Munster Rugby eye Bath Rugby clash after pre-season defeat to Gloucester

MUNSTER Rugby face their second pre-season friendly this Friday night when Premiership champions Bath Rugby visit Virgin Media Park in Cork, 7pm kick-off.

Munster will also come up against English champions Bath, coached van Graan, the province’s head coach between 2017 and 2022, in the pool stages of the 2025/2026 Champions Cup.

READ NEXT: Three Limerick clubs book Munster Senior Cup quarter-final places

Munster lost 24-21 to van Graan’s charges in a pre-season friendly at the Recreation Ground in August 2024.

Munster, under new head coach Clayton McMillan, suffered a 14-12 defeat to Gloucester in Kingholm in their first pre-season fixture on Friday night. A converted try in the last play saw the Cherry and Whites edge the outcome. Andrew Smith and the returning Shane Daly were the Munster try-scorers with Tony Butler kicking a conversion.

Both clubs had named two teams (one for each half) with Munster looking to give game-time to as many players as possible.
Academy players Max Clein and Seán Edogbo were among the 31-man squad with new signings Dan Kelly, Conor Ryan and JJ Hanrahan all involved as Kelly made his first appearance.

Andrew Smith gave Munster the lead on 14 minutes as he touched down brilliantly in the right corner after a Tony Butler crossfield kick. Butler added an excellent touchline conversion and Munster led 7-0. Gloucester number 8 Jack Mann touched down with Ross Byrne added the extras to level the game after 25 minutes.

Munster hit the front on 57 minutes after Shane Daly marked his return to action with a try after an excellent move from a 5-metre scrum. Paddy Patterson fed JJ Hanrahan & the out-half floated a lovely pass for Daly to score in the right corner.

However, Gloucester hit back late on when Will Trenhom managed to dive over from close range. George Barton’s conversion then sealed the win for the home side.

Munster Rugby v Gloucester:

First half team v Gloucester: Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan; Jeremy Loughman (Mark Donnelly, 33), Niall Scannell (Capt) (Max Clein, 33), John Ryan (Kieran Ryan, 33); Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.

Second Half Team: Munster: Thaakir Abrahams; Shane Daly, Seán O’Brien, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson; Mark Donnelly (Josh Wycherley, 50), Max Clein (Lee Barron, 50), Kieran Ryan (Oli Jager, 50); Conor Ryan, Fineen Wycherley (Evan O’Connell, 60); Seán Edogbo, John Hodnett (Ruadhán Quinn, 60), Jack O’Donoghue (Capt).