2019–20 Munster Rugby season

The 2019–20 Munster Rugby season was Munster's nineteenth season competing in the Pro14, alongside which they also competed in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It was Johann van Graan's third season as head coach.[4]

2019–20 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s)Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600)[1]
Irish Independent Park (Capacity: 8,008)
ChairmanGerry O'Shea[2]
CEOIan Flanagan[2]
PresidentMichael Keane[3]
Coach(es)Johann van Graan
Captain(s)Peter O'Mahony
Most appearancesRory Scannell (21)
Top scorerJJ Hanrahan (171)
Most triesAndrew Conway (8)
League(s)Pro14
2019–202nd (Conf. B), Semi-finals
← 2018–19 2020–21 →

Events

Backs coach Felix Jones and forwards coach Jerry Flannery left the province when their contracts expired in June 2019.[5] Graham Rowntree joined the province as their new forwards coach after the completion of his duties with Georgia at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[6] Stephen Larkham, attack coach for the Australian national team, also joined the province as a senior coach ahead of the 2019–20 season.[7]

Club legend and head of commercial and marketing, Doug Howlett, also left the province to return to New Zealand in the summer of 2019, ending his 11-year association with Munster.[8] Munster's CEO Garrett Fitzgerald retired upon reaching retirement age in June 2019. Fitzgerald was Munster's first CEO and had been in the post since 1999, making him the longest serving provincial chief executive in Irish rugby at the time.[9] Ian Flanagan, who was born in Cork and previously worked at Leicester City F.C, was appointed to replace Fitzgerald.[2]

In a change from the previous two seasons, Munster were in conference B for the 2019–20 Pro14 season, alongside Benetton, Cardiff Blues, Connacht, Edinburgh, Scarlets and Southern Kings. This will also be the case for the 2020–21 season, and the change was made based on the points total each club achieved after the completion of the regular 2018–19 season.[10]

Munster opened their 2019–20 Pro14 season with a 39–9 home victory against Welsh side Dragons on 28 September 2019, with the tries coming from Arno Botha, Jack O'Donoghue, Man-of-the-Match Shane Daly, Tyler Bleyendaal and academy member Diarmuid Barron, and fly-half JJ Hanrahan contributing 14 points off the kicking tee. New signing Nick McCarthy and academy members Keynan Knox and Jack O'Sullivan all made their senior competitive debuts for the province, and hooker Kevin O'Byrne won his 50th cap.[11] Short-term signing Jed Holloway made his debut for the province in their 31–20 away win against South African side Southern Kings on 5 October 2019.[12]

In the opening two rounds of the 2019–20 Champions Cup, Munster beat Welsh Pro14 rivals Ospreys 32–13 away from home on 16 November 2019, with tries from Jeremy Loughman, Keith Earls, Andrew Conway and James Cronin and twelve points off the kicking tee from Tyler Bleyendaal,[13] before drawing 21–21 at home against French side Racing 92 on 23 November 2019; Munster's tries came from Keith Earls and Andrew Conway, and JJ Hanrahan contributed eleven points with the boot. The draw was Munster's first at home in the Champions Cup, against a Racing side that included former Munster players Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo in their starting XV.[14]

Prop Stephen Archer won his 200th cap for Munster in their 2019–20 Pro14 round 7 fixture against Edinburgh on 29 November 2019, becoming the eleventh player to achieve the accolade for the province. Academy fly-half Ben Healy made his debut for Munster during the same game, scoring 11 points in the 18–16 defeat to the Scottish side.[15]

In the Champions Cup back-to-backs against defending champions Saracens, Munster won 10–3 at home on 7 December 2019, with the English side picking up a losing bonus point.[16] In the return fixture one week later, Munster were beaten 15–6, with two tries in the final quarter securing the win for Saracens and denying Munster a losing bonus point.[17]

Following an incident that triggered a large brawl in Munster's second fixture against Saracens in December 2019 and a complaint to the EPCR from Saracens, in which Munster team doctor Jamie Kearns was accused of verbally abusing Saracens hooker Jamie George, an independent panel upheld the complaint and found that Kearns had breached the EPCR's disciplinary rules, handing Kearns a three-week ban, suspended for 12 months, and a fine of €2,000 to be paid immediately.[18]

Munster went into their round 5 Champions Cup clash away to Racing 92 on 12 January 2020 knowing that they had to win to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals of the tournament, but despite leading the French club with ten minutes to go, late tries from Racing secured a 39–22 win for the home side.[19] Munster needed results elsewhere to go their way if they were to stand any chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals as the final round of pool matches took place, but Glasgow Warriors 45–7 win against Sale Sharks ended those hopes before Munster's final game against Ospreys had even taken place.[20] In the event, Munster won 33–6 against Ospreys, with Craig Casey, who made his European debut for the province in the defeat to Racing, scoring his first try for Munster, and Calvin Nash, Jack O'Sullivan and Ben Healy making their European debuts for the province.[21]

Munster's 68–3 win against South African side Southern Kings in round 11 of the Pro14 on 14 February 2020 was a record margin of victory for the province in the competition, and the ten tries scored also set a new record for the province. Academy member John Hodnett made his debut for Munster in the fixture, scoring a try and earning the Man-of-the-Match award.[22] The match had an added poignancy for Munster, as their long-serving former CEO, Garrett Fitzgerald, who had only retired in June 2019, died following a battle with illness earlier that day.[23]

The 2019–20 Pro14 was suspended indefinitely by tournament organisers on 12 March 2020 in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.[24] Munster's round 14 and 15 fixtures against Italian side Benetton had already been postponed.[25] Tyler Bleyendaal was forced to retire from playing rugby with immediate effect in May 2020 due to a persistent neck injury.[26] In the same month, prop Brian Scott was also forced to retire with immediate effect due to injury.[27] The regular season resumed on 22 August 2020, with the number of rounds reduced from 21 to 15 and any games postponed prior to the indefinite suspension of the season being deemed as 0–0 draws and both teams awarded two points. Rounds 14 and 15 took place as derbies in each territory, with the top two teams in each conference progressing to a semi-final stage.[28]

Munster resumed their season on 22 August 2020 with a fixture against Leinster in the Aviva Stadium, which Leinster won 27–25. Munster handed debuts to new signings Damian de Allende and RG Snyman, though Snyman's first appearance for the province lasted only 7 minutes after he was injured during a lineout. Andrew Conway scored tries either side of Keith Earls' try, with JJ Hanrahan kicking 10 points off the tee, and Chris Farrell won the Man-of-the-Match award.[29]

Munster completed their reduced 15 round Pro14 regular season with a seven try 49–12 win against Connacht, a victory that secured a semi-final against defending champions and provincial rivals Leinster on 4 September 2020. The tries came from Chris Cloete, Jeremy Loughman, Tadhg Beirne, James Cronin, two from Andrew Conway and a penalty try, with JJ Hanrahan kicking all five of his conversions and Rory Scannell converting the final try. As well as getting on the scoresheet, Tadhg Beirne also won the Man-of-the-Match award on his first game back after fracturing an ankle against Saracens in December 2019.[30] Leinster won the semi-final 13–3, knocking Munster out at the semi-final stage of the Pro14 for the third season in a row and bringing an end to Munster's 2019–20 season.[31]

A total of 51 players were used during the marathon season, with seven academy members earning minutes for the province: Diarmuid Barron, Liam Coombes, Jake Flannery, Ben Healy, John Hodnett, Keynan Knox and Jack O'Sullivan. Healy and O'Sullivan also made their Champions Cups debuts during the season, alongside senior players Craig Casey, Shane Daly and Calvin Nash. Stephen Archer surpassed the 200-cap mark for the province, with John Ryan winning his 150th cap, Niall Scannell his 100th and Dan Goggin his 50th. Aside from squad captain Peter O'Mahony, Billy Holland, Jack O'Donoghue, Tommy O'Donnell, Niall Scannell and CJ Stander also captained the province. Rory Scannell made the most appearances during the season with 21, and also played the most minutes (1,276). JJ Hanrahan was the top points scorer with 171, and Andrew Conway was the top try scorer with 8.[32]

Munster's home game against Leinster in December 2019 was a record-equalling attendance for Thomond Park, with additional seating bumping the crowd up to 26,267. All three of Munster's home Champions Cup fixtures were the highest attendances for their respective rounds.[32]

Internationally, 12 Munster players represented Ireland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup: Tadhg Beirne, Joey Carbery, Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Dave Kilcoyne, Jean Kleyn, Conor Murray, Peter O'Mahony, John Ryan, Niall Scannell and CJ Stander. Conway, Earls, Kilcoyne, Murray, O'Mahony and Stander also featured for Ireland in the 2020 Six Nations Championship. Three Munster players also represented Ireland under-20s in the Under-20s Six Nations: Tom Ahern, Jack Crowley and Ciaran Ryan.[32]

At the delayed end of season awards in November 2020, Jack O'Sullivan won the John McCarthy Award for Academy Player of the Year, Shane Daly won the Young Player of the Year award and CJ Stander won Player of the Year for a third time, whilst Garrett Fitzgerald, Munster's former CEO who died in February 2020, was inducted into Munster's Hall of Fame.[33]

Coaching and management staff
Position Name Nationality
Head coach Johann van Graan  South Africa
Senior coach Stephen Larkham[7]  Australia
Defence coach JP Ferreira  South Africa
Forwards coach Graham Rowntree[6]  England
Team manager Niall O'Donovan  Ireland
Head of athletic performance Denis Logan  United States
Strength and conditioning coach Damien O'Donoghue  Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Adam Sheehan  Ireland
Performance analyst George Murray  Ireland

Players
For player movements before or during the 2019–20 season, see List of 2019–20 Pro14 transfers § Munster.

Senior squad
Munster Rugby senior squad[lower-alpha 1]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(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.
Italics indicate players signed during mid-season break.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[34]
  1. Alex Wootton is contracted to Munster for the 2020/21 season, but is on a season-long loan at Connacht.

Academy squad
Munster Rugby academy squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

  • None

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

  • None

Fullbacks

(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.[35]

    Senior team transfers

    Unlike previous seasons, where the majority of transfers take place during the summer pre-season, the 2019–20 season was unusual in that it had two separate periods of transfer activity due to the mid-season break in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players scheduled to join clubs ahead of the commencement of the 2020–21 season where instead able to join their new club during this break, meaning they were available for the completion of the 2019–20 season.

    October 2018 – May 2020
    For player movement in the Pro14 from the end of the 2018–19 season until the mid-season hiatus, see List of 2019–20 Pro14 transfers.

    February 2019 – July 2020
    For player movement in the Pro14 from the mid-season hiatus to the end of the 2020–21 season, see List of 2020–21 Pro14 transfers.

    Pre-season
    13 September 2019
    19:30
    Munster Ireland45–5England London Irish
    Report
    Irish Independent Park
    Attendance: 5,678
    21 September 2019
    15:00
    Connacht Ireland40–31Ireland Munster
    Report
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,738

    2019–20 Pro14
    Main article: 2019–20 Pro14
    2019–20 Pro14 Table
    Conference A
    Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
    1Ireland Leinster (CH) 151500531216+31574289069
    2Ireland Ulster (RU) 15816385306+7950407344[lower-alpha 1]
    3Scotland Glasgow Warriors 15807364329+3553425138
    4South Africa Cheetahs 13607342280+6248325232
    5Wales Dragons 15519283415–13232491124
    6Italy Zebre 153111230399–16929564321
    7Wales Ospreys 152211205375–17021451417
    Conference B
    Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
    1Scotland Edinburgh (SF) 151104391225+16647275251
    2Ireland Munster (SF) 151005426255+17153268351
    3Wales Scarlets 151005354274+8046345247
    4Ireland Connacht 15807302360–5841487140
    5Italy Benetton 15618309350–4135425536
    6Wales Cardiff Blues 15708283327–4430383233
    7South Africa Southern Kings 131012204498–2942375037
    If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[58]
    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 teams that compete in the Pro14 play-offs, and also earn a place in the 2020–21 European Champions Cup

    Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2020–21 European Champions Cup
    Red background indicates teams ineligible for European cup tournaments
    Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2020–21 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
    (CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (Q) Qualified for Pro14 play-off semi-finals. (e) Cannot reach play-offs.

      1. Ulster deducted 1 point for administration error regarding Ian Madigan. [57]

      Round 1
      28 September 2019
      15:00
      (1 BP) Munster Ireland39–9Wales Dragons
      Try: Botha 16' c
      O'Donoghue 32' c
      S. Daly 34' m
      Bleyendaal 60' c
      Barron 78' c
      Con: Hanrahan (4/5) 17', 32', 61', 79'
      Pen: Hanrahan (2/2) 24', 42'      		Report
      Report      		Pen: S. Davies (3/4) 2', 28', 39'
      Thomond Park
      Attendance: 10,878
      Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)

      Round 2
      5 October 2019
      15:00
      Southern Kings South Africa20–31Ireland Munster (1 BP)
      Try: Ungerer 41' c
      Louw 77' c
      Con: Catrakilis (2/2) 43', 78'
      Pen: Catrakilis (2/3) 14', 26'      		Report
      Report      		Try: Haley 19' c
      Mathewson 50' c
      F. Wycherley 67' c
      Botha 69' c
      Con: Hanrahan (4/4) 21', 51', 67', 71'
      Pen: Hanrahan (1/1) 9'
      Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
      Attendance: 3,115
      Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)

      Round 3
      11 October 2019
      17:15
      (1 BP) Cheetahs South Africa40–16Ireland Munster
      Try: Nché 9' c
      Pokomela 32' m
      Small-Smith 45' c
      Dweba 55' c
      Wiese 71' c
      Smith 80' c
      Con: Pienaar (4/5) 10', 46', 56', 72'
      Schoeman (1/1) 80'+1      		Report
      Report      		Try: Goggin 74' c
      Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 75'
      Pen: Bleyendaal (3/4) 21', 27', 39'
      Toyota Stadium
      Attendance: 4,814
      Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

      Round 4
      25 October 2019
      19:35
      (1 BP) Munster Ireland28–12Wales Ospreys
      Try: J. Cronin 16' c
      Marshall 42' c
      Haley 49' c
      Botha 79' c
      Con: Bleyendaal (3/3) 17', 43', 50'
      Hanrahan (1/1) 80'      		Report
      Report      		Pen: Price (4/4) 32', 39', 48', 58'
      Irish Independent Park
      Attendance: 7,311
      Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)

      Round 5
      2 November 2019
      19:35
      Cardiff Blues Wales23–33Ireland Munster (1 BP)
      Try: Domachowski 40'+4 c
      N. Williams 78' c
      Con: Evans (1/1) 40'+4
      Tovey (1/1) 79'
      Pen: Evans (3/3) 7', 15', 47'      		Report
      Report      		Try: Cloete 23' c
      Mathewson (2) 49' c, 66' m
      Nash 59' m
      Con: Hanrahan (2/4) 25', 50'
      Pen: Hanrahan (3/3) 13', 31', 73'
      Cardiff Arms Park
      Attendance: 5,256
      Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)

      Round 6
      9 November 2019
      17:15
      Munster Ireland22–16Ireland Ulster (1 BP)
      Try: Stander 14' c
      R. Scannell 35' m
      Conway 64' c
      Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 14'
      Bleyendaal (1/2) 66'
      Pen: Hanrahan (1/1) 25'      		Report
      Report      		Try: Herring 49' c
      Con: Cooney (1/1) 51'
      Pen: Cooney (3/4) 3', 19', 57'
      Thomond Park
      Attendance: 14,436
      Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

      Round 7
      29 November 2019
      19:35
      (1 BP) Munster Ireland16–18Scotland Edinburgh
      Try: O'Donnell 35' c
      Con: Healy (1/1) 35'
      Pen: Healy (3/3) 23', 41', 53'      		Report
      Report      		Try: Scott 1' c
      Sau 62' m
      Con: Van der Walt (1/1) 2'
      Pen: Van der Walt (1/1) 20'
      Hickey (1/1) 56'
      Irish Independent Park
      Attendance: 7,580
      Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

      Round 8
      21 December 2019
      17:15
      (1 BP) Connacht Ireland14–19Ireland Munster
      Try: J. Carty 72' m
      Pen: C. Fitzgerald (3/3) 17', 28', 40'      		Report
      Report      		Try: O'Donoghue 24' c
      Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 25'
      Pen: Hanrahan (4/4) 8', 20', 31', 44'
      Galway Sportsgrounds
      Attendance: 8,129
      Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

      Round 9
      28 December 2019
      18:00
      (1 BP) Munster Ireland6–13Ireland Leinster
      Pen: Hanrahan (2/2) 39', 45'Report
      Report      		Try: E. Byrne 9' c
      Con: R. Byrne (1/1) 10'
      Pen: R. Byrne (1/1) 22', 33'
      Thomond Park
      Attendance: 26,267
      Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

      Round 10
      3 January 2020
      19:35
      (1 BP) Ulster Ireland38–17Ireland Munster
      Try: Cooney 17' c
      Baloucoune 34' c
      Mat. Rea 42' c
      McCloskey 57' c
      Stockdale 61' c
      Con: Cooney (5/5) 18', 35', 43', 58', 62'
      Pen: Cooney (1/1) 14'      		Report
      Report      		Try: S. Daly 9' c
      N. Scannell 65' c
      Con: Carbery (2/2) 10', 65'
      Pen: Carbery (1/1) 39'
      Kingspan Stadium
      Attendance: 17,461
      Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)

      Round 11
      14 February 2020
      19:35
      (1 BP) Munster Ireland68–3South Africa Southern Kings
      Try: Botha (3) 8' c, 28' c, 75' c
      Nash 22' c
      O'Donoghue 40'+1 c
      Hodnett 49' c
      N. Cronin 54' c
      S. Daly (2) 60' c, 77' c
      Goggin 73' m
      Con: Hanrahan (6/6) 9', 23', 29', 40'+2, 50', 55'
      Healy (3/4) 62', 76', 78'      		Report
      Report      		Pen: Catrakilis (1/1) 16'
      Irish Independent Park
      Attendance: 6,854
      Referee: Nikoloz Amashukeli (GRU)

      Round 12
      21 February 2020
      19:35
      Zebre Italy0–28Ireland Munster (1 BP)
      Report
      Report      		Try: Nash 10' c
      Hanrahan 52' c
      R. Scannell 56' c
      Sweetnam 73' c
      Con: Hanrahan (4/4) 12', 53', 58', 74'
      Stadio Giovanni Mari
      Attendance: 3,300
      Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)

      Round 13
      29 February 2020
      17:00
      (1 BP) Munster Ireland29–10Wales Scarlets
      Try: O'Sullivan 34' c
      Holland 51' m
      G. Coombes (2) 71' c, 80'+4 c
      Con: Hanrahan (3/4) 35', 73', 80'+5
      Pen: Hanrahan (1/1) 23'      		Report
      Report      		Try: Sebastian 60' c
      Con: D. Jones (1/1) 61'
      Pen: D. Jones (1/1) 7'
      Thomond Park
      Attendance: 13,554
      Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

      Round 14
      22 August 2020
      19:35
      Leinster Ireland27–25Ireland Munster (1 BP)
      Try: Healy 19' c
      Ringrose 39' c
      Lowe 50' c
      Con: Sexton (3/3) 21', 40', 52'
      Pen: Sexton (1/1) 31'
      R. Byrne (1/1) 69'      		Report
      Report      		Try: Conway (2) 12' c, 71' m
      Earls 64' c
      Con: Hanrahan (2/3) 13', 65'
      Pen: Hanrahan (2/2) 26', 35'
      Aviva Stadium
      Attendance: 0[lower-alpha 1]
      Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

      Round 15
      30 August 2020
      15:00
      (1 BP) Munster Ireland49–12Ireland Connacht
      Try: Cloete 8' c
      Penalty try 15' c
      Loughman 36' c
      Beirne 49' c
      Conway (2) 51' c, 53' c
      J. Cronin 67' c
      Con: Hanrahan (5/5) 9', 37', 50', 51', 55'
      R. Scannell (1/1) 68'      		Report
      Report      		Try: Aki 40'+7
      Murphy 70' m
      Con: C. Fitzgerald (1/1) 40'+8
      Aviva Stadium
      Attendance: 0[lower-alpha 1]
      Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

      Semi-final
      4 September 2020
      19:35
      Leinster Ireland13–3Ireland Munster
      Try: R. Kelleher 27' c
      Con: Sexton (1/1) 28'
      Pen: Sexton (2/3) 40', 67'      		Report
      Report      		Pen: Hanrahan (1/3) 5'
      Aviva Stadium
      Attendance: 0[lower-alpha 1]
      Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

      2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup
      Main article: 2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup

      Munster were seeded in tier 2 when the draw for the 2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup was made in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday 19 June 2019,[59] and were drawn in pool 4 alongside defending champions Saracens, Racing 92, who count former Munster players Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo amongst their squad, and fellow Pro14 side Ospreys.[60]

      Team
      		 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
      France Racing 92 (5) 64111941266826154123
      England Saracens (8) 6402121883313101118
      Ireland Munster 6312124972713102016
      Wales Ospreys 600683211–1281128112

      [61]

      Round 1
      16 November 2019
      17:30
      Ospreys Wales13–32Ireland Munster (1 BP)
      Try: A. Davies 77' c
      Con: Price (1/1) 78'
      Pen: Price (2/2) 7', 28'      		ReportTry: Loughman 33' c
      Earls 49' m
      Conway 51' c
      J. Cronin 80'+4
      Con: Bleyendaal (3/4) 34', 52', 80'+5
      Pen: Bleyendaal (2/2) 15', 19'
      Liberty Stadium
      Attendance: 7,295
      Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)

      Round 2
      23 November 2019
      17:30
      Munster Ireland21–21France Racing 92
      Try: Earls 39' m
      Conway 74' c
      Con: Hanrahan (1/2) 75'
      Pen: Hanrahan (3/3) 8', 26', 46'      		ReportTry: Russell 18' c
      Thomas 28' c
      Imhoff 47' c
      Con: Iribaren (3/3) 19', 29', 48'
      Thomond Park
      Attendance: 25,600
      Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

      Round 3
      7 December 2019
      17:30
      Munster Ireland10–3England Saracens (1 BP)
      Try: O'Mahony 30' c
      Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 31'
      Pen: Hanrahan (1/1) 17'      		ReportPen: Spencer (1/3) 36'
      Thomond Park
      Attendance: 25,034
      Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)

      Round 4
      14 December 2019
      15:00
      Saracens England15–6Ireland Munster
      Try: Maitland 65' m
      Mak. Vunipola 71' c
      Con: Farrell (1/2) 72'
      Pen: Farrell (1/2) 7'      		ReportPen: Hanrahan (2/3) 24', 43'
      Allianz Park
      Attendance: 8,500
      Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (FFR)

      Round 5
      12 January 2020
      15:15
      (1 BP) Racing 92 France39–22Ireland Munster
      Try: Thomas (2) 28' m, 71' m
      Vakatawa 76' c
      Imhoff 80' c
      Con: Machenaud (2/3) 77', 80'+2
      Pen: Iribaren (5/5) 19', 32', 46', 53', 57'      		ReportTry: Conway 37' c
      Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 38'
      Pen: Hanrahan (5/6) 3', 10', 17', 49', 63'
      Paris La Défense Arena
      Attendance: 18,000
      Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

      Round 6
      19 January 2020
      13:00
      (1 BP) Munster Ireland33–6Wales Ospreys
      Try: Stander (2) 30' c, 77' c
      Archer 39' c
      Murray 46' m
      Casey 58' c
      Con: Hanrahan (4/5) 31', 40', 59', 78'      		ReportPen: Price (2/2) 7', 13'
      Thomond Park
      Attendance: 19,891
      Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)

      2019–20 Munster A season

      2019–20 Celtic Cup
      Main article: 2019–20 Celtic Cup

      In a change from the 2018–19 tournament, the 2019–20 edition of the Celtic Cup featured all eight teams in a single league, rather than two conferences, with each team playing seven matches and the top two teams advancing to a final on 12 October 2019.[62] Munster A finished 6th in the tournament with 13 points, 2 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats.

      Round 1
      23 August 2019
      19:30
      Munster A Ireland20–20Wales Ospreys Development
      Report
      Irish Independent Park
      Attendance: 200
      Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

      Round 2
      30 August 2019
      19:00
      (1 BP) Dragons A Wales36–10Ireland Munster A
      Report
      Rodney Parade

      Round 3
      6 September 2019
      19:30
      Munster A Ireland21–47Ireland Leinster A (1 BP)
      Report
      Irish Independent Park
      Attendance: 200
      Referee: Jonny Erskine (IRFU)

      Round 4
      14 September 2019
      13:00
      (1 BP) Connacht Eagles Ireland38–27Ireland Munster A
      Report
      Galway Sportsgrounds
      Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

      Round 5
      20 September 2019
      18:00
      (1 BP) Munster A Ireland28–7Wales Cardiff Blues A
      Report
      Irish Independent Park
      Attendance: 150
      Referee: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU)

      Round 6
      28 September 2019
      13:00
      (1 BP) Scarlets A Wales46–28Ireland Munster A (1 BP)
      Report
      Carmarthen Park
      Referee: Elgan Williams (WRU)

      Round 7
      4 October 2019
      17:00
      Ulster A Ireland12–31Ireland Munster A (1 BP)
      Report
      Shaw's Bridge
      Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)

      Challenge Match
      13 December 2019
      19:30
      Leinster A Ireland33–39Ireland Munster A
      Report
      Energia Park

      Annual Ireland U20 match
      29 December 2019
      13:00
      Munster A Ireland27–43Ireland Ireland U20
      Report
      Irish Independent Park

      Interpro
      18 January 2020
      13:00
      Munster A Ireland52–14Ireland Connacht Eagles
      Report
      Thomond Park (back pitch)

      Notes
      1. This game was played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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