The 2022–23 Munster Rugby season was Munster's twenty-second season competing in the United Rugby Championship, alongside which they competed in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It was Graham Rowntree's first season as head coach following his promotion.^[1]

Events

Head coach Johann van Graan, who joined Munster in November 2017, confirmed in December 2021 that he would be leaving the province at the end of the 2021–22 season to join English club Bath. In addition to this, senior coach Stephen Larkham also left the province to return home to Australia to become head coach of the Brumbies, and defence coach JP Ferreira followed van Graan to join Bath. However, forwards coach Graham Rowntree extended his stay with the province by a further two years,^[2] and the province confirmed in April 2022 that Rowntree would be promoted to head coach from the 2022–23 season.^[1] Mike Prendergast, a former scrum-half for the province, joined Rowntree's coaching setup as the attack coach on a three-year contract, having most recently fulfilled a similar role for French club Racing 92.^[3] Andi Kyriacou, who had joined the province in April 2021 as an elite player development officer with the academy, was promoted to forwards coach with the senior squad on a two-year contract,^[4] and former Munster player Denis Leamy returned to the province as defence coach on a three-year contract.^[5] Three additions were also made to the academy staff, with former players Brendan O'Connor and Tommy O'Donnell joining as elite player development officers and Matt Brown joining as pathway development coach.^[6]

In player news, Munster's marquee signing ahead of the commencement of the season was centre Malakai Fekitoa, who won the 2015 Rugby World Cup with New Zealand before reverting his international allegiance to his native Tonga.^[7] Irish-qualified hooker Chris Moore joined from Exeter University,^[8] and five players were promoted from the academy to the senior squad: hooker Scott Buckley,^[9] lock Paddy Kelly,^[8] back-rower Alex Kendellen,^[10] lock Eoin O'Connor,^[8] and scrum-half Paddy Patterson.^[8] Centre Antoine Frisch, who is Irish-qualified, also joined the province from English club Bristol Bears.^[11] Six players joined year one of Munster's academy programme ahead of the season: props Darragh McSweeney and Kieran Ryan, lock Evan O'Connell, back-row Ruadhán Quinn, scrum-half Jack Oliver and centre Fionn Gibbons.^[12]

Hooker Declan Moore left the province to join Ulster on a permanent basis, having spent time on loan at the northern province during the previous season.^[13] Fly-half Jake Flannery joined Moore in moving north to Ulster,^[14] whilst lock Jason Jenkins moved east to join Leinster after an injury-disrupted season at Munster,^[15] and fullback Matt Gallagher and flanker Chris Cloete joined former head coach Johann van Graan at Bath.^[16][17] Veteran prop John Ryan left to join English club Wasps,^[18] and hooker Kevin O'Byrne joined English RFU Championship club Ealing Trailfinders.^[19] Centre Alex McHenry and back-three Seán French left the province to join English Championship clubs Jersey Reds^[20] and Bedford Blues^[21] respectively, whilst scrum-half Rowan Osborne and academy back-three Jonathan Wren were both forced to retire due to injury,^[22] and South African world cup-winning centre Damian de Allende returned to Japanese domestic rugby with Saitama Wild Knights.^[23] Centre Chris Farrell was released from his contract with the province in early March 2023 to join French club Oyonnax,^[24] with prop James French and centre Dan Goggin also being released by the province in March 2023 to pursue a new playing opportunities.^[25][26]

Munster were drawn in pool B for the 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup and faced French club Toulouse, who have won the competition a record five times and have knocked Munster out of tournament in the previous two seasons, and English club Northampton Saints, who beat Munster in the 2000 Heineken Cup Final and last faced the province during the 2011–12 Heineken Cup pool stage.^[27]

Munster began pre-season with a 28–19 defeat at home to English club Gloucester on 26 August 2022.^[28] The following day, after the GAA Central Council unanimously backed the proposal, Munster confirmed they would face a South Africa XV in a friendly held at Cork GAA's 45,000-capacity Páirc Uí Chaoimh on 10 November 2022. It would be the first time Munster have faced a South African national team in the professional era - their last such meeting was in 1970 - and would also see former Munster coaches Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber return to the province for the first time since their departure in 2017.^[29] Munster's second and final pre-season fixture was a 19–14 defeat to London Irish on 2 September 2022.^[30]

Munster opened their 2022–23 United Rugby Championship season with a 20–13 defeat away to Cardiff on 17 September 2022. Cardiff lead 12–6 at half-time, with Ben Healy scoring Munster's points from two penalties, before a 62nd minute try from Jack O'Sullivan, converted by Jack Crowley, gave Munster a 13–12 lead. Cardiff's lead was restored by a 68th minute penalty from Jarrod Evans and Aled Summerhill's 77th minute try sealed the home sides win. New signings Malakai Fekitoa and Antoine Frisch made their competitive debuts for the province in the fixture.^[31]

After a mounting number of injuries sustained prior to round seven of the United Rugby Championship, prop John Ryan returned to the province to provide tighthead prop cover on a three-month contract, having been made redundant following Wasps administration, Irish-qualified centre Oli Morris joined for the remainder of the season following Worcester Warriors administration,^[32] and lock Kiran McDonald joined on a three-month contract having also been made redundant at Wasps.^[33] After finishing his contract at the end of January 2023, Ryan will move to New Zealand to join Super Rugby team the Chiefs.^[34]

Munster's historic friendly against a South Africa XV went ahead on 10 November 2022. The match was a 41,400 sell-out at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, making it the largest attendance for a rugby match in the province, and saw Munster secure their first ever win against South Africa in a 28–14 victory. Winger Shane Daly opened the scoring in just the 2nd minute, with fly-half Ben Healy converting to give the home side a 7–0 lead. South Africa hit back in the 12th minute through an Aphelele Fassi try that was converted by Johan Goosen to level the score, but Munster struck back with tries from Simon Zebo and Diarmuid Barron, both converted by Healy, to head into half-time with a 21–7. Munster struck early in the second-half, with fullback Mike Haley scoring after just two minutes and Healy's fourth conversion of the night extending their lead to 28–7. South Africa scored their second try in the 62nd minute when Sikhumbuzo Notshe crossed the try-line, converted by Gianni Lombard, but the visitors were unable to mount a comeback and Munster hung on to earn a famous win.^[35][36]

Munster opened their 2022–23 Champions Cup campaign with an 18–13 defeat at home to French club Toulouse on 11 December 2022. Munster took the lead in the 9th minute through a Joey Carbery try (Munster's 500th in European competitive rugby), which the fly-half also converted, before Toulouse responded with a Matthis Lebel try in the 22nd minute, converted by Thomas Ramos, before a penalty from Ramos in the 29th minute extended the visitors lead, though a Carbery penalty in the 38th minute saw the teams level at 10–10 at half-time. Toulouse struck almost immediately in the second-half, with replacement Lucas Tauzin scoring a try in the 42nd minute. Ramos missed the conversion but scored a 71st minute penalty to extend Toulouse's lead to eight points, but a second successful penalty from Carbery in the 74th minute brought Munster back to within losing bonus-point range, but the province was unable to take advantage of an Antoine Dupont yellow card in the final minutes of the game.^[37]

A huge defensive effort secured a 17–6 away win against Northampton Saints in round two of the Champions Cup on 18 December 2022. Number eight Gavin Coombes opened the scoring for Munster with a 13th minute try converted by fly-half Joey Carbery, before the home side got on the scoreboard with a 19th minute penalty. Carbery scored a penalty of his own in the 26th minute, though Northampton hit back with their second penalty just two minutes later. Coombes crossed for his and Munster's second try in the 35th minute, again converted by Carbery, to leave the score at 17–6 at half-time. Munster had three players sin-binned during the second-half: Jack O'Donoghue, Craig Casey and Joey Carbery, and needed the aforementioned defensive effort to keep Northampton from narrowing the score and earn a hard-fought victory on the road.^[38]

In the reverse fixture against Northampton Saints on 14 January 2023, Munster raced to a 24–0 half-time lead thanks to two tries from Gavin Coombes and one try from Jack O'Donoghue, all converted by Joey Carbery, who also added one penalty, though O'Donoghue was sent-off for a high tackle during the half. What looked like a comfortable victory turned into a tense finish however, when Northampton mounted a comeback during the second-half, scoring 20 unanswered points to come within a try of winning the game themselves, but a 75th minute penalty from Jack Crowley and some last-gasp defence secured the victory for Munster.^[39]

Munster's fourth and final Champions Cup pool stage fixture was away to Toulouse on 22 January 2023. The French club dominated possession and territory during the opening quarter of the match and were 11–0 ahead before Munster grew into the game. Flanker John Hodnett got Munster on the scoreboard with an unconverted 30th minute try, before a penalty from fly-half Joey Carbery saw the teams head into half-time with the score at 11–8. A superb team try finished by lock Tadhg Beirne in the 48th minute, again unconverted, gave Munster a slender 13–11 lead, but three second-half penalties from Toulouse fullback Melvyn Jaminet secured a closely-fought 20–16 win for the hosts.^[40]

That result and others meant that Munster faced an away trip to South African side the Sharks in the last 16.^[41] The hosts opened the scoring with an early penalty from Curwin Bosch, but Munster hit back with a try from Shane Daly, converted by Jack Crowley, to take the lead. Sharks struck back with a try of their own from Jaden Hendrikse, and each team scored one more try during the first-half - Eben Etzebeth for the Sharks and Dave Kilcoyne for Munster - to leave the score finely poised at 17–14 at half-time, however, the Sharks scored four unanswered tries - two from Bongi Mbonambi and one each from Werner Kok and Curwin Bosch - to storm into the lead. Munster managed three further tries from Diarmuid Barron, Mike Haley and Fineen Wycherley, but with the scoreboard and time against them, the result was beyond doubt and the Sharks advanced to the quarter-finals.^[42]

A 26–24 win against defending champions the Stormers^[43] and a 22–22 draw against the Sharks in Munster's final two fixtures of the regular 2022–23 United Rugby Championship season, both away from home, secured fifth place for the province in the league table,^[44] and they defeated Glasgow Warriors 14–5 away in the quarter-finals to set up a semi-final away to Leinster,^[45] whom Munster defeated 16–15 thanks to a late drop goal from Jack Crowley, setting up a final away to the Stormers on 27 May 2023,^[46] which Munster won 19–14 thanks to a late John Hodnett try to secure their fourth league title, their first trophy since the 2010–11 season and the first silverware of head coach Graham Rowntree's reign.^[47]

Player movements

Below are the players who joined and left the Munster senior and academy squads ahead of the 2022–23 season. Italics indicates players that transferred during the 2022–23 season.

Coaches and staff

Senior squad

Position	Name	Nationality
Head coach	Graham Rowntree	England
Attack coach	Mike Prendergast	Ireland
Forwards coach	Andi Kyriacou	England
Defence coach	Denis Leamy	Ireland
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

Players

Pre-season

26 August 2022 19:30

Munster	19–28	Gloucester
	Report

Musgrave Park Attendance: 5,376 Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)

2 September 2022 19:30

Munster	14–19	London Irish
	Report

Musgrave Park Attendance: 5,316 Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Friendly

10 November 2022 19:30

Munster	28–14	South Africa XV
Try: S. Daly 2' c Zebo 28' c Barron 38' c Haley 42' c Con: Healy (4/4) 4', 30', 39', 43'	Report	Try: Fassi 12' c Notshe 62' c Con: Goosen (1/1) 14' Lombard (1/1) 62'

Páirc Uí Chaoimh[29] Attendance: 41,400 Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)

Team details

FB 15 Mike Haley RW 14 Shane Daly OC 13 Antoine Frisch  63' IC 12 Rory Scannell LW 11 Simon Zebo  53' FH 10 Ben Healy SH 9 Paddy Patterson  72' N8 8 Gavin Coombes  57' OF 7 John Hodnett  61'  71' BF 6 Jack O'Donoghue (c) RL 5 Kiran McDonald LL 4 Edwin Edogbo  63' TP 3 Roman Salanoa  55' HK 2 Diarmuid Barron  55' LP 1 Josh Wycherley  55'  61'  71' Replacements: HK 16 Niall Scannell  55' PR 17 Liam O'Connor  55' 61' to 71' PR 18 Keynan Knox  55' LK 19 Cian Hurley  63' BR 20 Alex Kendellen  57' SH 21 Neil Cronin  72' B3 22 Patrick Campbell  53' CE 23 Malakai Fekitoa  63' Coach: Graham Rowntree FB 15 Aphelele Fassi  73' RW 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg OC 13 Henco van Wyk IC 12 Cornal Hendricks LW 11 Leolin Zas FH 10 Johan Goosen  61' SH 9 Herschel Jantjies  44' N8 8 Jean-Luc du Preez OF 7 Elrigh Louw BF 6 Phepsi Buthelezi  56' RL 5 Ruan Nortjé  44' LL 4 Jason Jenkins TP 3 Thomas du Toit (c)  50' HK 2 Joseph Dweba  56' LP 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu  50' Replacements: HK 16 Andre-Hugo Venter  56' PR 17 Simphiwe Matanzima  50' PR 18 Sazi Sandi  50' LK 19 Dan du Preez  44' BR 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe  56' SH 21 Grant Williams  44' B3 22 Sanele Nohamba  73' B3 23 Gianni Lombard  61' Coach: Mzwandile Stick Man of the Match: Paddy Patterson (Munster) Touch judges: Sam Grove-White (SRU) Ben Blain (SRU) Television match official: Rowan Kitt (RFU)

2022–23 United Rugby Championship

2022–23 United Rugby Championship
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	Try bonus	Losing bonus	Pts
1	Leinster	18	16	1	1	580	363	+217	82	42	13	0	79
2	Ulster	18	13	0	5	554	378	+176	79	45	12	4	68
3	Stormers (RU)	18	12	2	4	531	391	+140	69	48	13	3	68
4	Glasgow Warriors	18	13	0	5	498	403	+95	72	53	11	0	63
5	Munster (CH)	18	10	1	7	470	357	+113	61	43	9	4	55
6	Bulls	18	10	0	8	613	448	+165	78	52	11	2	53
7	Connacht	18	10	0	8	456	426	+30	64	58	7	3	50
8	Sharks	18	9	1	8	486	480	+6	63	61	8	2	48
9	Lions	18	9	0	9	454	538	–84	55	75	7	2	45
10	Cardiff	18	9	0	9	425	470	–45	52	64	6	2	44
11	Benetton	18	8	0	10	440	533	–93	56	74	8	1	41
12	Edinburgh	18	6	0	12	466	467	–1	70	62	8	6	38
13	Ospreys	18	5	2	11	400	514	–114	52	70	6	5	35
14	Scarlets	18	6	1	11	435	506	–71	55	65	5	3	34
15	Dragons	18	4	0	14	391	534	–143	46	70	5	3	24
16	Zebre Parma	18	0	0	18	343	734	–391	50	105	6	5	11
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[50] number of matches won; the difference between points for and points against; the number of tries scored; the most points scored; the difference between tries for and tries against; the fewest red cards received; the fewest yellow cards received.
Green background indicates teams that are playoff places that top their regional pools and earn a place in the 2023–24 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 2023–24 European Champions Cup Pink background indicates teams that did not top their regional pool but are in play-off places, and earn a place in the 2023–24 European Challenge Cup Yellow background indicates teams that top their regional pool and thus currently in a qualification place in the 2023–24 European Champions Cup, but are not in a play-off place Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2023–24 European Challenge Cup. Q: qualified for play-offs. H: home field advantage secured for quarter-and semi-final. h; home field advantage secured for quarter-final X: cannot reach play-offs. E: qualified for Champions Cup.

2022–23 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools
Irish Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts
1	Leinster (S)	18	16	1	1	580	363	+217	84	50	13	0	79
2	Ulster	18	13	0	5	554	378	+176	79	45	12	4	68
3	Munster	18	10	1	7	470	357	+113	61	43	9	4	55
4	Connacht	18	10	0	8	456	426	+30	64	58	7	3	50
Scottish/Italian Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts
1	Glasgow Warriors (S)	18	12	0	6	498	403	+95	72	53	11	0	63
2	Benetton	18	8	0	10	440	533	–93	56	74	8	1	41
3	Edinburgh	18	6	0	12	466	467	-1	70	62	8	6	38
4	Zebre Parma	18	0	0	18	343	734	–391	50	105	6	5	11
South African Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts
1	Stormers (S)	18	12	2	4	531	391	+140	69	48	13	3	68
2	Bulls	18	10	0	8	613	448	+165	78	52	11	2	53
3	Sharks	18	9	1	8	486	480	+6	63	61	8	2	48
4	Lions	18	9	0	9	454	538	–84	55	75	7	2	45
Welsh Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts
1	Cardiff (S)	18	9	0	9	425	470	–45	52	64	6	2	44
2	Ospreys	18	5	2	11	400	514	–114	52	70	6	5	35
3	Scarlets	18	6	1	11	435	506	–71	55	65	5	3	34
4	Dragons	18	4	0	14	391	534	–143	46	70	5	3	24
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[51] number of matches won the difference between points for and points against the number of tries scored the most points scored the difference between tries for and tries against the fewest red cards received the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the Regional Shield, and leading the race for a place in the 2023–24 European Champions Cup (S) indicates teams has won the Regional Shield, and thus guaranteed a place in the 2023–24 European Champions Cup

Round 1

17 September 2022 15:05

Cardiff	20–13	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Llewellyn 3' m Dacey 37' c Summerhill 77' m Con: J. Evans (1/3) 38' Pen: J. Evans (1/1) 68'	Report	Try: O'Sullivan 62' c Con: Crowley (1/1) 63' Pen: Healy (2/2) 17', 30'

Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 6,434 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Round 2

25 September 2022 15:00

Dragons	23–17	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Dyer 71' m Pen: Hanrahan (6/7) 9', 15', 22', 26', 34', 80'	Report	Try: Archer 36' c Healy 39' c Con: Healy (2/2) 36', 40' Pen: Healy (1/1) 2'

Rodney Parade Attendance: 4,269 Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Round 3

1 October 2022 17:05

Munster	21–5	Zebre Parma
Try: N. Scannell (2) 8' c, 24' c Knox 17' c Con: Healy (3/3) 8', 18', 25'	Report	Try: Pani 44' m

Musgrave Park Attendance: 6,485 Referee: AJ Jacobs (SARU)

Round 4

7 October 2022 19:35

Connacht	20–11	Munster
Try: Hansen 7' m Bealham 53' m Boyle 78' c Con: Fitzgerald (1/1) 79' Pen: Fitzgerald (1/1) 61'	Report	Try: Campbell 23' m Pen: Healy (2/2) 39', 47'

The Sportsground Attendance: 7,512 Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Round 5

15 October 2022 19:35

(1 BP) Munster	31–17	Bulls
Try: G. Coombes (2) 28' c, 35' c Loughman 42' c Beirne 61' c Con: Carbery (4/4) 29', 36', 43', 62' Pen: Carbery (1/1) 21'	Report	Try: WJ Steenkamp 50' c Kriel 64' c Con: C. Smith (2/2) 51', 65' Pen: Goosen (1/1) 10'

Thomond Park Attendance: 12,218 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Round 6

22 October 2022 17:15

(1 BP) Leinster	27–13	Munster
Try: Penny 27' c Sheehan 49' c McGrath 61' m Russell 76' m Con: Sexton (2/3) 28', 50' Pen: Sexton (1/2) 57'	Report	Try: L. Coombes 45' c Con: Carbery (1/1) 46' Pen: Carbery (2/3) 21', 33'

Aviva Stadium Attendance: 45,436 Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Round 7

29 October 2022 17:15

(1 BP) Munster	14–15	Ulster
Try: S. Daly 65' m Pen: Crowley (3/3) 9', 47', 53'	Report	Try: Murphy 3' m Stewart 13' m Hume 40' m

Thomond Park Attendance: 15,260 Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Round 8

26 November 2022 19:35

(1 BP) Munster	24–17	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Nash 11' m Salanoa 36' m J. Ryan 58' c N. Scannell 65' c Con: Carbery (2/4) 59', 66'	Report	Try: Ralston 26' c Marmion 73' c Con: Carty (2/2) 27', 73' Pen: Carty (1/1) 9'

Thomond Park Attendance: 16,725 Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Round 9

2 December 2022 19:35

Edinburgh	17–38	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Dean 2' c Graham 13' m Ritchie 35' m Con: Kinghorn (1/3) 3'	Report	Try: Casey 23' c R. Scannell 39' c Nash 41' c G. Coombes 52' c Carbery 79' c Con: Carbery (5/5) 24', 40', 42', 53', 80' Pen: Carbery (1/1) 64'

DAM Health Stadium Attendance: 7,339 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)

Round 10

26 December 2022 19:35

(1 BP) Munster	19–20	Leinster
Try: G. Coombes 30' c Penalty try 43' Campbell 63' m Con: Carbery (1/2) 30'	Report	Try: Penny 44' c Sheehan 53' c Con: R. Byrne (2/2) 44', 54' Pen: R. Byrne (2/3) 2', 19'

Thomond Park Attendance: 25,600 Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Round 11

1 January 2023 17:15

(1 BP) Ulster	14–15	Munster
Try: Baloucoune 67' m Pen: Cooney (3/3) 15', 19', 24'	Report	Try: Patterson 43' m Healy 79' c Con: Healy (1/1) 80' Pen: Healy (1/1) 73'

Kingspan Stadium Attendance: 16,672 Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Round 12

6 January 2023 19:35

(1 BP) Munster	33–3	Lions
Try: Buckley (2) 9' m, 79' c O'Donoghue 28' c Patterson 48' c L. Coombes 74' c Con: Healy (4/5) 30', 49', 76', 80'+1	Report	Pen: Hendrikse (1/1) 5'

Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,008 Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Round 13

28 January 2023 14:30

(1 BP) Benetton	30–40	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Zanon 6' m Mendy (3) 12' c, 57' m, 80'+1 c Con: Umaga (2/4) 13', 80'+2 Pen: Umaga (2/2) 39', 46'	Report	Try: Patterson 16' c O'Sullivan 30' c Hodnett 42' c Kleyn 49' c Frisch 71' m Carbery 76' c Con: Carbery (5/6) 17', 31', 43', 51', 77'

Stadio Monigo Attendance: 4,082 Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)

Round 14

17 February 2023 19:35

(1 BP) Munster	58–3	Ospreys
Try: G. Coombes (3), 14' c, 52' c, 79' c Feikitoa 18' m Frisch 29' m Carbery 36' c Patterson 41' m Zebo 62' m S. Daly 67' c Con: Carbery (5/9) 15', 37', 53', 68', 79' Pen: Carbery (1/1) 12'	Report	Pen: Myler (1/1) 3'

Thomond Park Attendance: 14,082 Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Round 15

3 March 2023 19:35

(1 BP) Munster	49–42	Scarlets (2 BP)
Try: Campbell 2' c Nash (2) 12' c, 64' c S. Daly (2) 23' c, 40'+1 c Patterson 26' c G. Coombes 49' c Con: Carbery (6/6) 3', 12', 24', 27', 40'+1, 49' Crowley (1/1) 65'	Report	Try: Roberts 34' c Fifita 45' c Kalamafoni 53' c Lousi 60' c G. Davies 70' c Rogers 76' c Con: Costelow (6/6) 35', 46', 54', 60', 71', 77'

Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,008 Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)

Round 16

25 March 2023 17:15

(1 BP) Munster	26–38	Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
Try: G. Coombes 53' c Casey 57' c J. Wycherley 70' c Nash 77' m Con: Carbery (2/2) 53', 57' Crowley (1/2) 70'	Report	Try: F. Brown 5' c McDowall 24' c Miotti 31' c Forbes 39' c Vailanu 60' c Con: Miotti (5/5) 6', 25', 32', 40', 62' Drop: Miotti (1/1) 44'

Thomond Park Attendance: 17,097 Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Round 17

15 April 2023 17:15

(2 BP) Stormers	24–26	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Malherbe 29' m Nel (2) 40'+3, 80'+1 Kitshoff 65' c Con: Libbok (2/4) 40'+3, 80'+1	Report	Try: Barron (2) 1' c, 21' m S. Daly 57' c G. Coombes 73' c Con: Crowley (1/2) 2' Healy (2/2) 58', 74'

DHL Stadium Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Round 18

22 April 2023 17:15

Sharks	22–22	Munster
Try: Mbonambi 5' m Kok 28' c Notshe 38' c Con: Bosch (1/2) 30' Chamberlain (1/1) 39' Pen: Chamberlain (1/1) 43'	Report	Try: Penalty try 47' Nash 53' m Murray 64' c Con: Healy (1/2) 65' Pen: Crowley (1/1) 15'

Hollywoodbets Kings Park Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Quarter-final

6 May 2023 19:35

Glasgow Warriors	5–14	Munster
Try: Steyn 66' m	Report	Try: Fekitoa 22' c Frisch 27' c Con: Crowley (2/2) 23', 28'

Scotstoun Stadium Attendance: 6,943 Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Semi-final

13 May 2023 17:30

Leinster	15–16	Munster
Try: Jenkins 37' c J. McCarthy 62' m Con: H. Byrne (1/1) 39' Pen: H. Byrne (1/1) 1'	Report	Try: Beirne 45' c Con: Crowley (1/1) 46' Pen: Healy (2/2) 10', 23' Drop: Crowley (1/1) 77'

Aviva Stadium Attendance: 26,795 Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Final

Main article: 2023 United Rugby Championship final

27 May 2023 17:30

Stormers	14–19	Munster
Try: Libbok 5' c Fourie 49' c Con: Libbok (2/2) 6', 50'	Report	Try: Barron 9' m Nash 28' c Hodnett 74' c Con: Crowley (2/3) 30', 76'

DHL Stadium Attendance: 56,100 Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup

Following their sixth-placed finish in the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship, Munster were seeded in tier three for the 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup.^[52] The province was drawn in pool B and will face French club Toulouse and English club Northampton Saints.^[27]

2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup Pool B
Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
La Rochelle	4	4	0	0	120	57	+63	15	7	2	0	18
Toulouse	4	4	0	0	110	53	+57	12	7	1	0	17
Stormers	4	3	0	1	106	68	+38	13	7	3	0	15
Leicester Tigers	4	3	0	1	116	89	+27	11	10	1	1	14
Ospreys	4	3	0	1	100	88	+12	12	10	1	1	14
Munster	4	2	0	2	73	67	+6	8	5	0	2	10
Montpellier	4	1	1	2	92	104	–12	13	13	2	1	9
Ulster	4	1	0	3	54	93	–39	7	11	1	2	7
Clermont	4	1	0	3	85	111	–26	8	12	1	1	6
Sale Sharks	4	1	0	3	74	94	–20	11	12	1	0	5
London Irish	4	0	1	3	76	115	–39	10	15	0	1	3
Northampton Saints	4	0	0	4	54	121	–67	5	16	0	1	1
Green background (rows 1 to 8) indicates qualification places for the Champions Cup round of 16. Blue background (rows 9 to 10) indicates qualification places for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Starting table — source: European Professional Club Rugby

Round 1

11 December 2022 15:15

(1 BP) Munster	13–18	Toulouse
Try: Carbery 9' c Con: Carbery (1/1) 10' Pen: Carbery (2/3) 38', 74'	Report	Try: Lebel 22' c Tauzin 42' m Con: Ramos (1/2) 23' Pen: Ramos (2/3) 29', 71'

Thomond Park Attendance: 21,884 Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)

Round 2

18 December 2022 13:00

Northampton Saints	6–17	Munster
Pen: F. Smith (2/2) 19', 28'	Report	Try: G. Coombes (2) 13' c, 35' c Con: Carbery (2/2) 14', 36' Pen: Carbery (1/1) 26'

cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 13,220 Referee: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy (FFR)

Round 3

14 January 2023 15:15

Munster	27–23	Northampton Saints (1 BP)
Try: G. Coombes (2) 8' c, 28' c O'Donoghue 19' c Con: Carbery (3/3) 9', 20', 29' Pen: Carbery (1/1) 1' Crowley (1/1) 75'	Report	Try: Freeman 44' c Ramm 55' c Con: F. Smith (2/2) 46', 56' Pen: F. Smith (3/3) 49', 70', 78'

Thomond Park Attendance: 22,295 Referee: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Round 4

22 January 2023 15:15

Toulouse	20–16	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Mallía 7' m Pen: Jaminet (5/5) 1', 16', 57', 66', 73'	Report	Try: Hodnett 30' m Beirne 48' m Pen: Carbery (1/1) 35' Healy (1/1) 59'

Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 18,754 Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)

Last 16

1 April 2023 12:30

Sharks	50–35	Munster
Try: Hendrikse 15' c Etzebeth 24' c Mbonambi (2) 44' c, 48' m Kok 53' c Bosch 57' c Mapimpi 63' c Con: Bosch (6/7) 17', 24', 45', 54', 58', 64' Pen: Bosch (1/2) 4'	Report	Try: S. Daly 5' c Kilcoyne 31' c Barron 60' c Haley 68' c F. Wycherley 77' c Con: Crowley (5/5) 6', 33', 61', 69', 78'

Hollywoodbets Kings Park Attendance: 27,987 Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

2022–23 Munster A/Development season

Friendlies

17 September 2022 13:30

Munster A	7–26	Connacht Eagles

University of Limerick

24 September 2022 15:00

Munster Development XV	12–43	Leinster A

University of Limerick

30 December 2022 13:00

Munster Development XV	26–40	Ireland U20
	Report

Musgrave Park Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU)

28 April 2023 14:00

Munster A	19–26	Ulster A
	Report

IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin

Player statistics

Player statistics from the 2022–23 season. Stats from the league and European competitions only are shown. Academy players in italics. Updated 28 May 2023 after URC final

References

Notes

External links

• Official Munster website
• URC Munster
• EPCR Munster