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Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

1…973974976978979…1097

Comments

  • #29252
    Eod100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,435 ✭✭✭✭Eod100


    Confirmed now



  • #29253
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,511 ✭✭✭✭phog


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123212992#Comment_123212992

    Following a review of the existing high performance structure, Head of Rugby Operations Ian Costello has been appointed to the newly-created role of General Manager of Munster Rugby.

    As General Manager, Costello will oversee high performance rugby at Munster. He will be responsible for developing and leading the strategy for the professional game and player pathway to ensure excellence, alignment and integration across the club. The role includes responsibility for the progression of the professional team, players, coaches and performance staff.

    Costello will remain as Interim Head Coach until the end of the 2024/25 season.

    Attack Coach Mike Prendergast will move up to the role of Senior Coach from July and working closely with McMillan, will now have a more central role in team preparation, strategy, selection and recruitment.

    Prendergast, who returned to Munster Rugby in 2022, made an immediate impact as the province played some fantastic rugby on their way to a thrilling URC title win in 2022/23. The attack continued to flourish last season with Munster topping the URC table at the end of the regular season before bowing out at the semi-final stage.

    From MR



  • #29254
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,511 ✭✭✭✭phog


    McMillan coached the ABs v Munster in Thomond last year.

    Screenshot_2025-02-26-20-30-30-89_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg


  • #29255
    letowski
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,415 ✭✭✭letowski


    On the face of it, this seems like a good hire, Admittedly I don’t follow Super Rugby as much anymore, but the Chiefs have been going well under him.

    Been a good couple weeks with recruitment overall.



  • #29256
    ionadnapóca
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,509 ✭✭✭ionadnapóca


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123213225#Comment_123213225

    Same. Would I be in the overwhelming minority here by not even knowing who he is?

    How old is he?

    Does he have any links with Ireland by way of coaching players. e.g. Would Bundee have come across him?

    https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2025/02/26/clayton-mcmillan-appointed-new-head-coach-of-munster-on-three-year-contract/



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  • #29257
    JanuarySnowstor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,554 ✭✭✭JanuarySnowstor


    Looks like a brilliant choice!!



  • #29258
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,511 ✭✭✭✭phog


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123213350#Comment_123213350

    Posted by CookieMunster above

    Got Chiefs to the last two Super Rugby finals and has coached Nankivell and Ryan.

    Also a bit about teams he coached that played v Ireland or Munster (from IRFU)

    Screenshot_2025-02-26-21-05-40-87_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg


  • #29259
    ionadnapóca
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,509 ✭✭✭ionadnapóca


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123213388#Comment_123213388

    Thanks. I wouldn’t have seen that.

    Must have been approached when he was over in Nov.
    Any ideas what’s his style. Forwards based? Probably not coming from SuperRugby. He looks like a forward!



  • #29260
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers, Paid Member Posts: 44,222 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123213350#Comment_123213350

    I think the only Munster / Irish connection in his coaching, apart from nank and John Ryan, is, even more obtusely, he coached an ex Munster player at bay of plenty in 2016. The Munster legend that is Te ahi Toma.

    Actually, he also coached the ex Connacht stalwart Abraham papali'i as well



  • #29261
    JanuarySnowstor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,554 ✭✭✭JanuarySnowstor


    Amazing how he's so excited to take on such a club 'steeped in history' yet some of our own thought the job was beneath them. Rog now not going well in France and O Connell appears to be third choice in the Ireland setup. Which of course is still an important role in itself

    This guy really is a coup for Munster!



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  • #29262
    Water John
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,623 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    He's very welcome. I even bought the T shirt when I was in NZ some years ago😁



  • #29263
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,511 ✭✭✭✭phog


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123213409#Comment_123213409

    He was a back row forward in his playing days. I don't know enough about this coaching style or the style that Chiefs play



  • #29264
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,511 ✭✭✭✭phog


    A long interview with him (haven't listened to it yet so don't know if it's worth listening to)

    https://youtu.be/OTs7YpTcCX4?si=ZANC4hpXm1YYFqr8


  • #29265
    ionadnapóca
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,509 ✭✭✭ionadnapóca


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123213733#Comment_123213733

    Thanks again.

    I’m only two minutes in and I like him already.



  • #29266
    50HX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,280 ✭✭✭50HX


    Great to see this done & over the line, park , move on now til summer & everyone knows where they stand.

    Know nothing about him & thought this thread would be on fire on the announcement.

    If he's along the lines of Rob Penny I'd be happy.

    Would he bring Mckeinze or L Brown with him by any chance😁



  • #29267
    budhabob
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,378 ✭✭✭budhabob


    Seems like a smart appointment, but also positive to see some changes in the overall structure and responsibilities



  • #29268
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,511 ✭✭✭✭phog


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123213879#Comment_123213879

    thought this thread would be on fire on the announcement.

    Unfortunately, this thread only goes on fire for one reason and one reason only.



  • #29269
    Joma4good
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 90 ✭✭Joma4good


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123213733#Comment_123213733

    Thanks Phog, watched it through, very impressive. Heavily invested in his Māori culture, hope he can get the buy in and success needed here.



  • #29270
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,511 ✭✭✭✭phog


    Carrick Blake (Head Analyst at Pontypool RFC) does some analysis (full thread on BlueSky) of Chiefs play,

    https://bsky.app/profile/analysisguy0502.bsky.social/post/3liyfqyzw222g



  • #29271
    budhabob
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,378 ✭✭✭budhabob


    Do people think this is the last addition to the coaching team - we seemed to bring in alot of temporary support, which would indicate there were further gaps in the structure?



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  • #29272
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,511 ✭✭✭✭phog


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123214964#Comment_123214964

    I'd assume there will be at least one more, possibly a signing by or approved by Clayton. There was a rumour that Colm Tucker was coming home but I'm not that was ever more than a rumour.

    Being selfish, I'd like to see us keep Alex Codling on as a coach



  • #29273
    Cookiemunster
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 13,225 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    We still don't have a permanent forwards coach. It seems that Codling will stick with the womens team. And he'll be gone with them from mid March for their 6N.



  • #29274
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 146 ✭✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123214998#Comment_123214998

    The last I heard on the Connacht quiet chats in pubs scene was the he was going to stay with us. Reliable source but who knows how things develop…



  • #29275
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,511 ✭✭✭✭phog


    So, POM and Murray are definitely gone from next season, hardly surprising but I had hoped we'd have them again for next season.

    Two great players and careers for both Munster and Ireland and they'll be sorely missed.



  • #29276
    Cookiemunster
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 13,225 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    POM retiring, Murray heading abroad. I wonder who he's off to.



  • #29277
    realhorrorshow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭realhorrorshow


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123215094#Comment_123215094

    Has to be France anyway you'd think.



  • #29278
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,511 ✭✭✭✭phog


    Team for tomorrow evening

    Munster Rugby: Ben O’Connor (Highfield RFC/PBC); Calvin Nash (Young Munster RFC/Crescent College Comp), Tom Farrell (Coolmine RFC/Castleknock College), Alex Nankivell (Christchurch Boys High School), Shay McCarthy (Richmond RFC/St Munchin’s College); Billy Burns (Beechen Cliff), Ethan Coughlan (Ennis RFC); Josh Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea), Niall Scannell (PBC), John Ryan (Muskerry RFC/CBC); Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Castletroy College), Fineen Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea); Tom Ahern ((Youghal RFC/Dungarvan RFC/Waterpark RFC), John Hodnett (Clonakilty RFC), Brian Gleeson (Thurles RFC/Rockwell College).

    Replacements: Diarmuid Barron (Cashel RFC/Rockwell College), Mark Donnelly (Midleton RFC), Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution FC), Ruadhán Quinn (Ballina-Killaloe RFC), Alex Kendellen (PBC), Paddy Patterson (Blackrock College), Tony Butler (Ennis RFC), Seán O’Brien (Mullingar RFC).



  • #29279
    letowski
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,415 ✭✭✭letowski


    Infairness to O'Mahoney and Murray, they owe the club nothing at this stage, they've been outstanding servants to the club.

    Heavy news cycle this past 24 hours, anyway, fairly young team named tomorrow.



  • #29280
    ionadnapóca
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,509 ✭✭✭ionadnapóca


    Announce New Head Coach and Legends Leaving within 24 yours of each other.

    Never change Munster PR department!!



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  • #29281
    budhabob
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,378 ✭✭✭budhabob


    Both Murray and POM have been wonderful servants to Munster and Irish Rugby, but on the flip side seem to hold almost too much power and influence in Munster. These exits will truly allow for a change in approach and culture to be implemented by the new coaching ticket, but Prendergast and Leamy aiding any transition. All in all, an exciting news week.



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