‘Disappointing decision' – Munster Rugby suffer early pre-season blow as glamour fixture falls through
pre-season friendly against Biarritz Olympique has been cancelled.
The province were set to play the Pro D2 side on Friday 22 August.
However due to a delay to pitch renovations at the Stade Aguilera, Biarritz Olympique are unable to host Munster Rugby for the fixture.
3
Jack Crowley wasn't selected for the British and Irish Lions
3
Craig Casey was picked to be Ireland captain for games against Georgia and Portugal
3
Munster defeated them in the 2006 Heineken Cup final
Credit: Getty
Alternative venues were explored between the Basque club and the 2023 URC winners but "no viable and workable solutions were found."
The cancellation of the province's opening pre-season friendly will cause a lot of disruption for the new-look Munster team.
A Munster spokesperson said: "Given the disappointing decision by Biarritz Olympique, Munster Rugby will now make alternative arrangements regarding pre-season preparations."
Read more on Irish Sport
With
The Red Army are still set to face Gloucester Rugby on 5 September and Bath Rugby on 12 September.
That will be a long gap in matches for the side who's season ended in a
It will be a long summer break for many Munster players to dwell on the agony of the URC quarter-final exit.
Most read in Rugby Union
Tadgh Beirne was Munster's only selected player for the British and Irish Lions' Australia Tour this summer and has started the first two tests.
'Jack Crowley he's coming for you' jokes Peter O'Mahony's wife Jess as son practices his rugby skills
A large Munster contingent were
Seven players for the province will be up for selection for the game in Tbilisi on Saturday with Craig Casey picked as captain.
With a record number of fifteen Ireland stars selected for the Lions, it gave an opportunity for players such as Alex Kendellen to get their first call-ups.
Uncapped players Tom Aherne and Michael Milne will be looking to make their debuts alongside clubmates Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash and Gavin Coombes who have already got a taste of international rugby.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Craig Casey captains Ireland with debut for Tommy O'Brien
Craig Casey will captain Ireland for the first time against Georgia on Saturday evening in Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi (kick off 9pm local, 6pm Irish time). Casey forms a half-back partnership with Sam Prendergast, with Stuart McCloskey and Jamie Osborne set to link up in midfield for Paul O'Connell's side. Winger Tommy O'Brien will make his debut in a back three which includes his provincial colleague Jimmy O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale who is set to earn his 39th cap. Stockdale needs one more try to become the 21st Irish player to score 100+ points for Ireland and the first since Jack Crowley. It would also move him to Ireland's outright 6th leading try scorer and he currently shares that position with Girvan Dempsey and Geordan Murphy. The second starting debutant sees Connacht's Darragh Murray# (see note below) form a second-row partnership alongside Cormac Izuchukwu. Jack Boyle, hooker Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson start in the front row with Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney and number eight Gavin Coombes named in the back-row to complete the starting pack. In all there are potentially four further debutants on the replacements bench with Munster duo Michael Milne and Tom Ahern as well as Connacht pair Jack Aungier and scrum-half Ben Murphy set to make their respective international bows. The quartet are joined by Tom Stewart, Cian Prendergast and Calvin Nash. Casey will become the 112th Ireland Test captain since 1875. He is the third scrum-half to captain Ireland in the professional era after Niall Hogan (3 times) and Eoin Reddan (once). Looking ahead to this weekend's fixture, Paul O'Connell said: 'I have been impressed by the application of the squad ahead of this two-Test tour and Saturday's game presents an exciting opportunity for this group of players. To Craig (Casey), I would like to congratulate him on his first game as captain. Craig has taken to captaincy impressively. He's going to relish leading his country and I know how keen he is to make his mark alongside the rest of the players. "This weekend is also an extra special one for six players who are set to make their international debuts. To Tommy and Darragh, who get the chance to start, as well as the four others who will be ready to make their mark from the bench, I wish them well and the squad are determined to make it a memorable occasion for them and their families. Though light in terms of international caps in some areas, there's also a nice blend of experience in the squad.' IRELAND: J O'Brien (Naas/Leinster)(8) 14: Tommy O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)* 13: Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(7) 12: Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(19) 11: Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(38) 10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(8) 9: Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(captain)(18) 1: Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(2) 2: Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(4) 3: Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(6) 4: Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(1) 5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)* 6: Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(27) 7: Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(3) 8: Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)(2) Replacements: 16: Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(2) 17: Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)* 18: Jack Aungier (Clontarf/Connacht)* 19: Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)* 20: Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(4) 21: Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)* 22: Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(24) 23: Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(10)
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Two debutants feature in Ireland team to face Georgia
TWO DEBUTANTS have been included to start Ireland's opening game of the two-Test Summer series against Georgia on Saturday evening in Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi (kick off: 6pm Irish time, live on Virgin Media). Leinster winger Tommy O'Brien and Connacht lock Darragh Murray feature in the team, with several big names missing due to their British and Irish Lions commitments. Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell has also selected four uncapped players on the bench — Munster duo Michael Milne and Tom Ahern, as well as Connacht pair Jack Aungier and Ben Murphy. Advertisement Meanwhile, Craig Casey captains Ireland for the first time. The Munster star becomes the 112th Ireland Test captain since 1875 and the third scrum-half to do so in the professional era after Niall Hogan (three times) and Eoin Reddan (once). Ireland team to play Georgia: 15: Jimmy O'Brien (Naas/Leinster)(8) 14: Tommy O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)* 13: Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(7) 12: Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(19) 11: Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(38) 10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(8) 9: Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(captain)(18) 1: Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(2) 2: Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(4) 3: Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(6) 4: Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(1) 5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)* 6: Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(27) 7: Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(3) 8: Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)(2) Replacements: 16: Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(2) 17: Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)* 18: Jack Aungier (Clontarf/Connacht)* 19: Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)* 20: Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(4) 21: Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)* 22: Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(24) 23: Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(10) *denotes uncapped
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Two Ireland debutants in team to play Georgia on Saturday
Craig Casey will captain Ireland for the first time this weekend, becoming the 112th Ireland Test captain since 1875. He is only the third scrum-half to captain Ireland in the professional era after Niall Hogan (three times) and Eoin Reddan (once). Saturday's game in Tbilisi will be Ireland's 764th Men's Test and it will be broadcast live on Virgin Media. The Munster star will be leading a team selected by Men's interim Head Coach Paul O'Connell in the opening game of the two-Test Summer series on Saturday evening, against Georgia in Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi (kick off 9pm local, 6pm Irish time). Casey forms a half-back partnership with Sam Prendergast, with Stuart McCloskey and Jamie Osborne set to link up in midfield. Winger Tommy O'Brien will make his debut in a back three which includes his provincial colleague Jimmy O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale who is set to earn his 39th cap. McCloskey, who turns 33 in August, will be the eldest Ireland player on the team. 'I don't think I'm doing a lot wrong,' he says. 'I think when I've played I've went well, it's just there's four very good centres in the lads, two of them are away [with the Lions, Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose] and you could argue Robbie [Henshaw] would've been away as well if he wasn't injured, so I don't think I'm too far off it. 'What can I do better? Keep improving on a few things, probably a bit more physicality in defence, I think I've got most things in attack. Add a few more strings to my bow, whether that's breakdown or poach threat, but overall I don't think there's a lot in it. A few decisions go my way, I'm sitting here with a few more caps." Stockdale needs one more try to become the 21st Irish player to score 100+ points for Ireland and the first since Jack Crowley. It would also move him to Ireland's outright 6th leading try scorer and he currently shares that position with Girvan Dempsey and Geordan Murphy. The second starting debutant sees Connacht's Darragh Murray form a second-row partnership alongside Cormac Izuchukwu. Jack Boyle, hooker Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson start in the front row with Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney and number eight Gavin Coombes named in the back-row to complete the starting pack. In all there are potentially four further debutants on the replacements bench with Munster duo Michael Milne and Tom Ahern as well as Connacht pair Jack Aungier and scrum-half Ben Murphy set to make their respective international bows. This quartet are joined by previously capped Tom Stewart, Cian Prendergast, Jack Crowley and Calvin Nash. Only two players on the bench, Crowley and Nash have been capped 10 or more times. Continued O'Connell "I have been impressed by the application of the squad ahead of this two-Test tour and Saturday's game presents an exciting opportunity for this group of players. "I would like to congratulate Craig Casey on his first game as captain. Craig has taken to captaincy impressively. He's going to relish leading his country and I know how keen he is to make his mark alongside the rest of the players. "This weekend is also an extra special one for six players who are set to make their international debuts. "To Tommy and Darragh, who get the chance to start, as well as the four others who will be ready to make their mark from the bench, I wish them well and the squad are determined to make it a memorable occasion for them and their families. "Though light in terms of international caps in some areas, there's also a nice blend of experience in the squad.' From the new to the, er, experienced, McCloskey and O'Connell go back a long way. Says the Ulster player: 'I think I was even in one Ireland training camp with him and I think I'm the only one in the squad to have played a game against him as well. We won down at Thomond that day for Ulster, I'll not mention that to him, hopefully that comes up and he sees that. "As a player, Paulie was incredibly intimidating, you see some of the clips of him from back in the day and he'd be red carded basically every week for what he did but I think he knows that himself now. It was a different time. 'Intimidating as a player, as a coach he has that intimidation factor but I think he's very personable. He lets the young guys come out of their shell, a bit like what Faz is like. "He's watched Faz over the past three, four years and learned a lot from that. How has he put his own stamp on it? There hasn't been a great deal different. "He's seemed quite laidback to me, but with me being the oldest in the group it's easy to feel a bit more laidback when you're 32, not 20.' McCloskey can even remember playing against O'Connell - and it was quite the memorable game: 'Ulster sent down the biggest B team of all time because it was a dead rubber at the end of the season and Munster had their best team out. I remember it very well. Michaell Heaney scored a try, they were trying to get to second and we were fourth, couldn't go up or down, it was back in the Pro12 days and we got the win, I think it was my fourth cap. 'I think Michael Allen (played with me at centre). James McKinney was at 10. Good story because the coach said 'Ah, you'll play more next season' to him and he was actually leaving that summer. I won't say who the coach was, but you can figure that out.' Ireland team & replacements *denotes uncapped 15. Jimmy O'Brien (Naas/Leinster) (8) 14: Tommy O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)* 13: Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(7) 12: Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(19) 11: Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(38) 10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(8) 9: Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(captain)(18) 1: Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(2) 2: Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(4) 3: Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(6) 4: Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(1) 5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)* 6: Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(27) 7: Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(3) 8: Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)(2) Replacements: 16: Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(2) 17: Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)* 18: Jack Aungier (Clontarf/Connacht)* 19: Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)* 20: Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(4) 21: Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)* 22: Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(24) 23: Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(10) Ireland Men's Squad – Summer Tour 2025Player/Club/Province/CapsBacks (14): Shayne Bolton (Connacht)*, Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(captain)(18), Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(24), Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)*, Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(8), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)*, Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(19), Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)*, Dermot Kilgallon (Munster)*, Jimmy O'Brien (Naas/Leinster)(8), Tommy O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)*, Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(7), Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(8), Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(38) Forwards (18): Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)*, Jack Aungier (Lansdowne/Connacht)*, Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(27), Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(2), Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(6), Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)(2), Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(2), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(1), Alex Kendellen (UCC/Munster)*, Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(4), Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)*, Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)*, Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)*, Tom O'Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(16), Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(4), Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley/Leinster)*, Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(2), Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(3), Scott Wilson (Queens University/Ulster)* IRELAND SUMMER TOUR SCHEDULESaturday, 5th July: Georgia v Ireland, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi (kick off 9pm local time, 6pm Irish time);Saturday, 12th July: Portugal v Ireland, Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon (kick off 7pm local, same Irish time)Ireland Men's Squad – Summer Tour 2025, departing for Tbilisi on Wednesday, 2nd July.
