Munster Rugby seek to avoid unwelcome Thomond Park record as Zebre visit Limerick in URC

MUNSTER Rugby will look to avoid a record fourth successive defeat at Thomond Park in the professional era when Zebre Rugby visit Limerick this Saturday.

The game which kicks off at 5.30pm is live on Premier Sports 1.

Munster Rugby sit in sixth place in the URC table, while Italian side Zebre prop up the table with just two wins of their 11 fixtures to date.

Munster Rugby have won just one of their last four BKT United Rugby Championship matches, a 22-20 victory over the Dragons at Virgin Media Park in January.

Munster have lost their last three matches at Thomond Park in all competitions and have not lost four in a row at the venue in the professional era.

Zebre’s 42-33 triumph over Munster in September 2024 ended a run of 21 Munster victories since the Italians formation.

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Saturday evening's opponents Zebre have lost their last nine BKT URC matches after opening the season with a pair of victories.

Zebre have won just once on a trip to Ireland since 2018, and that by a single point, 15-14 against Ulster in January 2025.

Munster welcome back Ireland players Tom Farrell, Michael Milne and Edwin Edogbo from international camp for Saturday night's game in Limerick and have made 10 changes to the team that lost to Glasgow last time out.

JJ Hanrahan returns from a hamstring injury to start at out-half with scrum-half Paddy Patterson starting on his 50th appearance for the province.

Munster Rugby: Mike Haley (Preston Grasshoppers/Hartpury College); Calvin Nash (Young Munster RFC/Crescent College Comp), Tom Farrell (Coolmine RFC/Castleknock College), Dan Kelly (Rochdale Rugby Union/Kirkham Grammar), Shane Daly (Highfield RFC/PBC); JJ Hanrahan (Castleisland RFC/Rockwell College), Paddy Patterson (Blackrock College); Michael Milne (Birr RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea), Niall Scannell (PBC/Dolphin RFC), Michael Ala'alatoa (West Harbour RFC); Jean Kleyn (Hoërskool Linden), Fineen Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea); Gavin Coombes (Skibbereen RFC/Bandon Grammar), Jack O'Donoghue (capt) (Waterpark RFC), Brian Gleeson (Thurles RFC/Rockwell College). Replacements: Lee Barron (Lansdowne RFC/St Michael’s College), Josh Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea), John Ryan (Muskerry RFC/CBC), Edwin Edogbo (Cobh Pirates RFC), Alex Kendellen (PBC), Ethan Coughlan (Ennis RFC), Tom Wood (Ballina Killaloe RFC/St Munchin’s College), Seán O’Brien (Mullingar RFC).

Zebre Parma: Giovanni Montemauri (US Primavera Rugby); Albert Einstein Batista (Rugby Rufus San Vincenzo), Giulio Bertaccini (Amatori Rugby Parma), Damiano Mazza (Rugby Parma 1931), Simone Gesi (Livorno Rugby); Giacomo Da Re (Benetton), Gonzalo Garcia (Natación y Gimnasia); Juan Pitinari (Logaritmo Rugby), Giampietro Ribaldi (Caimani Rugby), Enrique Pieretto (Cordoba Atletic Club); Matteo Canali (Rugby Ariccia), Alessandro Ortombina (Rugby Club Valpolicella); Bautista Stavile (Mendoza Rugby Club), Samuele Locatelli (Rugby Lecco), Giacomo Ferrari (capt) (Unione Rugby Capitolina). Replacements: Giovanni Quattrini (Gattico Rugby), Paolo Buonfiglio (ASD Sesto Rugby), Luca Franceschetto (Amatori Rugby Vicenza), Guido Volpi (Circolo Universitario De Quilmes), Iacopo Bianchi (Vasari Rugby Arezzo), Thomas Dominguez (Club Atletico San Isidro), Martin Roger Farias (Santiago Lawn Tennis), Maro Zanon (Rugby Bassano)

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)