- BKT United Rugby Championship Round 15
- AIL: Young Munster carry Limerick title hopes
- Champions Richmond take title with some style
- Mid-week Rugby Round-up with limerickrugby.ie
- St Mary’s face big league challenge in Thurles
- Richmond take a step closer to Junior League title
- ‘Munsters’ record another victory in their league quest
- Limerick rugby shocked by the passing of Tom Tierney
- Despite defeat coach Gerry Slattery hails his players
- PBC scrape home after thrilling SMC come-back
- Big game for Richmond: ‘Munsters’ to advance in cup
- Frank Quinn looks at forthcoming Six Nations and RWC
- St Mary’s, NCW and Galbally-M earn league wins
- Young Munster’s spirit earns them late bonus points
- Ospreys no match for slick and hungry Munster men
- Can Young Munster move closer to 1993 glory
- New signing will join Munster squad next season
- Zebo and Coombes return for Munster against Ospreys
- Munster’s fixtures for the run-in to Guinness PRO14
- Craig Casey gets the call as Ireland name their 6N 36
- The ‘Clueless Munster’ tag hits a nerve locally
- Late try snatches likely victory away from Munster
- Classic derby game beckons as teams are named
- Tension mounts as local clubs feature in second last fence of Munster Junior League 1
- Impressive win for Clonmel on UL pitch keeps them on title target
- Will Joe Schmidt ring the changes for the Scottish game?
- Cancellations a-plenty as Munster Junior Cup gathers momentum
- Henshaw at full-back not really a gamble as Ireland name their team
- Ian excited about exploring new horizons as he plans two moves
- Nine local clubs in Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup action this week-end
- UL Bohemian and Thomond advance in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup
- Abbeyfeale lift the Transfield Cup for the first time since 1977
- Young Munster facing battle to avoid the drop
- Munster fight hard for victory in Rodney Parade
- Bonus point for Garryowen as Shannon fail to build on recent form
- AIL: Shannon win, Young Munster and Garryowen lose today in 1A
- AIL wins tonight for Old Crescent in 2A and Thomond in 2C
- John Ryan for Archer the only change on the Munster team
- Key Euro games for referees Neville, Clancy, Brace and Lacey
- Frank Quinn’s review of the final pools games of Heineken Cup
- Decent Munster representation on Ireland Six Nations squad
- English clubs’ wretched record at Thomond Park: 21 defeats, 2 wins
- A Newcastle view as their side fails to get winning bonus point
- Is the Transfield Cup final to take place in the Markets Field?
- Defeat for Richmond today dents their junior league title hopes
- Brave Garryowen’s late strike gives them ticket to Bateman decider
- Munster march on towards another home Heineken Cup quarter final
- Munster and Gloucester announce their teams for to-morrow night’s game
- All to play for as Munster Junior League division one hots up
- Garryowen keen to avoid their third successive cup defeat
Munster await ‘Rog’s’ return to Thomond Park
- Updated: 29/06/2016
By Frank Quinn
THERE is nothing easy for any of the 20 teams in the five pools of four after today’s draw for next season’s European Clubs Champions Cup. First glance: Connacht has Zebre (always a bonus point opportunity for a second placed qualifier), with Wasps and Toulouse. The Irish province has an opportunity here.
As for the other three provinces, Leinster has Castres who are the worst performers in the Euro Cup, with Montpelier and Northampton. Two trips to France for the blue supporters to look forward to.
Ulster has newcomers Bordeaux who will have Ian Madigan in their squad, with Exeter and Claremont making up the quartet. Two French trips also beckoning here.
Munster has Glasgow Warriors while the return of Ronan O’Gara to Thomond Park with French champions Racing 92 is a mouth-watering prospect. Leicester Tigers will also provide a stiff challenge in this pool.
The final pool consists of champions Saracens, Toulon, Sale Sharks and Scarlets and this group also looks like being a difficult one to get out of.
The strength of the Irish is that we have a team in 4/5 pools, which is admirable, as the new rules made sure we avoided each other.
This season the quarter finals will consist of five pool winners and three second placed teams when the knock-out stages begin next March/April.
2016/17 Champions Cup pools
Pool 1: Racing 92, Glasgow Warriors, Leicester Tigers, Munster Rugby
Pool 2: Connacht Rugby, Wasps, Toulouse, Zebre Rugby
Pool 3: Saracens, RC Toulon, Scarlets, Sale Sharks
Pool 4: Leinster Rugby, Montpellier, Northampton Saints, Castres Olympique
Pool 5: Exeter Chiefs, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster Rugby, Bordeaux-Bègles
2016/17 Challenge Cup pools
Pool 1: La Rochelle, Gloucester Rugby, Benetton Treviso, Bayonne
Pool 2: Ospreys, Grenoble, Newcastle Falcons, Lyon
Pool 3: Brive, Worcester Warriors, Newport Gwent Dragons, Enisei-STM
Pool 4: Cardiff Blues, Bath Rugby, Pau, Bristol Rugby
Pool 5: Harlequins, Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Français Paris, Timisoara, Saracens
EPCR weekends – 2016/17
Round 1: 13/14/15/16 October
Round 2: 20/21/22/23 October
Round 3: 8/9/10/11 December
Round 4: 15/16/17/18 December
Round 5: 12/13/14/15 January 2017
Round 6: 19/20/21/22 January 2017
Quarter-finals: 30/31 March – 1/2 April 2017
Semi-finals: 21/22/23 April 2017
Finals Edinburgh 2017
European Rugby Challenge Cup: Friday 12 May, BT Murrayfield Stadium
European Rugby Champions Cup: Saturday 13 May, BT Murrayfield Stadium
You must be logged in to post a comment Login