Munster

Image source, Inpho

Zebre (15) 42

Tries: Trulla 2, Fusco 2, Licata, Prisciantelli Cons: Montemauri 3 Pens: Montemauri, Da Re

Munster (28) 33

Tries: Coombes 2, Haley, Fitzgerald, McCarthy Cons: Butler 4

Zebre secured a stunning first-ever win over Munster as they recovered from a 13-point half-time deficit to cause a major upset by defeating the Irish province 42-33 in the United Rugby Championship match between the teams at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

The Italian side ran in six tries to clinch a bonus point and end a 14-game losing streak in the competition since they drew 22-22 with Cardiff in November 2023.

Munster, narrow winners over Connacht in their season opener, had won all 20 of their previous meetings with Zebre and were unbeaten against Italian opposition in more than a decade before their loss in Parma.

The 2023 champions had a bonus point in the bag by the interval as tries from Gavin Coombes (2), Mike Haley and Bryan Fitzgerald helped their side lead 28-15.

Jacopo Trulla and Alessandro Fusco were the first-half try-scorers for the hosts.

Zebre put the next 24 points on the board as Trulla and Fusco ed their second tries and Giovanni Licata and Geronimo Prisciantelli also crossed for the home side.

Shay McCarthy's touchdown, followed by Tony Butler's fourth conversion, gave Munster hope of a recovery but a late Giacomo Da Re penalty eased any nerves for the home side and ensured that their opponents left empty-handed.

Giovanni Montemauri contributed a penalty and three conversions for the victors, who had lost 22-17 away to Cardiff on the opening weekend.

Zebre: Geronimo Prisciantelli, Jacopo Trulla, Giulio Bertaccini, Luca Morisi,Simone Gesi, Giovanni Montemauri, Alessandro Fusco, Danilo Fischetti (CAPT), Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Matteo Nocera, Matteo Canali, Leonard Krumov, Davide Ruggeri, Samuele Locatelli, Giovanni Licata

Replacements: Giampietro Ribaldi, Luca Rizzoli, Juan Pitinari, Andrea Zambonin, Giacomo Ferrari, Patricio Baronio, Scott Gregory, Giacomo Da Re

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Shane Daly, Tom Farrell, Thaakir Abrahams; Tony Butler, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Jack Daly, Jack O'Donoghue, Conor Murray, Bryan Fitzgerald, Shay McCarthy.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Ulster fly-half Billy Burns is one of three new gs to make their competitive debut for Munster in their United Rugby Championship opener against Connacht.

Tom Farrell, who arrived from Connacht, starts against his former club with Thaakir Abrahams also included by Graham Rowntree.

Jean Kleyn starts in the second row, returning after 10 months out due to an eye injury.

Hooker Diarmuid Barron captains the side with Ireland international Tadhg Beirne absent.

Munster: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (C), John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhan Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Sean O’Brien.

Hansen makes long awaited return for Connacht

Mack Hansen returns for Connacht for the trip to Thomand Park, playing his first game since a serious shoulder injury sustained on New Year's Day.

Santiago Cordero starts after playing for Argentina in the Rugby Championship and Josh Murphy will play his first game since May 2023.

New arrivals Ben Murphy, Josh Ioane and Piers O’Conor are included as Cian Prendergast captains the side for the first time.

Connacht: Santiago Cordero, Mack Hansen, Piers O’Conor, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungie, Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray, Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast (C).

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisin Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Caolin Blade, David Hawkshaw, Sean Jansen.

Image source, Inpho

Ulster wing Megan Edwards says the province might "surprise a few people" as they prepare for their opening Women's Interprovincial fixture against Munster in Cork on Saturday.

Murray Houston's side come into this season's championship off the back of ending an 11-year wait for an Interpro victory with an impressive 36-14 triumph over Connacht in last year's third/fourth-place play-off.

Now with a new confidence and the experience of winning, 33-year-old Edwards feels her side have the "talent" to be competitive in the series.

"We're under no illusions that it's going to be a tough game," Edwards told BBC Sport NI.

"It is Munster, they have won the championships before but I think we might throw in a few surprises.

"The talent within the Ulster squad is there and we've been building and building for a number of years now, it's about showcasing that talent on game day and our goal is to build on the win in Cork last season."

Women's Interpros - Fixtures and coverage details

10 August

• Munster v Ulster (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

• Leinster v Connacht (16:45 BST)

17 August

• Ulster v Connacht (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

• Munster v Leinster (16:45 BST)

24 August

• Connacht v Munster (14:30 BST)

• Ulster v Leinster (16:45 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

31 August

• Third/fourth play-off (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

• Final (16:45 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

Image source, Inpho

Munster and Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley has been named the United Rugby Championship's Players' Player of the Year.

It caps a breakthrough year for the 24-year-old, who helped Ireland win the Six Nations after replacing Johnny Sexton in the starting 10 jersey.

The award was was voted for by the captain and vice-captain of all 16 teams, with nominees required to have made a minimum of nine appearances.

Munster finished the regular URC season at the top of the table after winning 13 of their 18 games but were knocked out of the play-offs by Glasgow in the semi-finals on Saturday.

The award comes after his head coach Graham Rowntree was named United Rugby Championship coach of the year for the 2023-24 season.

Last week, Crowley was one of three Munster played named in the URC's Elite XV along with Alex Nankivell and Tadhg Beirne.

Crowley was also named next-gen player of the season while Shane Daly won the ironman award for playing the most minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

Munster's Graham Rowntree has been named United Rugby Championship coach of the year for the 2023-24 season.

While Rowntree led Munster to the 2022-23 title, the Irish province were knocked out of this season's play-offs by Glasgow last weekend.

They entered the play-offs as top seeds having finished the regular season top of the table, winning 13 of their 18 games including an impressive double over the Bulls and Lions in South Africa in April.

Rowntree, who took over at Thomond Park in 2022, also led the province to 11 wins in a row post-Christmas.

Last week, three Munster players - Jack Crowley, Alex Nankivell and Tadhg Beirne - made the URC's Elite XV.

Ireland fly-half Crowley was also named next-gen player of the season while Shane Daly won the ironman award for playing the most minutes.

The URC's players' player of the season will be announced on Thursday.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland wing Calvin Nash has been ruled out of Munster's United Rugby Championship semi-final against Glasgow at Thomond Park on Saturday (18:00 BST).

Nash is unavailable because of a 'leg knock'. Simon Zebo moves to the wing having been at full-back for last week's quarter-final win over Ospreys.

Full-back Mike Haley and fit-again centre Alex Nankivell come into the backline while Fineen Wycherley and Jack O’Donoghue start in the pack as Graham Rowntree makes four changes.

If defending champions Munster win, they will face either Leinster or Bulls at Thomond Park in the final on 22 June.

Munster: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Simon Zebo; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Oli Jager, RG Snyman, Gavin Coombes, Conor Murray, Sean O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.