Wikipedia

2021–22 Munster Rugby season

The 2021–22 Munster Rugby season was Munster's twenty-first season competing in the United Rugby Championship, alongside which they also competed in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It was Johann van Graan's fifth and final season as head coach.[1][2]

2021–22 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s)Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600)[note 1]
Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,008)
ChairmanGerry O'Shea
CEOIan Flanagan
PresidentSeán McCullough
Coach(es)Johann van Graan
Captain(s)Peter O'Mahony
Most appearances
Two players
Top scorerBen Healy (123)
Most tries
Two players
League(s)United Rugby Championship
2021–22 United Rugby Championship3rd in Irish shield
6th in league
Quarter-finals
← 2020–21 2022–23 →

Events

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The big news in terms of player movements ahead of the 2021–22 season was the retirement of three club stalwarts: Billy Holland,[3] CJ Stander[4] and Tommy O'Donnell,[5] and the return to the province of the club's record try scorer Simon Zebo after three seasons with French club Racing 92.[6]

Fly-half JJ Hanrahan[7] left the province to join French club Clermont, whilst winger Alex Wootton departed to join Connacht on a permanent basis, having spent the previous season on loan at the western province.[8] Scrum-half Nick McCarthy left to re-join his native province Leinster,[9] whilst prop James Cronin joined French club Biarritz, who had recently been promoted to the Top 14,[10] and hooker Rhys Marshall was released by the province and returned to New Zealand, where he joined North Harbour.[11] Centre Alex McHenry joined English club Wasps on loan in October 2021,[12] and new signing Declan Moore joined Ulster as short-term injury cover in late December 2021[13] and on loan in February 2022.[14]

Nine academy players were promoted to the senior squad: Thomas Ahern,[15] Jack Crowley,[15] Jack Daly,[15] Jake Flannery,[16] James French,[16] Seán French,[16] Ben Healy,[16] John Hodnett[16] and Josh Wycherley.[15] South African lock Jason Jenkins joined the senior squad from Japanese club Toyota Verblitz,[15] scrum-half Rowan Osborne joined from Leinster,[17] and hooker Declan Moore, who was on the books with Australian Super Rugby side Melbourne Rebels, joined for the season.[18] Shannon scrum-half Aran Hehir joined the senior squad in late February 2022 to provide cover whilst Craig Casey, Ethan Coughlan and Conor Murray were away on international duty and Rowan Osborne was injured.[19]

In coaching news, former Munster assistant coach Ian Costello returned to the province to become their academy manager, having spent the previous five seasons working in England as head coach of RFU Championship club Nottingham and, since 2018, defence coach at Premiership club Wasps.[20] Sports psychologist Caroline Currid, renowned in Ireland for her work with the Limerick hurlers who won back-to-back All-Ireland's in 2020 and 2021, joined the province's backroom team in a part-time role.[21]

Three players joined year one of the academy: prop Mark Donnelly, back-row Daniel Okeke and scrum-half Ethan Coughlan, whilst Leinster academy scrum-half Paddy Patterson, who spent part of the previous season on a short-term contract with Munster, joined year three of the academy.[22] Three additional players joined the academy in November 2021: lock Edwin Edogbo, fly-half Tony Butler and back-three Patrick Campbell.[23]

With the four South African Super Rugby teams - the Bulls, the Lions, the Sharks and the Stormers - joining the league ahead of the 2021–22 season, the Pro14 was rebranded and restructured as the United Rugby Championship. The teams were divided into regional pools, with Munster joining their provincial rivals Connacht, Leinster and Ulster in the Irish pool. The regular season took place over 18 rounds; Munster played their pool opponents home and away, and played home or away fixtures against the other 12 teams in the league. All sixteen teams were ranked in one league table after the 18 rounds, with the top 8 teams qualifying for the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and a grand final.[24]

Eight teams qualified from the United Rugby Championship for the Champions Cup. The highest ranked team from each pool qualified for the Champions Cup, with the remaining four qualification spots going to the next four highest-ranked teams in the single league table who have not already qualified from their pool. Subject to approvals, the South African teams will be eligible for the Champions & Challenge Cup.[24]

The province was drawn in pool B for the 2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage, and faced French club Castres, whom Munster have met in nine previous Champions Cup seasons in a record 16 fixtures, and English club Wasps, who defeated Munster in a classic semi-final in the old Lansdowne Road in 2004, and whom the province last met during the 2007–08 tournament, which Munster went on to win.[25][26]

Munster opened their 2021–22 United Rugby Championship campaign with a bonus-point 42–17 win against the Sharks, one of the four new South African teams, on 25 September 2021. Simon Zebo, making his return for the province, scored two tries, extending his club record to 62, with Gavin Coombes continuing his try-scoring exploits from the previous season with two tries of his own. Chris Cloete and player of the match Craig Casey also crossed the try line. Fly-half Joey Carbery scored seven points off the kicking tee, with his replacement Ben Healy contributing five points off the tee in the second-half. RG Snyman made his eagerly-awaited return from long-term injury as a second-half replacement, and scrum-half Rowan Osborne made his competitive debut for the province, in a match that saw fans return to Thomond Park for the first time since February 2020.[27]

Munster were in South Africa for rounds 6 and 7 of the United Rugby Championship, in which they were due to play the Bulls and the Lions, however, the emergence of the omicron variant of COVID-19 led to travel restrictions being implemented by UK and EU authorities, meaning the fixtures had to be postponed.[28] 34 players and staff arrived back in Ireland on 1 December 2021 and immediately entered 10 days of mandatory self-isolation. 14 players and staff who had tested positive for COVID-19 had to remain in South Africa.[29]

In the wake of this disruption for Munster and other clubs, and with Munster's opening Champions Cup fixture away to Wasps falling on 12 December, the EPCR extended the deadline for registering players for the tournament to 8 December, meaning Munster could look to supplement their squad with short-term signings,[30][31] and 22 players were subsequently registered with the province's Champions Cup squad.[32]

A depleted Munster squad made up of internationals who'd been away with Ireland during the Autumn tests, academy players and members of the national and provincial talent squads travelled over to England to face Wasps on their opening Champions Cup fixture on 12 December 2021. The team, which featured 12 debutantes, pulled off one of the great Munster away victories, defeating their opponents 35–14 in a thrilling contest in front of a large contingent of Munster fans who had made the journey to Coventry.[33]

Munster made it back-to-back wins in the Champions Cup with a gritty 19–13 win at home against French club Castres on 18 December 2021, with a 58th minute try from number 8 Jack O'Donoghue and 14 points off the tee from fly-half Ben Healy being enough for the province to see off their opposition.[34]

Following the 10–8 defeat away to Connacht on 1 January 2022, the province received criticism for its style of play, or lack thereof, aimed in particular at head coach Johann van Graan, who had recently confirmed his departure from the province at the end of the season. Critics also pointed to the poor performance in defeat against the Ospreys back in October 2021, prior to the COVID-19 issues the province faced in South Africa and the first two rounds of the Champions Cup, and also to the dour win against Castres in round two of the Champions Cup. Former captain Donal Lenihan, writing in the Irish Examiner, said: "If Munster continue in the vein of the last two limp attacking efforts against Castres and Connacht, then you can forget about any prospect of breaking the trophy drought for another season,", whilst club legend Alan Quinlan described the performance against Connacht as "dreadful", before adding; "Look, you have to acknowledge there has been a lot of good in the last few years, I do want to say that.".

Eddie O'Sullivan, former Ireland coach and Munster player, added: "If you want a cameo to show people how Munster have not developed in attack, show them the last five minutes of that first half against Connacht.".[35] Keith Wood, another former Munster player and an Ireland legend, was similarly critical of the province, describing the display against Connacht as "turgid nonsense", adding "There's no point in talking about Munster's attack, that doesn’t exist at the present moment in time. I think we're beginning to ruin some of the players. I'm finding it incredibly hard to watch."[36] Munster forwards coach Graham Rowntree, speaking to the media ahead of the province's fixture against Ulster the following week, described the performance as "more than disappointing" and "very frustrating", but added that a series of clear-the-air meetings had been held,[37] saying "It can only be good to get it all out on the table and clear the air and people air some things.".[38]

In the reverse fixture against Castres in round 3 of the Champions Cup on 14 January 2022, Munster earned a 16–13 away win thanks to a 77th minute try from Gavin Coombes, converted by rookie fly-half Jack Crowley, who was faultless off the kicking tee in his first European start for the province. The win secured a place in the knockout stage of the tournament for Munster.[39] Nine days later, Munster followed up their away win against Castres with a 45–7 home win against Wasps, with the tries coming from Jeremy Loughman, Conor Murray, Jack O'Donoghue, who was player of the match on the occasion of his 150th cap for Munster, Rory Scannell and Simon Zebo, who scored a brace to become Munster's all-time leading try-scorer in the Champions Cup and the leading Irish try-scorer in the competition overall. Fly-half Ben Healy and his replacement on the day, Jack Crowley, were both 100% from the kicking tee, with Healy scoring four conversions and a penalty, and Crowley adding two late conversions. The win secured home advantage for Munster in the second leg of the round of 16.[40]

Munster faced English club Exeter Chiefs in the round of 16,[41] and lost the first leg of the tie 13–8 away to the Premiership club on 9 April 2022. Exeter took a 10–0 lead in to half-time after tries from Stuart Hogg and Jacques Vermeulen, before Munster fly-half Ben Healy hit back with a penalty to reduce the home sides lead. Hogg responded for Exeter with a drop-goal, but a 66th minute try from Shane Daly brought Munster back within touching distance on the scoreboard, and Exeter had to withstand some intense offensive play from Munster going into the final ten minutes, with replacement scrum-half Craig Casey almost drawing the scores level, before the hosts themselves assaulted the Munster try-line in the last minutes of the match in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to extend their lead.[42]

Needing to overturn a five-point deficit to advance in the competition, Munster welcomed Exeter to Thomond Park for the second leg of their last 16 tie one week later. Fly-half Joey Carbery, returning from injury, opened the scoring for the hosts with a penalty, but the visitors responded with their first try of the game to take an early 5–3 lead, before Carbery struck back for Munster with a try of his own, to which he added a second penalty to give Munster a 13–5 half-time lead. Exeter struck first in the second-half with a try in the 47th minute, but Carbery kept Munster in front with two further penalties, before centre Damian de Allende scored a 74th minute try to secure a 26–10 home win for Munster and a 34–23 victory on aggregate, ensuring Munster progressed to a record 19th Champions Cup quarter-final.[43]

Facing defending champions Toulouse, who knocked the province out of the previous season's tournament, in the quarter-final,[44] Munster began strongly with an 11th minute Alex Kendellen try, converted by Joey Carbery to lead 7–0, but Romain Ntamack hit back for Toulouse two minutes later with a try of his own, converted by Thomas Ramos, to level the scores. The visitors were dominating the scrum and scored their second try in the 25th minute when Matthis Lebel touched down, with Ramos again converting to give Toulouse a 14–7 lead. However, Munster struck back with a Keith Earls try just before half-time which Carbery converted to leave the scores level heading into the break. The home side came out firing in the second-half, with Mike Haley scoring a 43rd minute try, again converted by Carbery, to give Munster a 21–14 lead, which Carbery extended with a penalty in the 56th minute, but Toulouse responded with Lebel's second try in the 66th minute which, when converted by Ramos, reduced the margin to just three points heading into the final ten minutes. A 75th-minute penalty from Ramos levelled the scores at 24–24, and that remained the score at full-time after Ben Healy missed with a 56-metre penalty attempt in the final minute of normal time.[45]

With the scores level at full-time and as both teams scored three tries, extra time ensued, played over two ten-minute halves, but even after that the two teams could not be separated after three missed drop goals between the two, and the game went to a penalty shootout. Munster went first and Conor Murray scored his penalty. Antoine Dupont responded successfully for Toulouse, but Ben Healy missed his first attempt, and when Thomas Ramos scored his penalty, it was advantage Toulouse. Carbery scored his penalty, but Romain Ntamack scored his own to restore Toulouse's lead. Murray missed with his second attempt, whilst Dupont was successful with his own to give Toulouse a 4–2 lead, meaning Healy had to score with his second attempt to give Munster any hope, but he was unable to do so, and Toulouse advanced to the semi-finals, knocking Munster out of the competition for the second season in a row.[45]

A 35–25 defeat away to Leinster in round 18 of the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship meant that Munster finished sixth in the league overall, and third in the Irish Shield,[46] and the province headed north to face Ulster in the quarter-finals on 3 June 2022, but Munster lost 36–17 to bring the curtain down on their 2021–22 season, as well as Johann van Graan's tenure as head coach.[47][48]

Player movements

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Below are the players who joined and left the Munster senior and academy squads ahead of the 2021–22 season. Italics indicates players that transferred during the 2021–22 season.

Senior squad

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Academy squad

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Coaches and staff

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Senior squad

Position Name Nationality
Head coach Johann van Graan   South Africa
Senior coach Stephen Larkham   Australia
Defence coach JP Ferreira   South Africa
Forwards coach Graham Rowntree   England
Team manager Niall O'Donovan   Ireland
Head of athletic performance Ged McNamara   Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Adam Sheehan   Ireland
Head of medical Jamie Kearns   Ireland
Lead physiotherapist Damien Mordan   Ireland
Physiotherapist Keith Thornhill   Ireland
Physiotherapist Ray McGinley   Ireland
Lead performance analyst George Murray   Ireland
Performance analyst Paul O'Brien   Ireland

Academy squad

Position Name
Academy manager Ian Costello
Elite player development officer Greig Oliver
Elite player development officer Andi Kyriacou
Provincial talent coach Mark Butler
Lead academy athletic development coach Danielle Cunningham
Academy performance analyst Elliot Corcoran
Academy physio Shane Malone
Academy performance nutritionist Clare Farrell
Mental skills coach Cathal Sheridan

Players

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For a full list of player movements before or during the 2021–22 season, see List of 2021–22 United Rugby Championship transfers.

Senior squad

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Munster Rugby senior squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Back three

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
L denotes a player on loan at the club.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[49]

Academy squad

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Munster Rugby academy squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

  • None at present

Back three

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players, number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[50][23]

Additional players

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These 19 players were registered with Munster's Champions Cup squad in December 2021 following the disruption caused by the province's recent tour to South Africa, and are National Talent Squad or Provincial Talent Squad members. They are not contracted to Munster. Three additional academy members - Tony Butler, Patrick Campbell and Edwin Edogbo - were also registered for the squad and are listed in the academy squad above.

Munster Rugby additional players

Props

  • Alessandro Heaney
  • Darragh McCarthy
  • Darragh McSweeney
  • Kieran Ryan

Hookers

  • Dylan Murphy

Back-row

Scrum-halves

  • Adam Maher
  • Andrew O'Mahony

Centres

  • Alan Flannery
  • Darragh French

Back three

  • George Coomber
  • Jamie Shanahan
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[32]

Pre-season

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4 September 2021
15:00
Munster Greys  38–21  Munster Reds
Report
Thomond Park[note 2]
11 September 2021
15:00
Exeter Chiefs  19–31  Munster
Report
Sandy Park

2021–22 United Rugby Championship

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Main article: 2021–22 United Rugby Championship
2021–22 United Rugby Championship Table watch · edit · discuss
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1   Leinster 18 13 0 5 546 276 +270 73 31 11 4 67
2   Stormers (CH) 18 12 2 4 464 311 +153 60 36 7 2 61
3   Ulster 18 12 0 6 412 297 +115 52 34 7 4 59
4   Bulls (RU) 18 11 0 7 518 388 +130 67 42 10 4 58
5   Sharks 18 11 1 6 510 365 +145 60 43 9 2 57
6   Munster 18 11 0 7 524 341 +183 66 34 8 4 56
7   Edinburgh 18 10 1 7 421 318 +103 56 37 8 4 54
8   Glasgow Warriors 18 10 0 8 409 376 +33 53 44 7 3 50
9   Ospreys 18 10 0 8 422 474 –52 46 62 4 2 46
10   Scarlets 18 8 0 10 494 534 –40 65 73 10 3 45
11   Connacht 18 9 0 9 399 502 –103 51 67 4 1 41
12   Lions 18 8 0 10 408 450 –42 48 55 7 2 41
13   Benetton 18 6 1 11 425 501 –76 53 67 6 3 35
14   Cardiff 18 7 0 11 369 577 –208 41 72 3 1 32
15   Dragons 18 2 1 15 305 547 –242 36 71 3 6 19
16   Zebre Parma 18 1 0 17 261 630 –369 32 90 2 3 9
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[51]
  1. number of matches won;
  2. number of matches drawn;
  3. the difference between points for and points against;
  4. the number of tries scored;
  5. the most points scored;
  6. the difference between tries for and tries against;
  7. the fewest red cards received;
  8. the fewest yellow cards received.
Green background indicates teams that are playoff places that top their regional pools and earn a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup

Blue background indicates teams that did not top their regional pool but are in play-off places and earn a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup
Pink background indicates teams that did not top their regional pool or earn a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup, but are in play-off places.
Yellow background indicates teams that top their regional pool and earn a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup, but are not in a play-off place
Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2022–23 European Challenge Cup.

(q) : qualified for the play-offs;

(S) : winner of the Regional Shield and qualified for the 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup;

(e) : qualified for the 2022–23 European Challenge Cup
2021–22 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools view · watch · edit · discuss
Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
1   Leinster 18 13 0 5 546 276 +270 73 31 11 4 67
2   Ulster 18 12 0 6 412 297 +115 52 34 7 4 59
3   Munster 18 11 0 7 524 341 +183 66 34 8 4 56
4   Connacht 18 9 0 9 399 502 –103 51 67 4 1 41
Scottish/Italian Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
1   Edinburgh 18 10 1 7 421 318 +103 55 37 8 4 54
2   Glasgow Warriors 18 10 0 8 409 376 +33 53 44 7 3 50
3   Benetton 18 6 1 11 425 501 –76 53 67 6 3 35
4   Zebre Parma 18 1 0 17 261 630 –369 32 90 2 3 9
South African Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
1   Stormers 18 12 2 4 464 311 +153 60 36 7 2 61
2   Bulls 18 11 0 7 518 388 +130 67 42 10 4 58
3   Sharks 18 11 1 6 510 365 +145 60 43 9 2 57
4   Lions 18 8 0 10 408 450 –42 48 55 7 2 41
Welsh Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
1   Ospreys 18 10 0 8 422 474 –52 46 62 4 2 46
2   Scarlets 18 8 0 10 494 534 –40 65 73 10 3 45
3   Cardiff 18 7 0 11 369 577 –208 41 72 3 1 32
4   Dragons 18 2 1 15 305 547 –242 36 71 3 6 19
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[52]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates Shield winner teams guaranteed a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup
Bold : Regional Shield winner.

Round 1

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25 September 2021
19:35
(1 BP) Munster  42–17  Sharks
Try: Zebo (2) 5' m, 79' m
Casey 35' m
G. Coombes (2) 40'+3 c, 50' c
Cloete 77' c
Con: Carbery (2/4) 40'+4, 51'
Healy (1/2) 78'
Pen: Carbery (1/1) 28'
Healy (1/1) 68'		Report
Report		Try: Chamberlain 56' c
Penxe 70' c
Con: Bosch (2/2) 57', 70'
Pen: Bosch (1/2) 31'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 11,418[a]
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Round 2

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2 October 2021
19:35
(1 BP) Munster  34–18  Stormers
Try: O'Donoghue (2) 40' c, 55' m
Kleyn 45' c
N. Scannell 50' m
Snyman 67' c
Con: Carbery (2/4) 40'+1, 46'
Healy (1/1) 68'
Pen: Healy (1/1) 80'		Report
Report		Try: Gelant 8' m
Zas 19' c
Con: Libbok (1/2) 21'
Pen: Gelant (1/1) 29'
Swiel (1/1) 65'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 10,723[a]
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Round 3

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10 October 2021
14:00
Scarlets  13–43  Munster (1 BP)
Try: McNicholl 28' c
Con: Costelow (1/1) 29'
Pen: Costelow (2/4) 16', 33'		Report
Report		Try: O'Sullivan 3' c
L. Coombes (2) 22' c, 58' c
Nash 35' m
Loughman 43' c
Cloete 61' c
Con: Healy (5/6) 4', 24', 44', 59', 63'
Pen: Healy (1/1) 10'
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,336
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)

Round 4

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16 October 2021
19:35
Munster  20–18  Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Cloete 38' c
Barron 77' c
Con: Carbery (2/2) 39', 79'
Pen: Carbery (2/2) 48', 58'		Report
Report		Try: Boyle 52' c
Carty 68' c
Con: Carty (1/2) 69'
Pen: Carty (2/2) 2', 9'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 17,198[a]
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Round 5

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23 October 2021
19:35
Ospreys  18–10  Munster
Pen: Myler (6/6) 1', 31', 35', 45', 63', 71'Report
Report		Try: Casey 53' c
Con: Crowley (1/1) 54'
Pen: Crowley (1/1) 5'
Swansea.com Stadium
Attendance: 5,678
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Round 6

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27 November 2021
17:45
Bulls  P–P  Munster
Loftus Versfeld Stadium

Round 7

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4 December 2021
15:30
Lions  P–P  Munster
Emirates Airline Park

Round 8

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26 December 2021
19:35
Munster  P–P  Leinster
Thomond Park
  • Fixture postponed due to COVID-19 cases amongst the Leinster squad.[53]

Round 9

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1 January 2022
17:15
Connacht  10–8  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Aki 57' c
Con: Fitzgerald (1/1) 58'
Pen: Carty (1/1) 14'		Report
Report		Try: Conway 22' m
Pen: Healy (1/2) 17'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 3,064[a]
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Round 10

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8 January 2022
19:35
Munster  18–13  Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Haley 60' m
Kendellen 75' c
Con: Healy (1/1) 76'
Pen: Crowley (2/2) 32', 39'		Report
Report		Try: Herring 7' c
Con: Cooney (1/1) 9'
Pen: Doak (2/3) 40'+2, 56'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 5,000[a]
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Round 11

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29 January 2022
17:00
Zebre Parma  17–34  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Cronjé 39' c
Laloifi 80'+1
Con: O'Malley (1/1) 40'
Rizzi (1/1) 80'+2
Pen: O'Malley (1/2) 44'		Report
Report		Try: O'Donoghue 21' m
Goggin 28' c
F. Wycherley 36' c
J. Wycherley 66' c
Barron 71' m
Con: Flannery (3/3) 29', 37', 66'
Pen: Crowley (1/1) 18'
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Rescheduled round 18

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11 February 2022
20:15
Glasgow Warriors  13–11  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Cummings 38' c
Con: Weir (1/1) 40'
Pen: Weir (2/3) 15', 60'		Report
Report		Try: Kleyn 71' m
Pen: Healy (2/3) 37', 63'
Scotstoun Stadium
Attendance: 6,238
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Round 12

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18 February 2022
19:35
(1 BP) Munster  34–20  Edinburgh
Try: F. Wycherley 10' c
Zebo (3) 40'+1 c, 57' c, 76' c
Con: Healy (4/4) 11', 40'+3, 58', 78'
Pen: Healy (2/2) 5', 17'		Report
Report		Try: Moyano 23' c
Pyrgos 69' c
Con: Boffelli (2/2) 24', 70'
Pen: Boffelli (2/2) 38', 49'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 11,791
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Round 13

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5 March 2022
17:15
(1 BP) Munster  64–3  Dragons
Try: Casey (2) 9' c, 22' c
O'Donoghue (2) 24' c, 74' c
Cloete (2) 36' c, 63' m
Zebo 52' m
Farrell 54' c
S. Daly 57' m
Hodnett 72' c
Con: Crowley (5/7) 11', 23', 25', 37', 55'
Healy (2/3) 73', 75'		Report
Report		Pen: S. Davies (1/1) 16'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 11,853
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Rescheduled round 6

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12 March 2022
14:05
Bulls  29–24  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Tambwe 15' c
Wa. Steenkamp 32' c
Con: C. Smith (2/2) 16', 33'
Pen: C. Smith (5/5) 2', 8', 21', 29', 46'		Report
Report		Try: Kendellen 53' c
De Allende 64' c
O'Donoghue 72' c
Con: Healy (3/3) 54', 65', 74'
Pen: Healy (1/1) 5'
Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Attendance: 2,000[a]
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Rescheduled round 7

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19 March 2022
12:00
Lions  23–21  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Van der Merwe 31' c
Simelane 66' c
Con: Hendrikse (2/2) 32', 67'
Pen: Hendrikse (3/3) 35', 65', 73'		Report
Report		Try: Ryan 7' c
J. Wycherley 13' c
F. Wycherley 40'+1
Con: Crowley (3/3) 8', 14', 40'+2
Emirates Airline Park
Attendance: 2,000[a]
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

Round 14

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25 March 2022
19:35
(1 BP) Munster  51–22  Benetton
Try: Gallagher 18' c
Casey 33' c
Zebo 45' c
G. Coombes 65' c
O'Sullivan 69' c
De Allende 77' c
Con: Healy (6/6) 20', 35', 47', 66', 70', 78'
Pen: Healy (3/3) 7', 41', 58'		Report
Report		Try: R. Smith 40' c
Da Re 54' m
Braley 80'+2 c
Con: R. Smith (1/2) 40'+2
Coetzee (1/1) 80'+4
Pen: R. Smith (1/1) 23'
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 6,136
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Rescheduled round 8

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2 April 2022
19:00
Munster  19–34  Leinster (1 BP)
Try: De Allende 62' c
Con: Carbery (1/1) 63'
Pen: Carbery (4/4) 12', 20', 27', 36'		Report
Report		Try: Ringrose 15' m
Lowe (2) 47' m, 73' m
J. O'Brien 57' c
Con: R. Byrne (1/4) 59'
Pen: R. Byrne (4/4) 9', 25', 40'+2, 54'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 20,657
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)

Round 16

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22 April 2022
19:35
(1 BP) Ulster  17–24  Munster
Try: Herring 47' c
Reidy 74' c
Con: Cooney (1/1) 48'
Doak (1/1) 75'
Pen: Cooney (1/1) 7'		Report
Report		Try: Archer 21' c
Earls 27' m
Con: Carbery (1/2) 22'
Pen: Carbery (4/4) 11', 43', 59', 79'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 12,131
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)

Round 17

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29 April 2022
19:35
(1 BP) Munster  42–21  Cardiff
Try: Haley (2) 5' c, 25' c
Ahern 39' c
Casey (2) 62' c, 76' m
Con: Healy (3/3) 7', 26', 40'+1
Carbery (1/2) 63'
Pen: Healy (3/3) 18', 32', 60'		Report
Report		Try: Davies 1' c
Lee-Lo 11' c
L. Williams 55' c
Con: Evans (3/3) 3', 13', 56'
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 7,325
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Rescheduled round 15

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21 May 2022
19:15
(1 BP) Leinster  35–25  Munster
Try: Penny 1' m
Foley 22' c
Penalty try 50' c
O'Loughlin 53' c
Con: H. Byrne (2/3) 22', 54'
Pen: H. Byrne (3/3) 8', 45', 70'		Report
Report		Try: O'Donoghue 11' m
Haley 16' c
Murray 40' c
Con: Carbery (2/3) 16', 41'
Pen: Carbery (2/2) 48', 60'
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 32,411
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Quarter-final

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3 June 2022
19:35
Ulster  36–17  Munster
Try: Cooney 9' c
S. Moore (2) 24' c, 32' m
Timoney 42' c
Hume 60' c
Con: Cooney (3/4) 10', 25', 43'
Doak (1/1) 61'
Pen: Cooney (1/1) 56'		Report
Report		Try: Kleyn 18' c
Earls (2) 52' m, 69' m
Con: Carbery (1/3) 18'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 10,252
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)

2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup

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Main article: 2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup

Munster were ranked second out of the eight United Rugby Championship teams that qualified for the 2021–22 Champions Cup, owing to their runners-up position after defeat against Leinster in the 2021 Pro14 Grand Final,[54] and were seeded in tier one for the pool stage draw.[55] The province was drawn in pool B for the 2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage, and faced French club Castres and English club Wasps.[26]

Pool B Standings [56]
Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
  Leicester Tigers 4 4 0 0 102 64 +38 14 7 3 0 19
  Harlequins 4 4 0 0 135 101 +34 18 15 3 0 19
  Munster 4 4 0 0 115 47 +68 12 5 2 0 18
  Bristol Bears 4 3 1 0 108 38 +70 16 4 3 0 17
  Connacht 4 1 0 3 118 104 +14 16 14 3 3 10
  Bordeaux 4 1 1 2 58 54 +4 8 7 1 1 8
  Toulouse 4 1 1 2 61 65 –4 8 8 1 0 7
  Stade Français 4 1 1 2 63 95 –32 7 14 1 0 7
  Cardiff 4 1 0 3 85 118 –33 13 16 2 1 7
  Wasps 4 1 1 2 51 102 –51 6 13 0 0 6
  Castres 4 0 0 4 77 91 –14 9 9 1 4 5
  Scarlets 4 0 1 3 31 125 –94 4 19 0 0 2
Key to colours
     Top 8 of each pool, advance to last 16.
     Teams 9–12 in pool advance to 2021–22 European Rugby Challenge Cup last 16.

Round 1

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12 December 2021
15:15
Wasps  14–35  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Barbeary 30' c
Le Bourgeois 63' c
Con: Gopperth (2/2) 31', 64'		Report
Report		Try: Earls 34' c
Campbell 42' m
Conway 47' c
Buckley 56' c
Con: Carbery (3/4) 35', 48', 56'
Pen: Carbery (3/4) 6', 27', 66'
Coventry Building Society Arena
Attendance: 6,716
Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)

Round 2

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18 December 2021
20:00
Munster  19–13  Castres (1 BP)
Try: O'Donoghue 57' c
Con: Healy (1/1) 58'
Pen: Healy (4/5) 7', 28', 34', 69'		Report
Report		Try: Kornath 76' c
Con: Urdapilleta (1/1) 77'
Pen: Urdapilleta (2/2) 39', 62'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 21,250
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

Round 3

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14 January 2022
20:00
(1 BP) Castres  13–16  Munster
Try: Larregain 27' c
Con: Botica (1/1) 28'
Pen: Botica (2/2) 54', 66'		Report
Report		Try: G. Coombes 77' c
Con: Crowley (1/1) 79'
Pen: Crowley (3/3) 10', 46', 49'
Stade Pierre-Fabre
Attendance: 5,000[a]
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

Round 4

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23 January 2022
15:15
(1 BP) Munster  45–7  Wasps
Try: Murray 8' c
Zebo (2) 17' c, 78' c
O'Donoghue 29' c
Loughman 43' c
R. Scannell 80'+2 c
Con: Healy (4/4) 9', 18', 30', 44'
Crowley (2/2) 80', 80'+3
Pen: Healy (1/1) 15'		Report
Report		Try: Robson 26' c
Con: Atkinson (1/1) 26'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 13,047[b]
Referee: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Round of 16 (1st leg)

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9 April 2022
17:30
Exeter Chiefs  13–8  Munster
Try: Hogg 5' m
Vermeulen 37' m
Drop: Hogg (1/1) 65'		Report
Report		Try: S. Daly 66' m
Pen: Healy (1/1) 56'
Sandy Park
Attendance: 10,307
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)

Round of 16 (2nd leg)

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16 April 2022
15:00
Munster  26–10  Exeter Chiefs
Try: Carbery 25' c
De Allende 72' c
Con: Carbery (2/2) 26', 72'
Pen: Carbery (4/4) 5', 16', 59', 64'		Report
Report		Try: S. Maunder 10' m
Vermeulen 48' m
Thomond Park
Attendance: 21,125
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
  • Munster won 34–23 on aggregate.

Quarter-final

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7 May 2022
15:00
Munster  24–24
(a.e.t.)		  Toulouse
Try: Kendellen 9' c
Earls 38' c
Haley 43' c
Con: Carbery (3/3) 9', 39', 44'
Pen: Carbery (1/3) 56'		Report
Report		Try: Ntamack 11' c
Lebel (2) 25' c, 66' c
Con: Ramos (3/3) 12', 26', 66'
Pen: Ramos (1/1) 75'
Penalties
Murray  Y
Healy  N
Carbery  Y
Murray  N
Healy  N		2–4 Y Dupont
 Y Ramos
 Y Ntamack
 Y Dupont
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 40,476
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

2021–22 Munster A/Development season

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18 September 2021
16:00
Munster Development XV  25–24  Ulster Development XV
Report
IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin
24 September 2021
16:00
Leinster Development XV  14–0  Munster Development XV
Report
IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin
12 November 2021
14:00
Munster A  36–21  Connacht Eagles
Report
University of Limerick
30 December 2021
14:30
Munster Development XV  13–21  Ireland U20
Report
Musgrave Park
6 May 2022
15:00
Munster A  33–22  Ulster A
Report
University of Limerick
3 June 2022
Ireland U20  v  Munster A/Development
IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin

Player statistics

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Player statistics from the 2021–22 season. Stats from the league and European competitions only are shown. Academy players in italics. † indicates additional players used who are not contracted. Updated 4 June 2022 after URC quarter-final

References

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  1. ^ "Johann van Graan to join Munster as head coach". South African Rugby Union. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Munster Rugby Confirm Johann van Graan Departure At End Of Season". Munster Rugby. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Billy Holland grateful to retire from rugby on his own terms". Irish Examiner. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b "CJ Stander To Retire At End Of Season". Munster Rugby. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Munster and Ireland flanker Tommy O'Donnell announces retirement". The42. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Munster Rugby Re-Sign Simon Zebo". Munster Rugby. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b "JJ Hanrahan Move Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Permanent move for Wootton among 21 new contracts announced by Connacht". The42. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Nick McCarthy rejoins Leinster from Munster". Irish Examiner. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b "James Cronin set to join Biarritz in the Top 14 after leaving Munster". The42. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  11. ^ a b "North Harbour recruit former All Blacks trainee, lose capped flanker". RugbyPass. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Wasps: Alex McHenry & Paddy Harrison join on short-term deals". BBC Sport. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Ulster sign Munster hooker for injury cover while Academy star earns upgraded contract". Belfast Telegraph. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Squad Update". Munster Rugby. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Player Signing, Contract Extensions & Academy Promotions". Munster Rugby. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Latest Player Contracts Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Munster Rugby Sign Rowan Osborne". Munster Rugby. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Munster sign Irish-qualified hooker Declan Moore ahead of new season". The42. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Squad Update | Munster Prepare For Dragons At Thomond". Munster Rugby. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Ian Costello Appointed Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Manager". Munster Rugby. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  21. ^ "O'Donoghue and Munster hoping Currid can repeat Limerick hurling magic". The42. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Trio Join Greencore Munster Rugby Academy". Munster Rugby. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Trio Join Greencore Munster Rugby Academy". Munster Rugby. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  24. ^ a b "All You Need To Know | United Rugby Championship". Munster Rugby. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Johann van Graan Reaction To Champions Cup Draw". Munster Rugby. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Champions Cup draw to rekindle powerhouse days of Munster and Wasps". Irish Examiner. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Report | Munster Start Season With Bonus-Point Win Over Sharks". Munster Rugby. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  28. ^ a b c "Munster in race to get out of South Africa as Champions Cup opener against Wasps in doubt". Irish Examiner. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  29. ^ "34 Munster Players & Staff Arrive Home". Munster Rugby. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  30. ^ "Munster may look at new signings as registration date for Champions Cup extended". Irish Examiner. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  31. ^ "All indications are that Munster's clash with Wasps will go ahead as scheduled". The42. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  32. ^ a b "Munster to register 22 new players for Champions Cup squad". The42. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  33. ^ "Munster's young guns thrill in wild and wonderful bonus-point win over Wasps". The42. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  34. ^ "Munster grind out Champions Cup victory over dogged Castres". Irish Examiner. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  35. ^ "Munster's identity crisis: 'You'd see more innovation at a civil servants' conference'". The42. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  36. ^ "Keith Wood feels Munster's coaches are beginning to 'ruin' some of their players". The Irish Post. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  37. ^ "'The head coach question, that's one for another day' - Rowntree". The42. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  38. ^ "Opportunity knocks to vent Munster frustrations in URC derby". Irish Examiner. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  39. ^ "Report | Coombes Strikes Late As Munster Win In France". Munster Rugby. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  40. ^ "Impressive Munster romp into last 16 with convincing win over Wasps". Irish Examiner. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  41. ^ "Munster To Face Exeter Chiefs In Champions Cup". Munster Rugby. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  42. ^ "Report | Exeter Take 13-8 Advantage To Thomond". Munster Rugby. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  43. ^ "Report | Munster Into 19th Champions Cup Quarter-Final". Munster Rugby. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  44. ^ "Exeter feel full force of Thomond Park effect, as Munster set to hit the road for Toulouse 'home' game". The42. 17 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  45. ^ a b "Munster Lose Place-Kicking Competition As Toulouse Advance". Munster Rugby. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  46. ^ "Report | Munster Beaten By Leinster". Munster Rugby. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  47. ^ "Report | Munster Lose To Ulster In Belfast". Munster Rugby. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  48. ^ "Johann van Graan era ends in a whimper as Ulster hammer Munster". Irish Examiner. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  49. ^ "Munster Rugby | 1st Team Squad". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  50. ^ "Munster Rugby | Academy Squad". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  51. ^ Competition Rule 3.1.4 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  52. ^ Competition Rule 3.1.4 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  53. ^ "Postponed | Munster v Leinster". Munster Rugby. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  54. ^ "Munster's Ranking For Champions Cup Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  55. ^ "Munster Rugby In Tier 1 Of 2021/22 Champions Cup Draw". Munster Rugby. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  56. ^ "Pool Tables". Heineken Champions Cup. EPCR. Retrieved 1 January 2022.

Notes

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  1. ^ Thomond Park's official capacity is 25,600 but can be expanded up to 26,276 with temporary seating.
  2. ^ Munster were originally scheduled to host Bath in a pre-season friendly, but Bath were unable to travel due to COVID-19 cases amongst their squad. Munster instead arranged a challenge match, fielding two Munster teams made up of senior, academy and All-Ireland League players from the province.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Reduced stadium capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions.
  2. ^ Reduced attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions being lifted only 24 hours before the fixture.
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