THE SOD TURNING takes place at Musgrave Park today as Munster’s commitment to producing their own top-class players continues with the start of work on a new Cork Centre of Excellence.
The indoor centre will include a synthetic pitch, a big gym, as well as the physio, meeting and dressing rooms needed to provide the province’s underage teams with cutting-edge training facilities. Local clubs and schools will benefit, while Munster Rugby staff will also be housed in the new building.
Munster have another centre of excellence in Fethard, Tipperary, there’s one in Tralee, Kerry, and there are plans to build another in Rosbrien, Limerick in the coming years.
It has been impossible to miss how Munster have started to get talented young players through their pipeline in greater abundance recently. Following in the footsteps of Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Tom Ahern and John Hodnett are the next wave of Brian Gleeson, Edwin and Seán Edogbo, and Ruadhán Quinn.
As outlined in a fascinating discussion at Thomond Park this week, Munster believe there is much more to come. Ian Costello was the man to deliver the rundown on what they’re doing and what they can still improve.
Costello – who previously coached with Munster, Nottingham, and Wasps – moved into his role as head of rugby operations ahead of this season after doing fine work in charge of Munster’s academy. While he still does some on-pitch coaching with the senior team, his role focuses on the province’s player pathway, succession planning, and recruitment.
He is across everything to do with rugby in Munster. He sits in on every meeting with Rowntree and his coaches, is at every senior training session he can get to, works closely with academy manager Gar Prendergast and head of rugby development Colm McMahon, and ensures everyone is as aligned as possible. The idea is not to have silos within Munster that are unconnected.
Costello’s work is all about systems and structures and strategy. The energy he has for this stuff is impressive and it all really boils down to overseeing work that will help Munster to be a better team now and in the future.
The academy houses the biggest young prospects but underneath that is the National Talent Squad [NTS], an IRFU programme in which each province looks to identify and then support talented players between the ages of 16 and 21 – helping them towards the academy and on into professional rugby. Munster also have their own Provincial Talent System [PTS] underneath that.
As Costello outlines just how deep Munster’s depth charts for the seasons ahead extend, down to how many games they predict each youngster could play in a few years’ time, it’s clear that the pipeline is a major part of the province’s modus operandi. Every academy player, NTS member, and PTS player is included in the long-term planning.
Out on the pitch at Thomond Park just before Costello sits down, Munster have been training with 60 players – their senior squad plus academy players. They sometimes even have an additional group of young players training on the back pitch at Thomond Park simultaneously, meaning any injuries in the senior session can instantly be covered.
When senior second row Cian Hurley suffered a horrific knee dislocation in training during pre-season, young UCC lock Conor Ryan was with that additional group of players. Ryan slotted straight into the senior session and ended up playing in the friendlies against Bath and Gloucester, impressing Graham Rowntree.
And while opportunities to get in with the senior team are crucial, Costello explained that every player is different.
“That’s a demanding environment [with the senior team], so sometimes we need to pull them out of that environment,” said Costello. “They might work separately for a while. We’re getting really good results out of it but it can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach.
“Development is individual and long-term. So Gene O’Leary Kareem doesn’t go in the same way as Seán Edogbo even though they both arrived at the same time in Year 1 [of the academy].
“We manage his progression into that type of training. It’s making sure everyone in the building understands there’s an individualised approach to each player, protecting their development window so they get the S&C to be able to train like that.”
Munster are keen to ensure the door is open for later developers. The province is working with players from the age of 16, with the biggest talents well-flagged from that stage. Others like Ryan, who came through Clonakilty RFC and is still in his early 20s, might not have been the biggest underage stars. Munster don’t want to miss them either.
Still, spotting talent early is crucial and Costello says Munster have refined their talent identification system this year. Former players Ian Keatley and Seán Cronin – who are now provincial talent coaches for Munster – led that work to ensure there are people all over the province scouting and flagging talented players.
They have at least 25 people who can go to matches every weekend to watch players, sending reports from their phones into a centralised system. It’s not perfect, according to Costello, but they feel they’re getting greater breadth in their talent ID now.
There is plenty of ground to cover. Year 2 academy out-half Dylan Hicks, who hails from Bantry, used to undertake eight-hour round trips with his father, Damien, in order to get to training with Munster’s underage teams.
Conall Cournane, who recently played fullback for Munster U19s and featured for the Ireland U18 7s team, has come through Iveragh Eagles RFC in South Kerry, “as remote as you can possibly get,” where his father, Tony, was a founding member.
It’s a long way to travel for sessions, but Munster feel they have the systems in place to ensure talented young players from these areas don’t get missed.
Munster have studied how other organisations structure their player development, with their model stemming from conversations with football club Southampton. Costello said no stone is left unturned in being up to speed on the latest research on player development, coaching, and more.
He is upfront about all aspects of Munster’s work and where they needed to fill gaps in their succession planning.
“Props and centres have probably been the slowest because we were further back,” he said.
In terms of the propping problem, there are exciting signs with Shannon’s Emmet Calvey having played for the Ireland U20s a year young, Abbeyfeale RFC product Christian Foley impressing for the Munster U19s, and Jamie Conway of Castletroy College being part of the Ireland Schools side during the summer.
The hope is that these young men can push on towards the academy as Munster continue to produce more players of their own, particularly given financial challenges, but Costello stresses that recruitment will always be part of the picture too.
“We’re aware of the ever-changing financial model and we want to have the best systems producing the best players so we have the chance to have those homegrown players,” he said.
“But outside influence is good. Alex Nankivell is brilliant for our players. Billy Burns coming in from another environment… I know he’s not NIQ but one of the reasons we recruited him is because he’s good with younger players. We researched that. Yes, he’ll challenge Jack Crowley but he’ll be brilliant for Tony Butler, Dylan Hicks, and Tom Wood.
“It’s getting the right people at the right time from the outside but we have to have a pipeline of players coming through and no gaps in that system. And if there’s a gap, no gap for two years in a row, that’s what we have to avoid.”
It’s not long since Munster signed RG Snyman and Damian de Allende at the same time, a real statement of intent from the province as the two World Cup winners brought proven world-class ability.
Those moves were supported by private investment, but Costello admitted signings like that are less likely in the coming years. This summer’s additions of Burns, Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell, and Diarmuid Kilgallen were comparatively low-key.
“The financial model is trickier, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “There’s a different level of external support. The IRFU want us to meet certain standards around our financial model and last year, we broke even, etc.
“It’s probably about how good we can be internally at bringing players through and then being very, very targeted in our recruitment.
“It’s funny listening to the outside perception of ‘Munster are going to be weaker this year’ but we think we’re in a far better position. We thought everybody was moving upwards, so we’ll have unbelievable competition and we’re really, really happy with the guys we’ve signed.
“We have to be strategic around recruitment. Being able to go out and get two World Cup winners was great, whether those days are going to the same again, I don’t know.”
Munster are still raising funds from the outside with their successful dinners in big cities abroad and Costello confirmed that much of that money goes directly into improving the quality of the province’s pathway, whether coaching, strength and conditioning, mental skills, or more. €100k can make a huge difference in the pathway.
It’s six years since Munster signed two South African schoolboys into their academy, with Keynan Knox going on to play senior rugby for the province before being released last season.
There are obviously lots of talented young players in Leinster who miss out on the academy there and Munster have also signed a few of those players in the past. Is it something they’d do again given how much is going on within the Munster pathway now?
“We look everywhere,” said Costello. “I heard a really good phrase last week, ‘Before you go looking for something else, make sure you know what you have.’
“So us being really informed on what we have, knowing where they are, how we benchmark them, how we rate them on performance potential. It allows us to look at somebody through that type of lens, whereas before we might have seen it as a bit of a punt, or a bit of a feel.
“We don’t discount feel but now there’s a bit more substance. I looked at a guy recently from another sport similar to rugby union, but we probably won’t go there, and looked at two people from outside the country but again, we haven’t signed them.
“But yeah, we’re open to anything that makes us better. We definitely, from an identity point of view, would love to be producing our own but not to the detriment of us being successful.”
Munster have put lots of time and energy into building stronger relationships with their clubs in the past few seasons, with players being released for more game time in the All-Ireland League than ever. AIL rugby is key to their development.
Costello said head coach Rowntree is fully committed to that, modifying players’ training weeks to make sure they’re fresh for their AIL games, while the annual presentation by Munster to the clubs always includes the slogan ‘Strong clubs = Strong Munster.’
There have been frustrations for the AIL clubs in the past about A inter-provincials clashing with he league but the demise of the B&I Cup, then the Celtic Cup, has made things a little easier.
There will still be six A inter-pros this season, with Munster likely to play a few development team games as well. Back in May, the Munster A side took on an AIL Select XV from the north of the province, with a clash against players from the south of Munster to follow this season.
There is a little more work to be done with the schools game, with Munster often unable to get hands-on time with young players while they’re chasing success in the Munster Schools Senior Cup.
“The Schools Cup is sacrosanct so getting access to the players is difficult,” said Costello. “If you’re in the NTS, we can bring them out to Musgrave Park or UL to do their conditioning but if we wanted 20 contacts with them in a year, we might be lucky to get 10.
“So it’s pre-summer and the summer programmes that we put huge resources into because we know we have them for eight to 10 weeks.”
There’s plenty going on for Munster and Costello. You wonder how he is able to calm his mind after a working day overseeing all of this stuff.
When he came home from Wasps to take on the academy role in Munster, he was worried he would miss the “drug” that is coaching a senior team every single week, but he loved being in charge of the academy. His current role is another level up.
“The systems and the structures and the complexity of it stretches you more,” said Costello.
“It’s a bit more challenging but I’m just really lucky to have been all of my life so passionate about coaching and this is just another branch of it that I love and am very passionate about. So far!”
Why is Ross Byrne on the bench still?? Where is Frawley
@adizlack93: irfu I say
@sean o’farrell: Dont see why? Probs has a knock or something. Unless that was sarcasm, if so nicely played ;)
@adizlack93: Has anyone actually watched frawleys performances this year?
They haven’t been good, ross hasn’t been any better but Frawley is not the golden child he’s made out to be.
He’s not a kid, he’s has his chances and they’ve been taken and not taken.
He’s an excellent choice for a 6-2 bench but specialist flyhalf, it just hasn’t been good enough.
@Barry Moran: that’s just not true. Frawley was very good at the start of the season at 10 , just look at the croke park game, our attack fell off a cliff when he was moved out of the outhalf position.
@chris mcdonnell: He was OK in those games, disregarding prendergast, I would have been happy to call him an upgrade for the season on bryne but ever since he bombed so hard against the abs he’s been very poor and I expect that’s shown in training too hence the non-selections.
@Barry Moran: he hasn’t played 10 since the AB’s cameo so how has he bombed?
@chris mcdonnell: If he wants gametime coming off the bench and playing well, whatever the position, is the first step and he hasn’t done that.
He just isn’t reliable enough to be the idealised version you have in your mind.
@Barry Moran: Or maybe you don’t really watch any games.
@Carmine Lorenzo: I’m almost certain I’ve seen every professional game Frawley has played. I used to be a big fan but he rolls the dice a few times against the springboks, comes up big and that’s all anyone wants to think about him.
At least in the context of bringing other guys down, if frawley was getting gametime at 10 they’d be punching him down as soon as things go wrong.
@Barry Moran: What chances has he had ? How many times was he started at 10 for Leinster in the past 5 years compared to the Byrne Bros ? and after his performance in SA he deserved a start in the Autumn series, but no brought on for limited time against NZ and then practically blamed for losing the game as if the 12 penalties, 30 missed tackles and line out shambles were all his fault. If he had been given half the starts that the others got he would be the best 10 in Ireland. Remember Crowley was taken off in that second test and Frawley won the game against the World Champions in their backyard. The guy is class and is an out and out 10, and my advice for him is to GTFO of Leinster and Ireland and go to France or England where he would be appreciated.
Big props to Deegan, deserves the start (imo). Doris and RG coming on at the same time is terrifying lol, hoping for a belter of a game.
@Thesaltyurchin: 100% deagan deserves the start but baird should be on the bench. Cullen messing with his ireland spot.
@chris mcdonnell: how do you know he’s been dropped? More than likely protecting him after a knock or resting him after returning from injury. Why do people always assume the worst in Cullen.
@anthony davoren: 10 years since he took over, 4 URC’s and 1 champions cup, considering the squad, funding and resources he has at his disposal the question should be is he actually the worst, even matt oconnor had a better record.
@chris mcdonnell: You don’t get that Leinster being successful is the side gig.
Cullen’s primary brief is producing players to play for Ireland and the way you hear a lot of people going on he’s been entirely too successful at that job.
@chris mcdonnell: Requires a 6-2 bench, which in turn requires Frawley.
@anthony davoren: Not “people”… it’s just Chris. Leo used to take his lunch money when they were kids… (Only kidding Chris!!)
@Paul Ennis: Not to mention Leo’s mum used to pick up Chris from school at age 20
@Barry Moran: alot of that is in spite of him. Not because of him, 4 players in the Irish camp either slipped through his hands or he let go, ben Murphy ??? The likes of JGP, frawley , osbourne at 15, farrell had to over rule him. The supply comes from the schools and youth systems. Cullen is blessed with that production line and still gets it wrong.
@chris mcdonnell: well that’s the most nonsensical comment I have ever seen and it shows how little you know about rugby. If Leo has been they bad he wouldn’t be continuously offering new contracts. What you are saying goes against what all his peers say and also all the past and present players who are all full of praise for him as head coach. Maybe just maybe Chris you don’t know as much as they do about the game
@chris mcdonnell: Wow, you’re taking this to the grave.
You’re actually going to try and argue that a head coach that regularly uses 50-60 players a season with a 79% win rate, getting to 5 champions cup finals is nothing but a drag on the entire operation.
I’m disappointed with the lack of final wins as well but they didn’t exactly lose to chumps.
You’ve no perspective on these issues, only present yourself as the most entitled of fans holding bitter weak grudges only to your own detriment.
@Conor Lynott: why would you insult Leo’s mum
@Paul Ennis: it might just be me, fair enough but if you have the faster car in the race and you never win, you have to ask what the driver is doing. Honestly if Cullen wasn’t the fantastic player and club captain he was would he get such an easy ride.
@anthony davoren: 4 urc titles in 10 years with the best club squad the league has ever seen if that’s doing his job fair enough.
@chris mcdonnell: I don’t think Cullen’s record as a player even comes into it anymore. He will always be known as the coach who got Leinster to more finals and won more trophies than any other. He will be remembered for taking the car crash squad over from Matt Whatshischops, giving several kids debuts in a write off Champions Cup campaign and turning them all into cup winners and Ireland internationals within 3 years. I also believe, for what it’s worth, he will add a 2nd European trophy to his list along with an unprecedented 4th final in a row. Who knows from there.
@chris mcdonnell: You’re genuinely the worst Leinster fan, or even fan, on here. Your arrogance is unparalleled even by Ray or the late (from the 42) Jim Demps standards. I’d honestly be ashamed to think so much of myself and so little of the lads who literally dedicated their life to this team. Just like Ray you repeat the same comments here over and over again and have stopped adding anything of value to the conversation a long time ago, so blinded by hate are you to Cullen and Byrne. You’re the definition of the type of fan that is everything that’s wrong with Irish rugby. That is all.
@chris mcdonnell: Ok so say Cullen gets fed up with your broadsides on comment forums and he resigns tomorrow. Who comes in to replace him as Head Coach / DoR?
@Carmine Lorenzo: Munster fan who often disagrees with Chris here. I think its reasonable to question whether Leo has done a good job. He is not responsible for youth development. He is surrounded by capable people and a system that works. Maybe he does have responsibility for the health of the organisation in that regard i dont know. The only thing that i know for certain that he is exclusively responsible for certain, however, is team selection and that has on numerous occasions been really, really bad. Some of the biggest squad selection mistakes in Irish rugby have been Cullen’s Leinster.
@chris mcdonnell: Just listening to Leo Cullen regarding squad selection… have we all forgotten this is a 6 day turnaround? Sensible to manage players. Doris has a little bit of stiffness, Baird and Furlong took very small knocks. If anything trying not to ruin their Ireland chances. Leo is a team player and puts country on a level with province when it comes to player development and management. The man is under rated, under appreciated and we will miss him when he is gone. Having said that, he has such a small ego that I am sure it doesn’t bother him what we think.
Frawley :’(
The Frawley fall off needs to be studied
@Jacob: It’s Leo. If Ross was actually better, why doesn’t make the Ireland squad?
@Kieran Bacon: not that black and white. making irish squads just means the irish coach thinks you are a better player amongst other factors. when the wheels come off the farrell bandwagon, there will be a new coach and he will select the players he likes.
@Jacob: unless dictated by injury, Ross Byrne ahead of Frawley makes no sense.
@Kieran Bacon: if Ross was better, we’d have a few trophies over the past 3 years. Cullen has just refused to give frawley a chance at 10 because he’d have to admit he was wrong. Done the same with madigan and carbury forced then to play out of position and they both left the club.
@Jacob: is it Neibarr that he wants a Hansie Pollard type player at the end of the game to just kick and do nothing with the backline?
@chris mcdonnell: Ross had Leinster in the perfect position to win the cup last season b4 he went off. Frawley came on, and Leinster got well beaten.
@chris mcdonnell: so your assertion is one player is at fault for not winning anything and the DoR, the same DoR who hired Stuart Lancaster when he could see the gaps in his own experience, and also sees training everyday, picks a team based on what people externally might think ? Just checking….
I fully believe Cullen has cost leinster massively over the past 10 seasons. His failure to take the best club side with the most money and resources while most of the players won grand slams and 6 nations, he can hardly win the URC is simply not good enough. He let Beinre go , had no time for JGP, never even noticed osbourne could play 15 until farrell told him.played carbury and madigan out of position,both left the club As for Ross, was a good second choice player was given the chance to take over from sexton and it just didn’t work out, simply he’s just not quick enough to play 10 at the highest level. Year after year Leo tells us about learning lessons, with this much learning he should be either the dalai lama or take over Stephen Hawkins works in Cambridge university.
@chris mcdonnell: Christ, give it a break
@Kieran Bacon: frawley has never started at 10 for Ireland. He also misses out on irish 23s regularly. Be was brought in because ireland had screwed up their depth at 10 and he is versatile.
He gets the exact same treatment there as he does in Leinster so both coaches must know something
@Andrew Dunne: Ross doesn’t even fit that profile anymore. He rarely kicks out of hand and his place kicking confidence has taken a hammering since he was dropped to 2nd or 3rd choice. Sam’s appearance on the scene is amazing, but it has had a detrimental effect on the performances of Byrne and Frawley.
@Kieran Bacon: that was a Smidt decision that Farrell has continued. It’s about preference. Cooney was best 9 in Ireland for a good period and couldn’t make even training camp. Carty was flying and he couldn’t get in for ages
@Kieran Bacon: Probably because he’s not a utility back. Which is the only reason Frawley does. Frawley has never, ever been ahead of Byrne at Leinster, for a reason. If Frawley had performed as well as RB last week. Shot at goal apart, his fanboys would be creaming themselves.
@John Buckley: I see. And what did Ross do in 2023 in the Aviva when we were camped in the LR 22 and he never called or went for the drop goal which would have won the game.
@chris mcdonnell: Right so… no time for a player he signed. And if you’re going to give him grief, to use your language, of “letting beirne go” what about all the players developed in that time. Sheehan, Doris, Keenan? You do get not every player that comes through the academy can be contracted and players develop at different rates, right?
no baird?
@Niall English: leinster rest players every week
No Frawley or Baird is really disappointing. I guess they want to ease Furlong back in or maybe he picked up a slight tweak and they don’t want to risk him. Doris as impact is a nice touch + he’s played insane amount of minutes this season so if we’re well clear maybe no need to bring him on
Why does RS never start
@Seanie: rumoured that one of the conditions of Leinster signing him is that he cannot start ahead of McCarthy or Ryan in big games when both are available.
@JohnDoe: You dont know then ok
@Seanie: didn’t Cullen all but confirm that?
@Michael Corkery: confirm what i dont read every post are be online every day i just know he is a world class player never seem s to start same with tom Ahearn
@Seanie: why are you so hostile? People are trying to answer your question. The conditions of Synman’s contact won’t be made public and I gave you a plausible explanation
@Seanie: Murray K stated as much in a recent article.
@JohnDoe: im.not
@Colin Rainier: Ok thanks for no information not one person told me why
@JohnDoe: Thats nonsense that he wont be playing ahead of ryan and mccarthey he is better than both
Osbourn as well
4 centres in the Leinster back line. Any chance you’d send one to Munster?
@Kenjo: hold
@Kenjo: I’d hate to be a winger in that leinster squad
@Kenjo: you probably will need Liam turner at some stage.
@Kenjo: Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Tommy O’Brien, Jimmy O’Brien & Liam Turner all injured. I would have liked to see Andrew Osborne start. I definitely do not like Garry Ringrose starting on the wing as it completely weakens the midfield. He is the best 13 on the planet right now. I would have preferred Robbie on the bench.
@Paul Ennis: Sorry Jimmy O’Brien is not injured, but it is still a big list
Leinster need wingers with pace wheres JL injured i suppose
@Kevin: why? They never had them before and scored at will the last three seasons.
@Kevin: Just wingers would be a start. Pace would be a bonus!
Is Furlong injured again?
@Fagin Strauss: he gets injured walking into the team announcement meetings.
@Fagin Strauss: that’s incredible if true
@Niall English: you’re a bitter loser Niall English
@Fagin Strauss: Dont say that. Still if he bumps a toe he should b sat down until 6n
@adizlack93: not at all. calling it as it is. himself and henderson have a serious amount of top level mileage on the body and spend more time on the treatment table than on the rugby pitch. amount of game time relative to the wages they are on is a poor return on the investment.
@Niall English: you are a loser. Every comment you make is designed to have a sly pop at Leinster. You’re not remotely knowledgeable or funny. Maybe just stfu and stick with your own pi$$ poor club ??
@Fagin Strauss: no, his wife had a baby during the week.
@adizlack93: not at all. i also included henderson in that ar guement. and id also rather see POM and Murray put out to pasture but because i think their ability at their age relative to their wages is a poor investment. the same way that given hendersons and furlongs recent injury profile and factoring mileage on the bodies, its poor value for money. its easy when it doesnt come out of your pocket, but if it was your money ive no doubt youd feel the same. but theres a level of old boy sentiment in irish rugby that you get to bow out on your terms when you see fit. sure how long has healy been trotted out for 10 minutes at the end of games, which will lead to further issues down the line for porter and he is now going week in week out for 65/70 minutes, that will catch up eventually.
@adizlack93: at least I and my fellow supporters got to celebrate a final victory and homecoming in the not too distant past. been so long since the leinster trophy cabinet was opened, theres cobwebs on the handles.
@Niall English: I’m convinced a Dublin lad rode your missus
@adizlack93: in your heaaaddd, in youuurrr heeadddd, zombie, zombie!
@adizlack93: I’d say a Munster lad rode your sisters sideways !
@Niall English: You need to get out more
@Lulu: the only sisters Munster men ride are their own, respectfully.
@adizlack93: that’s a bit rich as it describes yourself to a tee as regards Munster .
If Frawleys not picked there is a reason .
@Deirdre Kennedy: the reason is Leo Cullen. 10 years as leinster coach 4 URC titles and 1 champions Cup with the greatest club squad and endless finances. The man has a worse record than matt O’Connor.
@chris mcdonnell: Toulouse and La Rochelle have had the greatest club squads over the last number of years.
@chris mcdonnell: Would you ever give over with your endless bs and attacks on Leo. I’m beginning to think that you wouldn’t even know if rugby ball was pumped or stuffed! Comparing Leo to MOC is a joke. Engage your brain before you engage the keyboard
@chris mcdonnell: are you the new Ray
@Shane Hanley: his record is worse than MOC’s
@anthony davoren: and they have about the same record as leinster in the URC over the past 3 seasons
@chris mcdonnell: Wash your mouth out with soap for mentioning that clown’s name
@Shane Hanley: BS ? facts are facts, and throw in a Magners League Final loss to Connacht to crown the whole lot. BUT let’s extend his contract in November 24 for another 2 years as a reward for failure.
I think leinster by at least 25 , tackling is not a pre requirement in the Gallagher premiership
@damien reidy: To get top seeding, a margin of 40+ should be the target, after 4 tries scored, hopefully by 30 minutes.
Why is everybody in here so pressed lmao.