Latest news with #MUNSTERRugby
The Irish Sun
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Munster Rugby continue major shake-up as another Kiwi joins Clayton McMillan in being appointed to key role
MUNSTER Rugby have announced the appointment of New Zealander Martyn Vercoe as the province's new Team Manager ahead of the 2025/26 season. He will join the province next month subject to being granted a valid work permit. Advertisement He will be taking over from Niall O'Donovan having previously worked with Vercoe is the current Team Manager and Head of Teams at Super Rugby side Gallagher Chiefs and Team Manager for the All Blacks XV. He has been an experienced team manager in a number of environments over the past 12 years. The New Zealander was manager of the Kiwi Under-20s side from 2016 to 2021, winning the Under-20s World Cup in 2017 with a 64-17 win against England in the final. Advertisement Read more on Irish Sport His U-20s team consisted of now senior internationals such as Tupou Vaa'i, Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan. He also managed New Zealand National Provincial Championship side Tasman Makos from 2013 to 2020, taking them to three finals in his first five years before winning back to back titles in his last two seasons with the club. Vercoe was also a Personal Development Manager and Commercial Manager at Tasman Rugby, and Head of Faculty at Marlborough Boys' College in New Zealand prior to his management career. He will have big boots to fill as he steps into the void left by the beloved Niall O'Donovan who has been working with the province for 28 years. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union Along with his 28 years as a coach and manager with Munster and Irish Rugby, he also represented the province as a player in the 1980s. O'Donovan joined Munster Rugby in 1997 as an assistant coach and reached two European Cup finals during his tenure in 2000 and 2002. 'Jack Crowley he's coming for you' jokes Peter O'Mahony's wife Jess as son practices his rugby skills He left the province to become Ireland's forward's coach in 2002 but returned in 2010 as Munster A Team Manager. The Shannon man coached the likes of Peter O'Mahony, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan and Stephen Archer in his time with the Munster A, winning the British and Irish Cup in 2012. Advertisement Following the cup win, 'Niallo' moved into the team manager role he is now leaving. He has overseen defining moments such as the move to a single training base in the High Performance Centre in UL in 2016, and enjoying the province's first trophy success in 12 years when winning the URC title in 2023. 1 The 68-year-old had an impressive cricket career before moving into rugby Credit:
The Irish Sun
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Wishing you a lifetime of happiness' – Munster congratulate two of their players after getting married
MUNSTER Rugby have congratulated two of their players after they got married today. The heartwarming image of 2 The joy of their teammates literally jumps off the screen Credit: @munsterrugby 2 Chloe after being proposed to by her partner and teammate Clodagh at Musgrave Park Fast-forward over two years on and their big day arrived on Friday with the Reds' social media team marking the milestone moment in their lives together. Resharing that Musgrave Park pic, the caption read: "Congratulations to Clodagh O'Halloran and Chloe Pearse on your wedding today! "Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness." The post was warmly received by players and fans alike. Read More On Irish Sport Gill Owens hailed: "Congratulations to them both!" Similarly, Claire added: "Congrats ladies (love heart emoji). As for matters on the pitch, both Munster's men's and women's sides have wrapped their 2024/25 seasons. The men's campaign came to a halt in Durban when they were Meanwhile the high-point for the women's side Most read in Rugby Union From an Irish rugby point of view all eyes will be on Croke Park this weekend as Leinster's men aim to end a relative trophy drought. If the province do not 'Pierre loving retirement' - Peter O'Mahony's wife teases Ireland legend as kids run amok in cute snap Despite that though, Leo Cullen has insisted that Leinster During that time, they have lost three finals and one semi-final in the Champions Cup and three semi-finals in the URC, twice when they had finished top of the standings in the regular season. They topped the pile again this time around and Cullen does not believe his charges deserve to be automatically dismissed if they cannot get over the line again. FINAL COUNTDOWN He said: 'They're all individual games. Every play-off game is a final as such. We have played in lots, whether they come in a quarter-final, semi-final or final. 'The group is learning all the time, young players come through, you are adding layers of experience. 'I think the way some of the questions are leading me, it's like, 'Whoever loses is a failure'. In this game there are two good teams going at it. If you lose in a final, are you classified as a failure? 'You can play your best game in the final. So both of these teams could play their best games of the season but unfortunately one of the teams has to lose. 'So one of the teams, who has just played their best game, they are classified as losers because they have lost but are they failures? "You are guaranteed nothing. So you have to prepare the best you can with the time you have to put in your best performance. I hope the group goes out and does itself justice. It's on the day.'
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Deeply saddened' – Munster Rugby mourning untimely death of former staff member and ex-player's wife
MUNSTER Rugby are mourning the death of former staff member Michelle Payne who has passed away from cancer. She was also the wife of ex-player and later team manager Shaun Payne. Advertisement 2 Michelle Payne has tragically died from breast cancer Credit: @MUNSTERRUGBY 2 Cape Town native Shaun Payne played for the Reds on 109 occasions between 2003-2008 A club statement read: "Munster Rugby are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Michelle Payne, a former Munster staff member and wife of former team manager & player Shaun Payne, after a two-year battle against breast cancer. "Our immediate thoughts are with Shaun, their children Dylan and Amy & the wider Payne family. "May she rest in peace." Among the replies to the Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport Dylan Payne commented: "Thank you Munster. So many good memories." There were other heartfelt tributes from those who knew her during her time at the club. Former player Barry Murphy added: "Rest in Peace, Michelle. Such a beautiful person." Supporter Michelle Tobin also expressed her sympathy while relaying a nice memory from the club's trip to South Africa in 2018. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union She wrote: "Gutted to hear the news. "She was a special part of the trip to South Africa for the Munster games in 2018, such a big heart and a genuinely lovely person. Shocking moment enormous brawl breaks out in rubgy league after 'horrendous hit' "Sincere sympathies to Shaun, Dylan and Amy." Similarly Carly Justin contributed: "Such heartbreaking news, we were lucky to meet the family down in SA in 2018 and Michelle was so friendly & welcoming. Advertisement "My thoughts are with her family & friends at this difficult time." Finally, She posted: "Such heartbreaking news. What a lady. "I will always remember her gorgeous smile. RIP. Love to Shaun, Dylan & Amy." Advertisement
