'We’re aiming for a good league finish' - Kieran Brooks

Munster open their United Rugby Championship against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday evening at Thomond Park, looking to right some of the disappointing wrongs of last season.

Munster were defeated at the quarter-final stage of last season’s URC against the Bulls in Pretoria, losing 45-14 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Summer signing Kieran Brooks says life in Limerick has been ‘brilliant’ so far.

A former Ireland U20s international, Brooks represented England at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and earned 16 international caps.

A durable prop with a wealth of experience, 35-year-old has played for the likes of Toulon, Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints and Wasps.

“It’s been brilliant,” he said.

“I came over mid-June, I drive the car over from France and the family came over ten days later. We found a house, got everything sorted, organised school and stuff and it’s been good. I’m loving life over here.”

The Stoke native explains how the love to the province came about earlier this summer.

“It would have been towards the end of last season. I spoke to Ian Costello, I worked with him at Wasps and he mentioned there was an opportunity to come over to Munster and I went for it.”

Now in his mid-thirties, Brooks continues to play and feature regularly on the field. The tight-head prop says luck has a lot to do with staying injury free.

“I suppose a part of it is luck with injuries. There inevitable in rugby and if you have something that’s a little bit of a niggle, it’s about managing it, speaking to the physio team, working with them to ensure it doesn’t become an issue.”

Brooks is looking forward to experiencing a new league, and with that, the new opposition and stadiums that the URC has to offer.

“First time playing in the URC and I’m excited. I get to play against teams that I haven’t played very often and in stadiums that I’ve never really played in. It’s a fun, new opportunity and I’m really excited.”

With 2024 URC champions Glasgow Warriors first up for 2023 champions Munster, Brooks states the group have focused more on themselves, rather than their Scottish counterparts.

“We’ve spoken a little bit about their individuals but a lot of it has been about us. Our strengths and our positives that we can take into the weekend.

“So yeah, it was a little bit about how good they can be but also mostly about us.

Like Brooks, Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy was recruited to the province this summer, something which ‘excited’ Brooks.

“It’s been brilliant, I love Jimmy. He’s a great coach and a great bloke. I worked with him when I was with the Under 18s so it’s kind of come full circle.

“When I heard Jimmy was coming in, I was very happy and excited,” he said.

The 16-cap former England international says pre-season preparations have been fruitful for the group and that the group are keen to right the wrongs of last season.

“It was really good. To play down in Cork was really good as I’ve never played down there before. It was a good run-out for the 30 guys who played, we all got 40 minutes each under our belts.

“We’ve reviewed the games, taken our learnings and we’ll take it into this weekend.

“The mood is very positive. I know nothing different having joined in the summer but everyone is in good spirits.

“There is a little bit of disappointment there with how last season went but everyone knows what we need to work on everyone is positive.

“We’re aiming for a good league finish,” he concluded.