Changes at Munster

EdgarAllenPoo

Taken from RTE.ie

Munster have appointed recently retired full-back Shaun Payne as their new team manager.


The 35-year-old South African, whose professional playing career came to an end last month, is held in high regard by the Magners League side and their supporters.


Payne will be Munster's full-time team manager with Jerry Holland remaining on in an advisory capacity.


Meanwhile, coach Declan Kidney has confirmed an extended 35-man squad for the coming season, mindful of the fact that at least 10 of his frontline players will miss the first weeks of the campaign due to their Rugby World Cup involvement.


Munster's squad includes centre Kieran Lewis and flanker Niall Ronan, both signed from Leinster, and former Connacht fly-half Paul Warwick.


Meanwhile, Kidney is on the verge of sealing the signing of highly-rated New Zealand Maori captain Rua Tipoki.


The 31-year-old centre, who skippered the Maori during the recent Churchill Cup tournament, will link up with Munster subject to him receiving medical clearance and obtaining a work permit.

From Munsterrugby.ie

Munster's outstanding full-back for the past number of years Shaun Payne moves 'upstairs' in the Munster set up
35 year-old Payne has been appointed full time Team Manager with Jerry Holland remaining on in an advisory capacity. Payne will continue to play rugby at club level with UL Bohemians.
With at least ten of the squad expected to be unavailable to coach Declan Kidney until their involvement with Ireland in the World Cup is ended, Munster have named an extended squad (35) for the coming season.

Players Outgoing: Frank Roche, Christian Cullen, Tim McGann, Trevor Halstead, Eoghan Hickey, Chris Delooze, Shane O'Connor, Brian O'Meara, Diogo Mateus, Ross Noonan.

Munster: Tony Buckley, Marcus Horan, Darragh Hurley, John Hayes, Eugene McGovern, Federico Pucciariello, Denis Fogarty, Jerry Flannery, Frank Sheahan, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Chris Wyatt, James Coughlan, Anthony Foley, Denis Leamy, John O’Sullivan, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, David Wallace.
Brian Carney, Ian Dowling, Anthony Horgan, John Kelly, Kieran Lewis, Mossy Lawlor, Barry Murphy, Jeremy Manning, Ronan O’Gara, Tomas O’Leary, Lifeimi Mafi, Peter Stringer Paul Warwick.

Development Contracts: Denis Hurley, Gerry Hurley, Tom Gleeson, Keith Earls, Ciaran O'Boyle, Mark Lelbourne, Timmy Ryan,

Management:

Declan Kidney – Coach:

Jim Williams – Forwards Coach:

Tony McGahan – Skills/Defence Backs Coach:

Shaun Payne – Team Manager.

New Zealand Maori captain Rua Tipoki is set to team up with Munster subject to him getting medical clearance and obtaining a work permit.
The 31 year old centre captained the Maori in the recent Churchill Cup competition in England and was one of the beaten finalists' stand out players.
After an unforgettable Air New Zealand Cup season with North Harbour in 2006, during which he captained the team to Ranfurly Shield
victory, Tipoki moved to Christchurch to take up a contract with Canterbury. He was subsequently included in the Crusaders squad for the
Rebel Sport Super 14 and last started for the Crusaders as centre pertner to Casey Laulala in the Super 14 match against the Hurricanes at the Jade Stadium in Christchurch in April.
He played Super 12 with the Highlander and Auckland Blues and after a stint in Japan, Tipoki returned to New Zealand and was one of the stand-out players in Bay of Plenty's Ranfurly Shield success, and Air New Zealand NPC top-four performance in 2004.

He was outstanding for the New Zealand Maori against the British and Irish Lions, during a season that saw him captain North Harbour in the Air New Zealand NPC and he brings a wealth of experience into the Munster set-up.

Rua Tipoki: 5’11” (1.78m) – 14st (89kg).
Born 11th August 1975 in Gisborne New Zealand.
Has played NPC with East Coast, Bay of Plenty & North Harbour
Has played Super 12 with Highlanders (2000), Blues (99/01/05/06) Crusaders (07)
New Zealand Maori since 2003
New Zealand A top try scorer on tour to France
New Zealand 7s

zAbbo

Tipoki has a rep as a bit of a thug, broke both his hands brawling in some game, and was in some scrap with Caleb Ralph

EdgarAllenPoo

So better to play with him than against him;)

zAbbo

He seems a quality inside centre, himself and Lewis could make a decent partnership.

Nukem

Goodie! Tipoki really was the standout player from the NZ Maoris. Good player!

Where is Chris Delooze off too? Another handy scrum half that we are sending abroad:mad:

smackbunnybaby

are all these players leaving/retiring or are some just injured or left of the squad or what?

Players Outgoing:
Frank Roche,
Christian Cullen,
Tim McGann,
Trevor Halstead,
Eoghan Hickey,
Chris Delooze,
Shane O'Connor,
Brian O'Meara,
Diogo Mateus,
Ross Noonan.

bugler

The majority of them have been released.

Noonan is gone to Bedford. Hickey to London Irish. Halstead retired to SA. McGann released (thought he was here for another year). It never really worked out for Mateus. Cullen obviously has retired. I don't know where Shane O'Connor went to, he seemed handy enough to me.

smackbunnybaby

i cant believe halstead is gone!
i was a big fan of his. fantastic player

Utopia Parkway

Looks like Munster will have a bit more pace and trickery in their backline next season with Tipoki, Carney, Warwick and the young Keith Earls.

Although they are losing two very solid dependable players in Payne and Halstead.

GreenHell

The munster back line has need a shake up for a while now, hopefully only positive things will come of this.

Where is Roche off too?

suppafly

Is Tipoki the only other centre that they've brought in? Cuz they need someone pretty good to replace Halstead. He always broke the game line. One of my fav players. Also who's going to replace Payne at fullback. He was like a rock back there.

Tim Robbins

Utopia Parkway wrote:

Looks like Munster will have a bit more pace and trickery in their backline next season with Tipoki, Carney, Warwick and the young Keith Earls.

Although they are losing two very solid dependable players in Payne and Halstead.

I think Warwick might play 15 for Munster next season, what do people think?
They seem to have a lot of 2nd centres, Murphy, Mafi, Lewis and I think Warwick also plays 2nd center when not playing 10.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Junior

GreenHell wrote:

The munster back line has need a shake up for a while now, hopefully only positive things will come of this.

Where is Roche off too?

Frankie doesn't know what he's going doing next rugby wise, he's mainly concentrating on his business at the minute, and that's going very very well for him.

Andystoran

Thank God we have brought in some strong backs! Im not impressed by mafis defence. Delighted to see carney on the wing. We had wingers that were very 1 paced.I hope we dont have to rely on our forwards because it didnt really make for exciting rugby last year.

Slash_irl

Im a Munster fan myself, and im not liking the new kit because its made by Adidas and looks like something a skanger would wear.

And Munster trying to sell the naming rights to Thomond Park is just insane.

I think the Munster Branch are doing all they can to piss the fans off! :mad:

daveirl

This post has been deleted.