WATCH: Munster Rugby's Clayton McMillan and Tadhg Beirne reflect on side's disappointing Champions Cup exit

MUNSTER Rugby are trying to come to terms with their inability to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Investec Champions Cup following their disappointing 29-31 defeat to Castres Olympique in front of an attendance of 20.043 at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

It is the first time since 2020 that Munster have failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the competition. 

After finishing in fifth place in Pool 2 of the Champions Cup, Munster will compete in the Challenge Cup round of 16 on the weekend of April 3/4/5.

Munster will be away from home for that contest.

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Reflecting on Saturday evening's defeat to Toulon who were recording their first win at Thomond Park at the ninth attempt, Munster head coach Clayton McMillan said: "The big disappointment for me and the worrying trend I guess is that we work really hard to score some points, but we give up points very quickly after scoring.

"We don't make it hard for opposition to have to come back and get points, and that's the one worrying trend for me over the last three or four weeks."