2021–22 Munster Rugby season

The 2021–22 Munster Rugby season is Munster's twenty-first season competing in the United Rugby Championship, alongside which they also compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It is Johann van Graan's fifth and final season as head coach.[1][2]

2021–22 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s)Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600)[note 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)United Rugby Championship
← 2020–21 2022–23 →

Events

The big news in terms of player movements ahead of the 2021–22 season was the retirement of three club stalwarts: Billy Holland,[3] CJ Stander[4] and Tommy O'Donnell,[5] and the return to the province of the club's record try scorer Simon Zebo after three seasons with French club Racing 92.[6]

Fly-half JJ Hanrahan[7] left the province to join French club Clermont, whilst winger Alex Wootton departed to join Connacht on a permanent basis, having spent the previous season on loan at the western province.[8] Scrum-half Nick McCarthy left to re-join his native province Leinster,[9] whilst prop James Cronin joined French club Biarritz, who had recently been promoted to the Top 14,[10] and hooker Rhys Marshall was released by the province and returned to New Zealand, where he joined North Harbour.[11] Centre Alex McHenry joined English club Wasps on loan in October 2021.[12]

Nine academy players were promoted to the senior squad: Thomas Ahern,[13] Jack Crowley,[13] Jack Daly,[13] Jake Flannery,[14] James French,[14] Seán French,[14] Ben Healy,[14] John Hodnett[14] and Josh Wycherley.[13] South African lock Jason Jenkins joined the senior squad from Japanese club Toyota Verblitz,[13] scrum-half Rowan Osborne joined from Leinster,[15] and hooker Declan Moore, who was on the books with Australian Super Rugby side Melbourne Rebels, joined for the season.[16]

In coaching news, former Munster assistant coach Ian Costello returned to the province to become their academy manager, having spent the previous five seasons working in England as head coach of RFU Championship club Nottingham and, since 2018, defence coach at Premiership club Wasps.[17] Sports psychologist Caroline Currid, renowned in Ireland for her work with the Limerick hurlers who won back-to-back All-Ireland's in 2020 and 2021, joined the province's backroom team in a part-time role.[18]

Three players joined year one of the academy: prop Mark Donnelly, back-row Daniel Okeke and scrum-half Ethan Coughlan, whilst Leinster academy scrum-half Paddy Patterson, who spent part of the previous season on a short-term contract with Munster, joined year three of the academy.[19] Three additional players joined the academy in November 2021: lock Edwin Edogbo, fly-half Tony Butler and back-three Patrick Campbell.[20]

With the four South African Super Rugby teams - the Bulls, the Lions, the Sharks and the Stormers - joining the league ahead of the 2021–22 season, the Pro14 was rebranded and restructured as the United Rugby Championship. The teams were divided into regional pools, with Munster joining their provincial rivals Connacht, Leinster and Ulster in the Irish pool. The regular season took place over 18 rounds; Munster played their pool opponents home and away, and played home or away fixtures against the other 12 teams in the league. All sixteen teams were ranked in one league table after the 18 rounds, with the top 8 teams qualifying for the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and a grand final.[21]

Eight teams qualified from the United Rugby Championship for the Champions Cup. The highest ranked team from each pool qualified for the Champions Cup, with the remaining four qualification spots going to the next four highest-ranked teams in the single league table who have not already qualified from their pool. Subject to approvals, the South African teams will be eligible for the Champions & Challenge Cup.[21]

The province was drawn in pool B for the 2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage, and faced French club Castres, whom Munster have met in nine previous Champions Cup seasons in a record 16 fixtures, and English club Wasps, who defeated Munster in a classic semi-final in the old Lansdowne Road in 2004, and whom the province last met during the 2007–08 tournament, which Munster went on to win.[22][23]

Munster opened their 2021–22 United Rugby Championship campaign with a bonus-point 42–17 win against the Sharks, one of the four new South African teams, on 25 September 2021. Simon Zebo, making his return for the province, scored two tries, extending his club record to 62, with Gavin Coombes continuing his try-scoring exploits from the previous season with two tries of his own. Chris Cloete and player of the match Craig Casey also crossed the try line. Fly-half Joey Carbery scored seven points off the kicking tee, with his replacement Ben Healy contributing five points off the tee in the second-half. RG Snyman made his eagerly-awaited return from long-term injury as a second-half replacement, and scrum-half Rowan Osborne made his competitive debut for the province, in a match that saw fans return to Thomond Park for the first time since February 2020.[24]

Munster were in South Africa for rounds 6 and 7 of the United Rugby Championship, in which they were due to play the Bulls and the Lions, however, the emergence of the omicron variant of COVID-19 led to travel restrictions being implemented by UK and EU authorities, meaning the fixtures had to be postponed.[25] 34 players and staff arrived back in Ireland on 1 December 2021 and immediately entered 10 days of mandatory self-isolation. 14 players and staff who had tested positive for COVID-19 had to remain in South Africa.[26]

In the wake of this disruption for Munster and other clubs, and with Munster's opening Champions Cup fixture away to Wasps falling on 12 December, the EPCR extended the deadline for registering players for the tournament to 8 December, meaning Munster could look to supplement their squad with short-term signings,[27][28] and 22 players were subsequently registered with the province's Champions Cup squad.[29]

A depleted Munster squad made up of internationals who'd been away with Ireland during the Autumn tests, academy players and members of the national and provincial talent squads travelled over to England to face Wasps on their opening Champions Cup fixture on 12 December 2021. The team, which featured 12 debutantes, pulled off one of the great Munster away victories, defeating their opponents 35–14 in a thrilling contest in front of a large contingent of Munster fans who had made the journey to Coventry.[30]

Player movements

Below are the players who joined and left the Munster senior and academy squads ahead of the 2021–22 season. Italics indicates players that transferred during the 2021–22 season.

Senior squad

Academy squad

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 Ged McNamara  Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Damien O'Donoghue  Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Adam Sheehan  Ireland
Performance analyst George Murray  Ireland

Players
For a full list of player movements before or during the 2021–22 season, see List of 2021–22 United Rugby Championship transfers.

Senior squad
Munster Rugby senior squad

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.[31]

    Academy squad
    Munster Rugby academy squad

    Props

    Hookers

    Locks

    Back row

    Scrum-halves

    Fly-halves

    Centres

    • None at present

    Back three

    (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.[32][20]

      Additional players

      These 19 players were registered with Munster's Champions Cup squad in December 2021 following the disruption caused by the province's recent tour to South Africa, and are National Talent Squad or Provincial Talent Squad members. They are not contracted to Munster. Three additional academy members - Tony Butler, Patrick Campbell and Edwin Edogbo - were also registered for the squad and are listed in the academy squad above.

      Munster Rugby additional players

      Props

      • Alessandro Heaney
      • Darragh McCarthy
      • Darragh McSweeney
      • Kieran Ryan

      Hookers

      • Dylan Murphy

      Back-row

      Scrum-halves

      • Adam Maher
      • Andrew O'Mahony

      Centres

      • Alan Flannery
      • Darragh French

      Back three

      • George Coomber
      • Jamie Shanahan
      Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[29]

        Pre-season
        4 September 2021
        15:00
        Munster Greys 38–21 Munster Reds
        Report
        11 September 2021
        15:00
        Exeter Chiefs 19–31 Munster
        Report

        2021–22 United Rugby Championship
        Main article: 2021–22 United Rugby Championship
        2021–22 United Rugby Championship
        Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
        1 Leinster760121985+13431105029
        2 Edinburgh7511171114+5723135128
        3 Ulster7502169115+5423144125
        4 Ospreys7502142159-1711191021
        5 Glasgow Warriors7403160138+2221163221
        6 Munster540114984+651993019
        7 Connacht7304196171+2526123116
        8 Benetton7304141178–3718242216
        9 Cardiff5302120114+612101114
        10 Lions5203107120–1311162111
        11 Scarlets5203120160–4013212111
        12 Sharks5203115129–141115019
        13 Dragons7106131174-431519239
        14 Stormers511379103–24913017
        15 Bulls510465131–66513015
        16 Zebre Parma500552159–107624101
        If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[33]
        1. number of matches won;
        2. number of matches drawn;
        3. the difference between points for and points against;
        4. the number of tries scored;
        5. the most points scored;
        6. the difference between tries for and tries against;
        7. the fewest red cards received;
        8. the fewest yellow cards received.
        Green background indicates teams that are playoff places that top their regional pools and earn a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup

        Blue background indicates teams that did not top their regional pool but are in play-off places and earn a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup
        Pink background indicates teams that did not top their regional pool but are in play-off places, and earn a place in the 2022–23 European Rugby Challenge Cup
        Yellow background indicates teams that top their regional pool and thus currently in a qualification place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup, but are not in a play-off place
        Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2022–23 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

          2021–22 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools
          Irish Shield
          Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
          1 Leinster 760121985+13431105029
          2 Ulster 7502169115+5423144125
          3 Munster 540114984+651993019
          4 Connacht 7304196171+2526123116
          Scottish/Italian Shield
          Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
          1 Edinburgh 7511171114+5723135128
          2 Glasgow Warriors 7403160138+2221163221
          3 Benetton 7304141178–3718242216
          4 Zebre Parma 500552159–107624101
          South African Shield
          Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
          1 Lions 5203107120–1311162111
          2 Sharks 5203115129–141115019
          3 Stormers 511379103–24913017
          4 Bulls 510465131–66513015
          Welsh Shield
          Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
          1 Ospreys 7502142159-1711191021
          2 Cardiff 5302120114+612101114
          3 Scarlets 5203120160–4013212111
          4 Dragons 7106131174-431519239
          If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[34]
          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 Shield winner teams guaranteed a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup

            Round 1
            25 September 2021
            19:35
            (1 BP) Munster 42–17 Sharks
            Try: Zebo (2) 5' m, 79' m
            Casey 35' m
            G. Coombes (2) 40'+3 c, 50' c
            Cloete 77' c
            Con: Carbery (2/4) 40'+4, 51'
            Healy (1/2) 78'
            Pen: Carbery (1/1) 28'
            Healy (1/1) 68'
            		 Report
            Report            		 Try: Chamberlain 56' c
            Penxe 70' c
            Con: Bosch (2/2) 57', 70'
            Pen: Bosch (1/2) 31'
            Thomond Park
            Attendance: 11,418[lower-alpha 1]
            Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

            Round 2
            2 October 2021
            19:35
            (1 BP) Munster 34–18 Stormers
            Try: O'Donoghue (2) 40' c, 55' m
            Kleyn 45' c
            N. Scannell 50' m
            Snyman 67' c
            Con: Carbery (2/4) 40'+1, 46'
            Healy (1/1) 68'
            Pen: Healy (1/1) 80'
            		 Report
            Report            		 Try: Gelant 8' m
            Zas 19' c
            Con: Libbok (1/2) 21'
            Pen: Gelant (1/1) 29'
            Swiel (1/1) 65'
            Thomond Park
            Attendance: 10,723[lower-alpha 1]
            Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

            Round 3
            10 October 2021
            14:00
            Scarlets 13–43 Munster (1 BP)
            Try: McNicholl 28' c
            Con: Costelow (1/1) 29'
            Pen: Costelow (2/4) 16', 33'
            		 Report
            Report            		 Try: O'Sullivan 3' c
            L. Coombes (2) 22' c, 58' c
            Nash 35' m
            Loughman 43' c
            Cloete 61' c
            Con: Healy (5/6) 4', 24', 44', 59', 63'
            Pen: Healy (1/1) 10'
            Parc y Scarlets
            Attendance: 6,336
            Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)

            Round 4
            16 October 2021
            19:35
            Munster 20–18 Connacht (1 BP)
            Try: Cloete 38' c
            Barron 77' c
            Con: Carbery (2/2) 39', 79'
            Pen: Carbery (2/2) 48', 58'
            		 Report
            Report            		 Try: Boyle 52' c
            Carty 68' c
            Con: Carty (1/2) 69'
            Pen: Carty (2/2) 2', 9'
            Thomond Park
            Attendance: 17,198[lower-alpha 1]
            Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

            Round 5
            23 October 2021
            19:35
            Ospreys 18–10 Munster
            Pen: Myler (6/6) 1', 31', 35', 45', 63', 71'
            		 Report
            Report            		 Try: Casey 53' c
            Con: Crowley (1/1) 54'
            Pen: Crowley (1/1) 5'
            Swansea.com Stadium
            Attendance: 5,678
            Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

            Round 6
            27 November 2021
            17:45
            Bulls P–P Munster

            Round 7
            4 December 2021
            15:30
            Lions P–P Munster

            Round 8
            26 December 2021
            19:35
            Munster v Leinster

            Round 9
            1 January 2022
            17:15
            Connacht v Munster

            Round 10
            8 January 2022
            19:35
            Munster v Ulster

            Round 11
            28/29/30 January 2022
            Zebre Parma v Munster

            Round 12
            18/19/20 February 2022
            Edinburgh v Munster

            Round 13
            4/5/6 March 2022
            Munster v Dragons

            Round 14
            25/26/27 March 2022
            Munster v Benetton

            Round 15
            1/2/3 April 2022
            Leinster v Munster

            Round 16
            22/23/24 April 2022
            Ulster v Munster

            Round 17
            29/30 April/1 May 2022
            Munster v Cardiff

            Round 18
            20/21/22 May 2022
            Glasgow Warriors v Munster

            2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup
            Main article: 2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup

            Munster were ranked second out of the eight United Rugby Championship teams that qualified for the 2021–22 Champions Cup, owing to their runners-up position after defeat against Leinster in the 2021 Pro14 Grand Final,[35] and were seeded in tier one for the pool stage draw.[36] The province was drawn in pool B for the 2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage, and faced French club Castres and English club Wasps.[23]

            Team
            		 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
            Toulouse 1100397+3251105
            Bristol Bears 1100280+2800105
            Leicester Tigers 11001613+311004
            Bordeaux Bègles 10011316–311011
            Harlequins 000000000000
            Munster 000000000000
            Castres 000000000000
            Wasps 000000000000
            Connacht 000000000000
            Stade Français 000000000000
            Scarlets 1001028–2800000
            Cardiff 1001739–3215000

            [37]

            Key to colours
                 Top 8 of each pool, advance to last 16.
                 Teams 9–12 in pool advance to 2021–22 European Rugby Challenge Cup last 16.

            Round 1
            12 December 2021
            15:15
            Wasps 14–35 Munster (1 BP)
            Try: Barbeary 30' c
            Le Bourgeois 63' c
            Con: Gopperth (2/2) 31', 64'
            		 Report
            Report            		 Try: Earls 34' c
            Campbell 42' m
            Conway 47' c
            Buckley 56' c
            Con: Carbery (3/4) 35', 48', 56'
            Pen: Carbery (3/4) 6', 27', 66'

            Round 2
            18 December 2021
            20:00
            Munster v Castres

            Round 3
            14 January 2022
            20:00
            Castres v Munster

            Round 4
            23 January 2022
            15:15
            Munster v Wasps

            2021–22 Munster A/Development season
            18 September 2021
            16:00
            Munster Development XV 25–24 Ulster Development XV
            Report
            IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin
            24 September 2021
            16:00
            Leinster Development XV 14–0 Munster Development XV
            Report
            IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin
            12 November 2021
            14:00
            Munster A 36–21 Connacht Eagles
            Report

            Player statistics

            Player statistics from the 2021–22 season. Stats from the league and European competitions only are shown. Academy players in italics. † indicates additional players used who is not contracted.Updated 12 December 2021 after CC round 1

            References
            1. "Johann van Graan to join Munster as head coach". South African Rugby Union. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
            2. "Munster Rugby Confirm Johann van Graan Departure At End Of Season". Munster Rugby. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
            3. "Billy Holland grateful to retire from rugby on his own terms". Irish Examiner. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
            4. "CJ Stander To Retire At End Of Season". Munster Rugby. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
            5. "Munster and Ireland flanker Tommy O'Donnell announces retirement". The42. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
            6. "Munster Rugby Re-Sign Simon Zebo". Munster Rugby. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
            7. "JJ Hanrahan Move Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
            8. "Permanent move for Wootton among 21 new contracts announced by Connacht". The42. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
            9. "Nick McCarthy rejoins Leinster from Munster". Irish Examiner. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
            10. "James Cronin set to join Biarritz in the Top 14 after leaving Munster". The42. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
            11. "North Harbour recruit former All Blacks trainee, lose capped flanker". RugbyPass. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
            12. "Wasps: Alex McHenry & Paddy Harrison join on short-term deals". BBC Sport. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
            13. "Player Signing, Contract Extensions & Academy Promotions". Munster Rugby. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
            14. "Latest Player Contracts Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
            15. "Munster Rugby Sign Rowan Osborne". Munster Rugby. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
            16. "Munster sign Irish-qualified hooker Declan Moore ahead of new season". The42. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
            17. "Ian Costello Appointed Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Manager". Munster Rugby. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
            18. "O'Donoghue and Munster hoping Currid can repeat Limerick hurling magic". The42. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
            19. "Trio Join Greencore Munster Rugby Academy". Munster Rugby. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
            20. "Trio Join Greencore Munster Rugby Academy". Munster Rugby. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
            21. "All You Need To Know | United Rugby Championship". Munster Rugby. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
            22. "Johann van Graan Reaction To Champions Cup Draw". Munster Rugby. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
            23. "Champions Cup draw to rekindle powerhouse days of Munster and Wasps". Irish Examiner. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
            24. "Report | Munster Start Season With Bonus-Point Win Over Sharks". Munster Rugby. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
            25. "Munster in race to get out of South Africa as Champions Cup opener against Wasps in doubt". Irish Examiner. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
            26. "34 Munster Players & Staff Arrive Home". Munster Rugby. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
            27. "Munster may look at new signings as registration date for Champions Cup extended". Irish Examiner. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
            28. "All indications are that Munster's clash with Wasps will go ahead as scheduled". The42. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
            29. "Munster to register 22 new players for Champions Cup squad". The42. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
            30. "Munster's young guns thrill in wild and wonderful bonus-point win over Wasps". The42. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
            31. "Munster Rugby | 1st Team Squad". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
            32. "Munster Rugby | Academy Squad". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
            33. Competition Rule 3.1.4 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
            34. Competition Rule 3.1.4 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
            35. "Munster's Ranking For Champions Cup Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
            36. "Munster Rugby In Tier 1 Of 2021/22 Champions Cup Draw". Munster Rugby. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
            37. "Pool Tables". Heineken Champions Cup. EPCR. Retrieved 21 July 2021.

            Notes
            1. Thomond Park's official capacity is 25,600 but can be expanded up to 26,276 with temporary seating.
            2. Munster were originally scheduled to host Bath in a pre-season friendly, but Bath were unable to travel due to COVID-19 cases amongst their squad. Munster instead arranged a challenge match, fielding two Munster teams made up of senior, academy and All-Ireland League players from the province.
            1. Reduced stadium capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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