Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123356696#Comment_123356696

The issue isn't a game being moved to a larger stadium.

The issue is that it's compulsory to buy a ticket for the (larger) stadium in Cork as part of the price of your Thomond Park season ticket in Limerick.

bingobango12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123356726#Comment_123356726

I mentioned the larger stadium as I assume the move is to try generate additional revenue.

I see your point and while I personally don't really think it's a big deal, it obviously is for a considerable chunk of your fanbase so probably puts Munster in a sticky situation.

Podge_irl

If i was told I had to buy a ticket to a match that was a 5 hour round trip on PT away so I could go to the matches a walk away I'd be fairly pissed off. It's just blatantly unfair to include it and I don't understand what they're thinking.

bingobango12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123356841#Comment_123356841

Think I'm missing something here. Is the PUC fixture an additional fixture that must be purchased for season ticket holders?

I get the distance annoyance, but at the same time, Thomond isn't exactly selling out for too many games anymore and if Munster can bring in additional needed revenue by holding a fixture in a larger stadium, they should.

They possible haven't gone about this the right way and if this is an additional fixture that season ticket holders must purchase then I completely understand why noses have been put out of joint.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123356890#Comment_123356890

Yes. Buying a ticket for one PuC match is mandatory to buy the TP season ticket.

No idea what possessed them to think it was a good idea.

bingobango12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123356908#Comment_123356908

Ok, with you now and completely see the issue people have.

Crazy decision.

oppiuy

For me it's an extra 25 euro on my ST. I have the euro game moved to cork but also have an added game in the URC at Thomond. For me that's not really an increase as I just love going to games. Personally also happy to travel if it means full house good atmosphere. I travel to away games when it's feasible financially to DIY. Northampton for example. It will be interesting to see some numbers once the renewal is closed and then a few weeks after general ST sale and see where things are headed

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123356908#Comment_123356908

Has to be either pure laziness or a fear over PUC attendance numbers.

If they were confident of a sell-out then it should be an easy win for them for TP holders to decline PUC tickets, so Munster could sell those tickets for a higher price as one off tickets.

Even if it hit their cashflow over the summer, I'm sure the IRFU could expand the loans they already provide Munster with short term cover - presuming all parties were comfortable that the cash would come in from PUC.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123356939#Comment_123356939

Now days you don't really need a ST to get a ticket for TP. I attended every match I wanted to at TP last season without a ST.

My sister was in two minds before the announcement but has now decided to do the same.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123356696#Comment_123356696

As many others have said it's the 'forced to buy a ticket' element that is getting to us. I did notice they did that a few years ago and added the Connacht, Ulster and Leinster games to the Cork Season ticket. That was also unfair in my mind

Telling me I have to pay for a game in December in PUC as part of my Thomond ST is the craziest thing they have done in a while

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123356949#Comment_123356949

I was thinking the same thing… I'd be fairly confident they would find 44,000 fans willing to go to that game without pissing off STH's. They could release the tickets after the ST renewals close if they needed the cash before the summer.

Maybe it's simply a case that they don't want single-venue STH's anymore? All I can say is, fair enough, that's their shout!

oppiuy

That would deffo work, but match by match is more expensive. You could take the ST and sell on the cork game while getting an extra URC game included.I just like the same seat and the lads around me. Also the wife hates me wasting money so if I have the ST I have to go 😂

Podge_irl

Milne apparently moving immediately to Munster.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123357115#Comment_123357115

Wonder what's driving that - Is there an Injury pushing the need to get him early?

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123357113#Comment_123357113

It's only more expensive if you go to all the games. Also going match-by-match allows you to spread the cost. The thing you'd only really miss out on is tickets to any home European R16 or QF matches

I'd love to know how this debacle is affecting 5 and 10-year ticket holders as well, some of them could be rightly pissed

antfin

Requiring a STH to buy a ticket that requires them to travel so far for a game isn't a great way to reward the fans. If they want to play some larger games in PuC they should look at the larger fixtures that sell out and price the season ticket appropriately for one or two games less in Thomond and offer priority access to the PuC game. They could easily pick a game that they know will sell out, probably Munster v Leinster being the obvious one around Christmas. Seeing as the reverse fixture last October attracted over 80,000 in Croke Park they would know they'll have extra revenue from the extra ticket sales but also keep STH happy with the offer of a presale priority alongside the season ticket sales.

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123357166#Comment_123357166

Loughman did his hamstring against La Rochelle. Unless something happened to Wycherley last Saturday I haven't heard of any other injuries.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123357185#Comment_123357185

What they should have done is put one, or more, of the Musgrave games in PUC... If PUC naturally draws a bigger crowd then at 5.5X the capacity there could be a real money-spinner. Keep it on the Musgrave season ticket then you keep everybody happy

antfin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123357698#Comment_123357698

I can't see Ospreys, Beneton, Scarlets etc filling PuC. It would have to be a game against Irish opposition or a high stakes European game.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123357776#Comment_123357776

You never know, the Cork supporter base is huge in fairness. I'd say the uniqueness of the game would pull well in multiples of the Musgrave capacity if not a sellout, and remember, they sold out 2 friendlies in recent years, I'd think a competitive fixture would give a boost

https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2025/03/29/application-for-pairc-ui-chaoimh-epcr-fixture-approved/#post

Munster Rugby can confirm that GAA Central Council have approved in principle the province’s application to host one EPCR Pool fixture at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in December 2025,if the province qualifiesfor next season’s Investec Champions Cup.

Something I remember being notable from the initial press release highlighted above, the game will only be in PUC if we qualify for the champions cup. This suggests even the suits don't think we'd sell it out for Challenge Cup

budhabob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123357115#Comment_123357115

Good news if true.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123357891#Comment_123357891

I suppose one man's friendly is another man's marquee fixture, but I honestly wouldn't expect a typical URC game adding a boost, or filling PuC.

By way of comparison, the All Blacks XV game in Thomond was a sell out earlier this year but the Scarlets game was about half full, and I'd expect a similar trend in Cork tbh.

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123357891#Comment_123357891

i think if it were the first ever game in PuC then it might sell out from pure novelty, but since there has already been two munster games there i think it would be less likely

CONSI

we were lucky the last few years, kids tickets were free as part of the junior supporters club, one of them is coming off that this year so the increase in that and the increase in ticket prices and the PUC game, all adds up. Also when the games on cold Saturday 7.30 kick offs in Nov thru to Jan have been dire and we seem to have to rest our players for the big interpro's at home to Leinster the last few years…will have to give renewing serious consideration. Maybe instead pick up tickets as I want to go and just put the season ticket money into a trip away

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123357973#Comment_123357973

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123358211#Comment_123358211

Fair points. On the flip side it looks like they have lost a lot of season ticket holders. Hopefully the money earned from moving the December European game to PUC is outweighted by the loss in season ticket sales

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123358576#Comment_123358576

I'm generally a big fan of the MRSC, they've always been super helpful anytime I've had to deal with them, but I think they've got this one wrong, alright.

There's also a change with the Associate membership, higher price but one complementary non-Leinster URC game, which I suspect a majority would attend anyways.

You'd imagine they'll have done their sums anyways.

Jofspring

Both Barron and Milne have joined straight away. On loan initially.

Cookiemunster

From MR

Loosehead prop Milne and hooker Lee Barron will join ahead of schedule after Jeremy Loughman and Diarmuid Barron sustained injuries against La Rochelle and Bordeaux-Begles over the past fortnight.

https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2025/04/15/michael-milne-lee-barron-join-munster-rugby-on-loan/

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123358621#Comment_123358621

I agree with you 100% on the MRSC and I also don't think that they decide the season ticket structures. I'd say that decision is made at the 'suits' level and that it is they who in fact got it very wrong on this occasion. I know a few in my local RFC who have season tickets and the game options they were offered over the years were an exact match to what the MRSC offered

I'll probably buy one of the new version associate memberships, or more accurately, a "membership without a season ticket," just to show my support for them, and everything they have accomplished over the years. The 'free game' is a nice touch added to it as well

letowski

Milne could bench this weekend.

shootermacg

Central Contracts, starting in 2026 will have a club spend of 40% the rest being paid by the IRFU. The savings will be pumped into development pathways. Great work by Humphreys!