP) Munster 20 – 19 Edinburgh (1 BP) Musgrave Park, Cork  
19:45 Try: A. Smith (2')
Milne (33', 58')
F. Wycherley (72')
 report Try: Ashman (7')
Vellacott (15')
Graham (48')
Con: Healy (16', 49')
Cards:
Young  28'
Rae  30'
Douglas  53'
Graham  68' 		Attendance: 8,800
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
18 October 2025 Leinster 14 – 31 Munster (1 BP) Croke Park, Dublin  
17:15 Try: Kelleher (7')
Penny (79')
Con: Prendergast (8', 80'+1)
Cards: Frawley  77' 		Report
MOTM: Jack Crowley 		Try: Gleeson (17')
Tom Farrell (23')
Coughlan (37')
penalty try (76')
Con: Crowley (18', 24', 38')
Pen: Crowley (49')
Cards: Coombes,  79' 		Attendance: 51,859
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
25 October 2025 Munster 17 – 15 Connacht (1 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: O'Donoghue (15' m, 67' m)
Kilgallen (33' c)
Con: JJ Hanrahan (33')
 Report Try: Ralston (20' m, 28' m)
Boyle (42' m)
 Attendance: 16,512[22]
Referee: Andrea Piardi
29 November 2025 (1 BP) Munster 21 – 27 Stormers Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Beirne (8' c)
Hodnett (20' c)
Crowley (27' c)
Con: Crowley (3/3) (8', 20', 28')
Cards: Coombes 58' to 68' 		Report Try: A. Smith (58')
Maart (68')
Nel (72')
Con: Matthee (3/3) (59' c, 69' c, 72' c)
Pen: Matthee (6', 12')
Cards: Evans 3' to 13'
Theunissen 20' to 30' 		Attendance: 14,421
Referee: Andrea Piardi
20 December 2025 Ospreys v Munster Brewery Field  
17:30
27 December 2025 Munster v Leinster Thomond Park  
19:45
2 January 2026 Ulster v Munster Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45
23 January 2026 Munster v Dragons Musgrave Park  
19:45
30 January 2026 Glasgow Warriors v Munster Scotstoun Stadium  
19:45
28 February 2026 Munster v Zebre Parma Thomond Park  
17:30
21 March 2026 Sharks v Munster Kings Park Stadium  
15:00
28 March 2026 Bulls v Munster Loftus Versfeld Stadium  
12:00
18 April 2026 Benetton v Munster Stadio Comunale di Monigo  
19:45
25 April 2026 Munster v Ulster Thomond Park  
17:30
9 May 2026 Connacht v Munster The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45
16 May 2026 Munster v Lions Thomond Park  
19:45

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Stormers 6 6 0 0 184 60 +124 23 7 3 0 27 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
2 Cardiff 6 5 0 1 140 101 +39 22 13 4 1 25
3 Munster 6 5 0 1 146 116 +30 21 18 3 1 24
4 Ulster 5 4 0 1 182 116 +66 26 16 5 0 21
5 Glasgow Warriors 6 4 0 2 161 87 +74 22 10 3 1 20 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
6 Leinster 6 3 0 3 150 146 +4 23 20 3 1 16
7 Lions 6 3 0 3 176 178 −2 24 26 3 1 16
8 Bulls 6 3 0 3 172 190 −18 26 27 3 0 15
9 Connacht 5 2 0 3 120 91 +29 17 13 3 2 13 Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup
10 Edinburgh 5 2 0 3 128 88 +40 20 14 2 3 13
11 Zebre Parma 6 2 0 4 106 182 −76 14 27 2 0 10
12 Benetton 6 2 0 4 101 176 −75 11 26 1 0 9
13 Ospreys 6 1 1 4 127 159 −32 19 24 1 1 8
14 Sharks 6 1 1 4 113 180 −67 17 24 2 0 8
15 Dragons 6 0 2 4 84 175 −91 11 26 0 1 5
16 Scarlets 5 1 0 4 81 126 −45 9 17 0 0 4
Updated to match(es) played on 29 November 2025. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 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.[23]


2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables
Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Munster 2 2 0 0 48 29 +19 7 5 1 0 9 —
2 Connacht 1 0 0 1 15 17 -2 3 3 0 1 1 —
3 Ulster — — — — — — — — — — — — —
4 Leinster 1 0 0 1 14 31 -17 2 4 0 0 0 —
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[24]
  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 currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

European Rugby Champions Cup

Munster have been drawn in Pool 2 of the European Rugby Champions Cup, along with URC colleagues Edinburgh (whom Munster will not play in line with the rules of the competition), along with Bath, Castres, Gloucester and Toulon.[25]

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 2
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Bath 2 1 0 1 74 59 +15 10 7 2 0 6 Home Champions Cup round of 16.
2 Castres 2 1 0 1 47 34 +13 7 4 1 0 5
3 Munster 2 1 0 1 45 43 +2 7 7 1 0 5 Away Champions Cup round of 16.
4 Toulon 2 1 0 1 65 67 −2 7 8 1 0 5
5 Edinburgh 2 1 0 1 33 53 −20 4 7 1 0 5 Away Challenge Cup round of 16.
6 Gloucester 2 1 0 1 37 45 −8 5 7 1 0 5
Source: EPCR[26]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Pool matches
6 December 2025 Bath v Munster Recreation Ground, Bath  
20:00 UTC
13 December 2025 Munster v Gloucester Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork  
17:30 UTC
11 January 2026 Toulon v Munster Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon  
13:00 UTC
17 January 2026 Munster v Castres Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 UTC

IRFU Interprovincial 'A' Championship

The IRFU introduced the A Championship as part of its professional pathway in 2024-25 to coincide with the union's 150th anniversary. This season sees the competition return as a six leg home and away round robin.[27]

Fixtures

18 October 2025 Leinster 'A' 26 – 26 Munster 'A' Ollie Campbell Park  
12:00 Try: John McKee
Caspar Gabriel
penalty try
Josh Kenny
Con: Gabriel (2)
 Report Try: Shay McCarthy (2)
Luke Murphy
Kamil Nowak
Con: Tony Butler (3)
 Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
19 December 2025 Munster 'A' v Leinster 'A' Rockwell College  
13 February 2026 Munster 'A' v Ulster 'A'  
Ulster 'A' v Munster 'A' Ravenhill Stadium  
Connacht Eagles v Munster 'A' Dexcom Stadium  
8 May 2026 Munster 'A' v Connacht Eagles  


Munster Women

IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series

Main article: 2025 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series

The 2025 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series is being contested by women's teams representing the four provincial rugby unions of Ireland, under the same branding and uniforms as the senior men's teams in the United Rugby Championship. The competition currently uses a single round-robin format, similar to the one used in both the Six Nations Championship and the Women's Six Nations Championship. Each team plays the other three teams once.[28]

As in previous seasons the competition also features playoffs and a final.[29][30][31]

Leinster Women return as defending champions.

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Munster Women 3 3 0 0 115 44 +71 18 5 3 0 15 Qualified for Interprovincial final
2 Leinster Women 3 2 0 1 76 66 +10 14 10 2 0 10
3 Connacht Women 3 1 0 2 27 66 −39 5 12 0 1 5 Qualified for third/fourth place final
4 Ulster Women 3 0 0 3 43 87 −44 7 15 0 1 1
First match(es) will be played: Unknown. Source: Unknown
Rules for classification: 1) competition points; 2) match points difference; 3) match points for

Matches

10 August 2025
2:30pm
(1 BP) Munster Women 44-5 Connacht Women
Try: Gráinne Burke
Chisom Ugwueru (3)
Aoife Corey
Stephanie Nunan
Kate Flannery
Brianna Heylmann
Con: Caitríona Finn (2/8)		ReportTry: Ava Ryder
Virgin Media Park
Referee: Euan O’Riordan (IRFU)
16 August 2025
2:30pm
(1 BP) Leinster Women 22–33 Munster Women (1 BP)
Try: Vicky Elmes Kinlan
Kathy Baker
Molly Boyne
Katie Whelan
Con: Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton (1/4)		ReportTry: Chloe Pearse (2)
Chisom Ugwueru
Kate Flannery
Aoife Corey
Con: Caitríona Finn (4/5)
Donnybrook
23 August 2025
4:15 pm
Ulster Women 17 - 38 Munster Women (1 BP)
Try: Siobhán Sheerin
Ciara Fitzsimons 2
Con: Siobhán Sheerin (1/3)		ReportTry: Chloe Pearse
Chisom Ugwueru
Caitríona Finn
Maeve Óg O’Leary (2)
Alana McInerney
Con: Finn (4/6)
Affidea Stadium, Belfast
Referee: Dermot Blake (IRFU)

Interprovincial final

30 August 2025
4:30pm
Leinster Women 15–50 Munster Women
Try: Katie Whelan (2)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan		Report, 2Try: Chloe Pearse
Deirbhile Nic a Bháird 2
Aoife Corey
Maeve Óg O’Leary
Caitríona Finn
Eilís Cahill
Con: Finn (6/7)
Pen: Finn
Energia Park
Referee: Daniel Carson (IRFU)

Celtic Challenge

Main article: 2025–26 Celtic Challenge

The 2025–26 Celtic Challenge will be the fourth season of the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border women's rugby union competition with teams from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The six team tournament features a full double round robin fixture series, with each team playing the others both home and away. For the first time, the competition will include a finals series with semi-finals and a grand final.[32][33]

Clovers, a combined team representing Munster and Connacht, return for a third season.

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Brython Thunder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Play-offs
2 Clovers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Edinburgh Rugby 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Glasgow Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Gwalia Lightning 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Wolfhounds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 20 December 2025. Source: Celtic Challenge[34]
Rules for classification: Four points for a win, two points for a draw. One bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match; one bonus point for losing by a margin of seven or less.

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Ian Flanagan Appointed Munster Rugby CEO". Munster Rugby. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Munster Rugby: Pairc Ui Chaoimh to host Investec Champions Cup game in December". BBC Sport. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  3. ^ Geary, Sean (26 February 2025). "Clayton McMillan Appointed Munster Rugby Head Coach". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Michael Milne & Lee Barron Join Munster Rugby On Loan". Munster Rugby. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Irish-qualified Kelly to join Munster next season". RTE. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Munster sign Connacht wing Andrew Smith on one-year deal". Irish Examiner. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d "Academy Update March 2025". Munster Rugby. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Munster confirm signing of former Leinster tighthead Michael Alaalatoa". The 42. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Ireland's O'Mahony happy to bow out on his terms". BBC Sport. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  10. ^ Lewis, Simon (30 April 2025). "Munster record-breaker Stephen Archer to end playing career". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Kilcoyne the latest Munster veteran to retire". RTE.ie. 7 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  12. ^ a b c "Seven Departures Confirmed For End Of Season". Munster Rugby. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Patrick Campbell signs for Ealing Trailfinders". Ealing Trailfinders. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Scott Buckley Makes Move To Trailfinders Permanent". Ealing Trailfinders. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  15. ^ "2025-26シーズン 新加入選手のご報告". 清水建設江東ブルーシャークス (in Japanese). 25 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  16. ^ "'My move to New Zealand is chance to reignite spark,' says former Munster rugby star Cian Hurley". The Southern Star. 12 August 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Trailfinders Sign Experienced Centre Rory Scannell". Ealing Trailfinders. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Conor Murray: Former Ireland and British and Irish Lions scrum-half retires". BBC Sport. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  19. ^ "Munster Rugby | 1st Team Squad". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  20. ^ "Men's Fixtures & Results". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  21. ^ "All You Need to Know | Munster v Argentina XV". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  22. ^ Kennedy, Ciarán (25 October 2025). "Munster come out on top of tight tussle with Connacht". The 42. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  24. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Rivalries reignited, classics revived as 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup pools revealed | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  26. ^ "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Irish Rugby | Men's Interprovincial 'A' Series Kicks Off This Weekend". Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Women's Interprovincial Series". www.irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  29. ^ "Leinster ladies win first Interpro crown". www.irishexaminer.com. 26 November 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  30. ^ "Women's: Leinster End Munster's Grip On Interpro Title". www.irishrugby.ie. 29 November 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  31. ^ "Munster Women Make It Three-In-A-Row". www.irishrugby.ie. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  32. ^ Challenge, Celtic (13 August 2025). "New Look Celtic Challenge Finals Reflect Rising Women's Rugby World Cup Influence - Celtic Challenge". Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  33. ^ "2025-26 Celtic Challenge to feature knockout rugby as competition revamped". BBC Sport. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  34. ^ "Table". Celtic Challenge. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
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