Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

budhabob

Penney V McMillan next weekend. Both seem like really good blokes who genuinely care for their teams and players, and both get culture.

I always felt Penney got the raw end of the stick here and would happily of held onto him.

Cookiemunster

Penney didn't get the raw end of anything. He left of his own volition. He was offered the extension that was in his contract, but decided to take a deal in Japan instead.

budhabob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547361#Comment_123547361

I realise that. He was also trying to alter a style of play, deal with Munster and IRFU interference and balance and powerful player group i.e. he was always on a major uphill battle. Hence my opinion he got a bit of a raw deal.

phog

Pre-season friendlies confirmed

Munster Rugby can confirm its upcoming pre-season fixtures ahead of the beginning of the 2025/26 season.

Munster will take on Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque, Gloucester Rugby and Bath Rugby in August and September ahead of the 2025/26 URC season beginning on Saturday September 27th.

First up, Munster will take on Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque at the Stade Aguiléra on Friday, August 22nd (KO 8pm local time). This match will celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the 2006 European Cup final which holds a special place in the hearts and minds of supporters of both clubs. For more information, click here.

Two weeks later, Munster will travel to Kingsholm to take on Gloucester Rugby on Friday, September 5th at 7.30pm.

Concluding preparations for the new season will be the visit of Premiership Champions Bath Rugby to Virgin Media Park in Cork on Friday, September 12th at 7pm. Tickets are now available via Ticketmaster here.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123553678#Comment_123553678

3 pre-season games seems to be more than usual, right? Makes sense with McMillan coming in.

pickarooney

Playing a 3rd division side in a warmup?

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123553847#Comment_123553847

They're a third division side now. They were ProD2 when the fixture was announced in March. Either way a warmup game in August before the internationals are back is nothing more than a fitness exercise. There'll probably be 30 plus players used.

budhabob

Munster Rugby can confirm five new additions to the Academy squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The new Academy recruits are Emmet Calvey, Conor Kennelly, Oisín Minogue, Eoghan Smyth and Tom Wood.

https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2025/06/18/new-munster-rugby-academy-recruits-confirmed/

Seems to be a reasonably strong supply chain of talent coming through. Costello did indicate Munster were about 2 years away from the output of all the work on the academy being truly felt.

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123556974#Comment_123556974

Just spotted within that announcement, that Darragh McSweeney has been retained in Year 3 again for next season.
That's a good bit of business, as he basically missed the majority of the past season through injury, and couldn't have given much impression of what he is capable of. Great that he will be able to have another crack off it.

"After completing his third year in the Academy this season, prop Darragh McSweeney extends his time in the Academy after injury hampered his development."

2025/26 Munster Rugby Academy Squad

Year 3: George Hadden, Dylan Hicks, Darragh McSweeney, Ben O’Connor, Max Clein, Ronan Foxe.

Year 2: Jake O’Riordan, Gene O’Leary Kareem, Michael Foy, Danny Sheahan, Seán Edogbo, Luke Murphy, Gordon Wood.

Year 1: Emmet Calvey, Conor Kennelly, Oisin Minogue, Eoghan Smyth, Tom Wood.

As with previous seasons, there may be more additions to the Academy squad throughout the campaign.

Lost Ormond

5 is grand number to add with plenty of room for other additions after or during pre season and the u19 interpros etc. A few from Limerick and Cork and schools etc and a other from youths rugby.

budhabob

Re Darragh McSweeney, that's a smart bit of business. Low cost but giving year in a crucial position to proves his worth.... he'll be chomping at the bit to impress.

Jump_In_Jack

So, Academy squad 2025/2026 breakdown by position:
LHP: Calvey (Yr1), Hadden (Yr3)
HKR: Sheahan (Yr2), Clein (Yr3)
THP: Foxe (Yr3), McSweeney (Yr3)
LCK: Kennelly (Yr1), Foy (Yr2)
BKR: Minogue (OSF) (Yr1), S Edogbo (BSF) (Yr2), Murphy (No8) (Yr2)
SHF: O'Riordan (Yr2)
OHF: T Wood (Yr1), Hicks (Yr3)
CEN: Smyth (Yr1), G Wood (Yr2), O'Leary Kareem (Yr2)
WNG: -
FBK: O'Connor (Yr3)

50HX

🤣 🤣

Tipp1991

https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2025/06/20/alex-codling-named-as-new-munster-forwards-coach/

Brad Mayo also confirmed as Head of Athletic Performance

budhabob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123563535#Comment_123563535

Codling confirmed as forwards coach from October 1st - far from ideal but Munster must have been happy with his impact to date.

Mayo seems to have a serious CV, so that looks like a great appointment in an area which has had continuous question marks.

snotboogie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123563535#Comment_123563535

Is this different from S&C? I understand Munster have had someone local running S&C for the last three years or so.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123563555#Comment_123563555

Not ideal alright, but I think the improvements we saw at lineout time when he was back full-time justify it. Obviously not being there for pre-season is something they'll have to workaround, but he'll only miss one URC Game before he's back in situ.

Tipp1991

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123563584#Comment_123563584

It's the person who would have overall responsibility for S&C and would lead that team.

The previous was Ged McNamara, he had been S&C coach with the Georgian National team prior to coming to Munster. I think he's from Co Clare

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123563555#Comment_123563555

I don't think Oct 1st is too bad. He only misses one URC game and the squad already knows his methods, so missing preseason shouldn't be that big a deal.

Podge_irl

I would assume there is a decent chance he starts even earlier if/when the women get knocked out of the World Cup before the final.

letowski

Not a fan of the Codling appointment to be totally honest. Just don’t think his CV is there yet. Understand he came in temporarily, but even still, I didn’t think our forward play was at a high enough level last season. Furthermore, I would prefer the incoming Head Coach bring his own guy so he can better put his own stamp on how he wants to forwards to play.

budhabob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123565596#Comment_123565596

I don't think anyone can truly judge codling on last season tbf. He was double jobbing and likely stretched in terms of time. For a forwards coach he has a reasonably CV, especially considering McMillan has forwards coaching experience so will know exactly what he wants. The lack of preseason availability is my slight reservation on the appointment.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123565596#Comment_123565596

McMillan himself is a forwards coach by trade.

Id imagine codlings job will be executing McMillans systems, in conjunction with McMillan himself.

MaddChris

Our new head coach coming in off the back of 3 lost finals in a row. Brilliant 🥱

Hopefully better luck going forward

sliabh 1956

Ah that's a tough one for the Chiefs and Mc Millian its a poor enough finish to the season . In Reality they should have been gone after their loss at home in the playoffs. Lucky to get a second bite but lost their seeding.

budhabob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123566532#Comment_123566532

I'd be pretty happy to be getting to a final or two tbh....

Jump_In_Jack

Is this our finalised squad for next season? 41 senior, 18 academy.
Potential championship 23 for discussion.
Apart from the uncertainty around tighthead prop (Salanoa/Bartley/new signing?), are we light anywhere else?

snotboogie

Quinn is more a 7 than a 6 I think. We actually look light at 8 there.

Cookiemunster

Abrahams wouldn't be my first choice full back. I have both Haley and Daly ahead of him in there.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123572285#Comment_123572285

JOD can play 8 too. As can Kendellan.

snotboogie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123572352#Comment_123572352

Abrahams is a clear first choice at 15. Kendellan is too small to be anything other than a stopgap at 8 in an emergency, JOD is just not up to it.