Munster Rugby look to repeat URC heroics in South Africa in Sharks quarter-final tie

MUNSTER look to repeat their 2023 United Rugby Championship heroics this Saturday when they play the Sharks at Holywoodbets Kings Park Stadium, Durban in the URC quarter-final of the competition.
Saturday, 5.30 kick-off, will be Munster's second time to play the Sharks in South Africa this season in the URC. Munster lost out to the Sharks, 41-24, in Durban last October in what proved to be Graham Rowntree’s final game in charge of the side.

READ MORE: Munster rugby captain named Ireland's Players’ Players of the Year
Should Munster overcome the Sharks in their quarter-final, they will face either the Bulls or Edinburgh in the semi-finals.

This is Munster’s ninth successive appearance in the BKT URC play-offs, they have won their quarter final fixture for the past two seasons.

However, Munster’s only win over a South African opponent this season was a 17-10 victory over the Lions in Limerick in Round 7. Saturday's quarter-finalists have met on four previous occasions in the URC with Sharks only win being 41-24 in Durban in Round 6 this year.

Sharks’ only two home defeats this season came at the hands of Toulouse in Round 3 of the EPCR Champions Cup and to Leinster in Round 14 of the URC.

Munster captain Tadhg Beirne said the squad will take confidence from their wins on the road in South Africa in recent seasons, including their 2023 URC Grand Final win.
Munster won their first major trophy for 12 years by landing the URC title in May 2023 following an absorbing 19-14 victory over the DHL Stormers in Cape Town.
“This group has gone over there before and won so we’ll quietly back ourselves and we’ll get our work done behind the scenes.
“We know the quality that is there. We’ve done it before and we’ve confidence in ourselves to do it again,” said Beirne.