Irish Rugby

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Munster have appointed former Ireland international Jared Payne as the province's new attack coach on a two-year deal.

The 40-year-old, who spent four years as Ulster defence coach between 2018 and 2022 after a seven-year playing stint in Belfast, will combine attack and backline coaching responsibilities with Mossy Lawler, who has extended his Munster deal until 2028.

New Zealand-born Payne, who earned 20 Ireland caps between 2014 and 2017, also coached Clermont before a three-year spell with Scarlets that ended last month.

Payne said he was "incredibly grateful" for the opportunity to join Munster, whose 2025-26 season ended with a United Rugby Championship quarter-final loss to the Bulls on 30 May.

"Munster is a club with a proud history, strong values and a special connection with its supporters and community. As a family, we're excited to become part of that," he said.

"There is a huge amount of ambition across the club and I'm looking forward to working alongside the players and staff to help move the club forward.

"There is a lot to be excited about and I can't wait to get started."

Welcoming the move, Munster head coach Clayton McMillan said Payne has "developed an excellent reputation for empowering players and assisting them to fulfil their potential".

"I'm equally delighted that Mossy has extended his contract," added McMillan.

"The attack portfolio is vast, and I have always had the view that it is a two-person job.

"There is accountability to bring a higher level of detail to their respective areas of responsibility within our attack framework, and I believe that in Mossy and Jared, we have two innovative and detailed coaches who will work outstandingly well together."

Payne's arrival follows Jimmy Duffy's appointment as forwards coach after leaving Ulster.

Munster initially appointed Roger Randle as attack coach but the move was called off after his planned arrival was met by opposition in some quarters after a 1997 rape allegation resurfaced.

The alleged incident occurred in Durban, South Africa, during Randle's playing days with Super Rugby side Hurricanes - a charge that was dropped by the complainant and one he has always denied.

Image source, Inpho

Jimmy Duffy has joined Munster as a forwards coach on a two-year deal after leaving Ulster.

Duffy will replace Alex Codling, who moves to Toulon after one season at the province.

The Galway native joined Richie Murphy's coaching ticket in 2024 from Western Force and previously worked with Connacht for six years and the Ireland Under-20s.

"I'm thrilled to be joining Munster Rugby and I'm excited for the challenge ahead. There is a great deal of potential at the club and I'm looking forward to working with the players and staff over the coming seasons," Duffy said.

Head coach Clayton McMillan added: "Jimmy is an excellent addition to our coaching team. He has proven himself as a quality coach with teams across the United Rugby Championship, Super Rugby and the Ireland U20s.

"He comes with a glowing reputation for developing players and driving high standards and accountability. When we spoke, I was impressed with Jimmy's sense of purpose, his attention to detail and work ethic.

"I have no doubt he has the tools to drive us forward and look I forward to working alongside him next season."

Munster also confirmed that Sean Cronin, who coached Munster's scrum in the 2025-26 season, will return to this role as provincial talent coach on a full-time basis.

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says coach Jacques Nienaber is "fully committed" to the province who are "lucky to have" him.

The two-time World Cup winner with the Springboks had cast doubt on his Leinster future earlier in the week after claiming he does not feel valued by the media and fans in Ireland.

However, Cullen is hopeful he will remain as part of the coaching staff and that Nienaber's comments may have been misunderstood.

"I think what he [Nienaber] was referring to is there are no guarantees in sport, is there?" Cullen said.

"So, I think what he is trying to get across, is that when there is a lot of flak on the team from media, sometimes a club will make changes, and I think that is what he was referring to.

"But I think in his own mind, yes, he is fully committed to Leinster so please don't get confused by that and I would be of the same opinion as well."

Nienaber is under contract until 2027 and helped Leinster win the United Rugby Championship title last year.

However, they suffered their fifth defeat in a Champions Cup final since 2018 in May when Bordeaux-Begles produced a ruthless display in Bilbao.

Cullen added that he has enjoyed Neinaber's three years at the province and confirmed he is in his future plans.

"Jacques is brilliant, I have to say I have really enjoyed working with Jacques," Cullen continued.

"I think we have a great group of coaches here. I think we have a great staff as well; there are so many great people in the building and it's a very enjoyable place to work.

"We are very lucky to have him [Neinaber]. He is a brilliant person, brilliant individual to work with and that is very much the plan for sure."

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Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan has been ruled out of Saturday's United Rugby Championship semi-final against the Stormers at Aviva Stadium (17:30 BST).

Joe McCarthy has recovered from a knock sustained in last week's quarter-final win over the Lions to partner James Ryan in the second row, while Ronan Kelleher replaces Sheehan at hooker.

Two other changes see Jamison Gibson-Park replace Luke McGrath at scrum-half while Josh van der Flier comes in for Scott Penny at open-side flanker.

James Lowe again starts on the left wing as uncertainty grows over the 33-year-old's future in Irish rugby. The 2025 British and Irish Lion became Leinster's all-time leading tryscorer in last week's resounding 59-10 win over the Lions in Dublin.

Sam Prendergast continues at fly-half after impressing against the Lions, with Hugo Keenan and Jimmy O'Brien joining Lowe in the back three, as Tommy O'Brien misses out again.

New Zealand international Rieko Ioane and Jamie Osborne are again paired in midfield.

With the injured Tadhg Furlong still sidelined, Thomas Clarkson is named at tight-head prop with Andrew Porter at loose-head.

Max Deegan and captain Caelan Doris join the returning Van der Flier in the back row.

Leinster are aiming to retain the URC title and extinguish some of the pain of last month's Investec Champions Cup final loss to Bordeaux-Begles.

Leinster: HKeenan; J O'Brien, R Ioane, J Osborne, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Clarkson, J McCarthy, J Ryan, M Deegan, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt).

Replacements: G McCarthy, A Usanov, R Slimani, D Mangan, J Conan, L McGrath, H Byrne, G Ringrose.

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Munster have made one change to their starting team for Saturday's United Rugby Championship quarter-final with the Bulls in Pretoria.

Alex Nankivell comes in at centre to replace Dan Kelly, who drops to the bench.

Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley remains sidelined with a leg injury that head coach Clayton McMillan described as "obscure".

JJ Hanrahan continues to deputise in the 10 jersey and he will partner captain Craig Casey.

On the bench, lock Fineen Wycherley is set to make his 150th Munster appearance as he returns from injury.

Munster are also without a number of other key players such as Ireland internationals Tadhg Beirne, Edwin Edogbo, Tom Farrell and Calvin Nash.

McMillan's side defeated the Lions on the final day of the URC regular season to secure a play-off place and knock Ulster out of the top eight.

The Bulls finished fourth in the table behind Glasgow Warriors, Leinster and the Stormers.

The sides met at the end of March in Pretoria, with the Bulls winning 34-31 in a thrilling nine-try encounter.

Munster: Haley; Smith, Nankivell, O'Brien, Daly; Hanrahan, Casey (c); Loughman, Scannell, Ala'alatoa; Ahern, O'Connell; O'Donoghue, Hodnett, Gleeson

Replacements: Barron, J Wycherley, Bartley, F Wycherley, Coombes, O'Donovan, Kelly, Kendellen

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Connacht are boosted by the return of forwards Dylan Tierney-Martin and Darragh Murray for Friday's United Rugby Championship [URC] quarter-final away to Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun [19:45 BST].

The pair represent two of five changes made by coach Stuart Lancaster for the last eight clash with Tierney-Martin replacing Eoin de Buitléar at hooker, while Sam Illo sin place of Finlay Bealham at tight-head prop.

In the second row, Joe Joyce drops out to accommodate Murray's return, while Paul Boyle comes in for the injured Sean Jansen at number eight in a back row that also contains team captain Cian Prendergast and Shamus Hurley-Langton.

The sole change in the backs sees John Devine in for the injured Harry West at outside centre and will play alongside Bundee Aki.

The half-back partnership of Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane remains, as does the back three of wingers Shayne Bolton and Shane Jennings, plus full-back Sam Gilbert.

Dave Heffernan is fit again for a place on the bench, while Sean O'Brien is named as the back row replacement Hugh Gavin takes the place of the unavailable Jack Carty on the bench.

"This is exactly where we wanted to be at the start of the season, so credit must go to all the players for what they've displayed in the last few months to get us to this position," Lancaster said.

"Now we have to go out there and seize the opportunity. Glasgow are a formidable opponent especially away from home, with an array of talented players who are very well coached, but we are excited by the challenge ahead of us."

Connacht: Gilbert; Jennings, Devine, Aki, Bolton; Ioane, Murphy; Bohan, Tierney-Marti, Illo, Murphy, Murray, Prendergast (capt.), Hurley-Langton, Boyle.

Replacements: Heffernan, Dooley, Bealham, Joyce, O'Brien, Devine, Gavin, Naughton.

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James Lowe will make his 100th appearance for Leinster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship [URC] quarter-final against the Lions at Aviva Stadium [20:00 BST].

The 33-year-old Ireland international was left out of the squad for last week's European Champions Cup final defeat by Bordeaux Begles but is one of six squad changes made by head coach Leo Cullen for this weekend's URC play-off clash against the South African club.

Lowe equalled Shane Horgan's all-time try-scoring record for Leinster - 69 - in his last outing comes back onto the wing with Rieko Ioane moving to centre where he will partner Jamie Osborne who also missed out on the Bilbao final.

Jimmy O'Brien is a straight replacement for Tommy O'Brien on the opposite wing, with Hugo Keenan retaining his place at full-back.

In a changed half-back pairing, Sam Prendergast comes in at fly-half with Luke McGrath at scrum-half as Harry Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park drop to the bench.

In the forwards, Tadhg Furlong is the only change in the front row with Tom Clarkson dropping out, while in the second row, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan retain their places.

There are changes at flanker with Max Deegan at blind-side and Scott Penny in at open-side, while Caelan Doris retains his place at number eight where he will captain the side.

Leinster: Keenan; J O'Brien, Ioane, Osborne, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, J McCarthy, Ryan, Deegan, Penny, Doris (capt.)

Replacements: G McCarth, Usanov, Clarkson, Mangan, Van der Flier, Gibson-Park, Byrne, Henshaw.

Image source, Getty

Leinster have confirmed Ireland prop Paddy McCarthy has been ruled out for the remainder of their season after sustaining a foot injury in last weekend's Champions Cup final defeat by Bordeaux Begles in Bilbao.

McCarthy will be absent for Saturday's United Rugby Championship play-off quarter-final against the Lions at the Aviva Stadium (20:00 BST), as well as any semi-final or final that the Irish province may contest in the competition.

The 22-year-old could also be a doubt for Ireland's Nations Championship campaign this summer, with their opening fixture against Australia in Sydney scheduled for 4 July, just two weeks after the URC final.

The loose-head was forced to retire hurt just six minutes after being introduced as a replacement in the European showpiece and was seen on crutches after the game.

The Ireland forward was making his first appearance since January, having just returned from an unrelated injury to his other foot. McCarthy also missed the entirety of this year's Six Nations.

A squad update published by Leinster on Tuesday indicated Joshua Kenny and Brian Deeny have returned to full training and are available for selection this weekend.

No further updates were provided on the fitness of Ryan Baird, Jack Boyle, Will Connors, Hugh Cooney, RG Snyman and Charlie Tector.