2009–10 Munster Rugby season

The 2009–10 Munster Rugby season was Munster's ninth season competing in the Celtic League, alongside which they also competed in the Heineken Cup. It was Tony McGahan's second season as Director of Rugby.

2009–10 Munster Rugby season

Ground(s)	Thomond Park (Capacity: 26,500) Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,500)
Coach(es)	Tony McGahan
Captain(s)	Paul O'Connell
League(s)	Celtic League
2009–10	4th, semi-finals
← 2008–09 2010–11 →

2009–10 squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Denis Fogarty Hooker   Ireland Jerry Flannery Hooker   Ireland Damien Varley Hooker   Ireland Julien Brugnaut Prop   France Tony Buckley Prop   Ireland John Hayes Prop   Ireland Marcus Horan Prop   Ireland Darragh Hurley Prop   Ireland Wian du Preez Prop   South Africa Dave Ryan Prop   Ireland Billy Holland Lock   Ireland Donncha O'Callaghan Lock   Ireland Paul O'Connell (c) Lock   Ireland Mick O'Driscoll Lock   Ireland Donnacha Ryan Lock   Ireland Tommy O'Donnell Back row   Ireland Alan Quinlan Back row   Ireland Niall Ronan Back row   Ireland David Wallace Back row   Ireland James Coughlan Back row   Ireland Denis Leamy Back row   Ireland Nick Williams Back row   New Zealand

Player Position Union Toby Morland Scrum-half   New Zealand Tomás O'Leary Scrum-half   Ireland Peter Stringer Scrum-half   Ireland Duncan Williams Scrum-half   Ireland Declan Cusack Fly-half   Ireland Jeremy Manning Fly-half   Ireland Ronan O'Gara Fly-half   Ireland Jean de Villiers Centre   South Africa Tom Gleeson Centre   Ireland Lifeimi Mafi Centre   New Zealand Barry Murphy Centre   Ireland Ian Dowling Wing   Ireland Keith Earls Wing   Ireland Doug Howlett Wing   New Zealand Ciarán O'Boyle Wing   Ireland Denis Hurley Fullback   Ireland Felix Jones Fullback   Ireland Danny Riordan Fullback   Ireland

Pre-season

14 August 2009

Munster	19–17	Sale Sharks
	Report^[1]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 6,100

21 August 2009

Munster	31–23	London Irish
	Report^[2]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,000

28 August 2009

Leicester Tigers	34–28	Munster
	Report^[3]

Welford Road

2009–10 Celtic League

Main article: 2009–10 Celtic League

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	Try bonus	Losing bonus	Pts
1	Leinster	18	13	0	5	359	295	+64	27	29	1	2	55
2	Ospreys	18	11	1	6	384	298	+86	37	26	3	3	52
3	Glasgow Warriors	18	11	2	5	390	321	+69	31	24	2	1	51
4	Munster	18	9	0	9	319	282	+37	33	20	3	6	45
5	Cardiff Blues	18	10	0	8	349	315	+34	33	28	2	2	44
6	Edinburgh	18	8	0	10	385	391	−6	40	40	4	5	41
7	Newport Gwent Dragons	18	8	1	9	333	378	−45	32	37	3	2	39
8	Ulster	18	7	1	10	357	370	−13	39	35	4	2	36
9	Scarlets	18	5	0	13	361	382	−21	35	35	1	8	29
10	Connacht	18	5	1	12	254	459	−205	20	53	0	4	26
Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows: 4 points for a win 2 points for a draw 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus) 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)
Green background (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places. Source: RaboDirect PRO12

4 September 2009 20:00

Glasgow Warriors	22–9	Munster
	Report^[4]

Firhill Stadium Attendance: 3,694 Referee: James Jones

11 September 2009 19:05

Munster	24–13	Cardiff Blues
	Report^[5]

Thomond Park Attendance: 19,747 Referee: Peter Allan

19 September 2009 18:30

Scarlets	20–22	Munster
	Report^[6]

Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 6,313 Referee: Alain Rolland

27 September 2009 17:05

Munsters	27–3	Newport Gwent Dragons
	Report^[7]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,685

3 October 2009 18:30

Leinster	30–0	Munster
	Report^[8]

RDS Arena Attendance: 18,500 Referee: Simon McDowell

23 October 2009 20:00

Edinburgh	12–7	Munster
	Report^[9]

Murrayfield Attendance: 5,426

31 October 2009 17:00

Munster	24–10	Ulster
	Report^[10]

Thomond Park Attendance: 23,298 Referee: Alain Rolland

5 December 2009 18:30

Ospreys	19–14	Munster
	Report^[11]

Thomond Park Attendance: 8,077

26 December 2009 19:30

Munster	35–3	Connacht
	Report^[12]

Thomond Park Attendance: 25,291 Referee: Alain Rolland

2 January 2010 18:00

Ulster	15–10	Munster
	Report^[13]

Ravenhill Attendance: 11,800

19 February 2010 20:00

Munster	19–12	Edinburgh
	Report^[14]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,685 Referee: Tim Hayes

6 March 2010 18:30

Newport Gwent Dragons	31–22	Munster
	Report^[15]

Rodney Parade Attendance: 6,137

18 March 2010 19:35

Munster	23–17	Scarlets
	Report^[16]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,685

26 March 2010 20:00

Munster	27–19	Glasgow Warriors
	Report^[17]

Thomond Park Attendance: 23,814 Referee: James Jones

2 April 2010 20:05

Munster	15–16	Leinster
	Report^[18]

Thomond Park Attendance: 26,263 Referee: Romain Poite

18 April 2010 19:05

Connacht	12–18	Munster
	Report^[19]

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,125 Referee: Alain Rolland

24 April 2010 18:30

Munster	11–15	Ospreys
	Report^[20]

Thomond Park Attendance: 23,754

9 May 2010 18:15

Cardiff Blues	13–12	Munster
	Report^[21]

Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 12,602 Referee: Peter Allan

Play-offs

Semi-final

15 May 2010 19:35

Leinster	16–6	Munster
	Report^[22]

RDS Arena Attendance: 19,750 Referee: Nigel Owens

2009–10 Heineken Cup

Main article: 2009–10 Heineken Cup

Pool 1

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	TB	LB	Pts
Munster (1)	6	5	0	1	19	10	9	185	94	91	3	1	24
Northampton Saints (8)	6	4	0	2	16	8	8	138	104	34	2	1	19
Perpignan	6	2	0	4	12	10	2	108	123	−15	1	2	11
Benetton Treviso	6	1	0	5	7	26	−19	68	178	−110	0	1	5

10 October 2009 18:00

Northampton Saints	31–27	Munster
	Report^[23]

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 13,550 Referee: Christophe Berdos

17 October 2009 13:35

Munster	41–10	Benetton Treviso
	Report^[24]

Thomond Park Attendance: 26,043

11 December 2009 20:00

Munster	24–23	Perpignan
	Report^[25]

Thomond Park Attendance: 26,043 Referee: Wayne Barnes

20 December 2009 16:00

Perpignan	14–37	Munster
	Report^[26]

Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 14,282 Referee: Dave Pearson

16 January 2010 14:35

Benetton Treviso	7–44	Munster
	Report^[27]

Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Chris White

22 January 2010 20:00

Munster	12–9	Northampton Saints
	Report^[28]

Thomond Park Attendance: 26,043 Referee: Romain Poite

Quarter-final

10 April 2010 17:30

Munster	33–19	Northampton Saints
	Report^[29]

Thomond Park Attendance: 26,043 Referee: Nigel Owens

Semi-final

2 May 2010 16:15

Biarritz	18–7	Munster
	Report^[30]

Anoeta Stadium Attendance: 30,900 Referee: Dave Pearson

References

1. "Munster youngsters impress". Munster Rugby. 14 August 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
2. "Munster on top again". Munster Rugby. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
3. "Tigers trump Munster with injury-time try at Welford Road". Munster Rugby. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
4. "Munster Falter in Firhill". Munster Rugby. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
5. "Up n Running". Munster Rugby. 13 September 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
6. "Injury Time Win For Munster". Munster Rugby. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
7. "Second Half Sets It Up". Munster Rugby. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
8. "Very Little To Cheer About". Munster Rugby. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
9. "No consolation at all in Murrayfield". Munster Rugby. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
10. "Munster Silence Their Doubters?". Munster Rugby. 31 October 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
11. "Munster Come Up Short at Liberty". Munster Rugby. 5 December 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
12. "O'Gara Pulls The Strings". Munster Rugby. 27 December 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
13. "Mistakes Cost Munster". Munster Rugby. 3 January 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
14. "Munster's Winning Return". Munster Rugby. 19 February 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
15. "Munster Comes Up Way Short in Rodney Parade". Munster Rugby. 6 March 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
16. "Munster Back In The Shake Up". Munster Rugby. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
17. "De Villers Try Clinches It". Munster Rugby. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
18. "Leinster Continue Their Dominance". Munster Rugby. 3 April 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
19. "Old Dogs Lead The Way Down The Hard Road". Munster Rugby. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
20. "Munster Must Look To Others". Munster Rugby. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
21. "Munster's Character Shines Through". Munster Rugby. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
22. "Winner Takes All". Munster Rugby. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
23. "Munster Just Come Up Short". Munster Rugby. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
24. "Bonus Point Victory Takes Munster Top". Munster Rugby. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
25. "O'Gara Paves The Way". Munster Rugby. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
26. "Munster Pass The Acid Test With Full Marks". Munster Rugby. 21 December 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
27. "Munster Complete The Italian Job In Style". Munster Rugby. 17 January 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
28. "The Better Half Makes All The Difference". Munster Rugby. 24 January 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
29. "Munster's Heineken Cup Continues". Munster Rugby. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
30. "Munster Way Below Best". Munster Rugby. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.

External links

• 2009–10 Munster Rugby season official site 27 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine