With the new BKT United Rugby Championship just over a week away, it's time to remind ourselves how the four provinces fared in 2024/25, and what lies ahead for the coming year.
We'll be giving the lay of the land for Connacht and Ulster on Sunday, but for now, here's everything you need to know about Leinster and Munster, ahead of the 2025/26 season.
LEINSTER
Last season: Leinster ended their four-year wait for silverware by winning the URC title in June with an emphatic 32-7 win against the Bulls in the decider at Croke Park.
In total, the province won 25 out of 28 games, but as usual their season was defined by the games they didn't win – specifically the Champions Cup semi-final, where they were stunned by the Northampton Saints.
Leo Cullen was honest this week in saying complacency may have been a factor in that defeat, and if he's willing to say that publicly, one would imagine those hard conversations have been had between the four walls at Leinster HQ.
What’s new? Leinster’s only summer signing doesn’t arrive until December, with All Black Rieko Ioane (above) due to join the squad after the Autumn Nations Series on his half-season sabbatical in the northern hemisphere.
The rest of the squad additions are promotions from the academy, with Fintan Gunne, Gus McCarthy, Andrew Osborne and Diarmuid Mangan among eight players moving to senior terms.
Ten players departed the province in the off-season: Jordie Barrett returned to New Zealand, Cian Healy retired, while Ross Byrne was the other high-profile departure, with the out-half moving to Gloucester.
Lee Barron and Michael Milne completed their permanent switches to Munster, while Ben Brownlee, Rory McGuire, Aitzol King, Liam Turner and Rob Russell also moved on.
First three fixtures: Stormers (A), Bulls (A), Sharks (H)
One to Watch: With Cian Healy retired, Andrew Porter and Jack Boyle will be Leinster’s one-two combo at loosehead on the big days, but it does open the door for a prop to make a name for themselves.
The fact that Alex Usanov has been promoted to the senior squad after just one year in the academy, and without making a senior appearance for the team, shows there is a lot of faith in his future.
He was a traveling reserve on multiple occasions last season, a further sign that Leo Cullen is prepared to throw him in at the deep end, and he has already played for Emerging Ireland on their tour of South Africa this time last year.
Usanov (below) only turned 20 in July, and may only pick up a handful of appearances this season, but it will be interesting to keep an eye on his battle with Paddy McCarthy on the depth chart.
MUNSTER
Last season: A tumultuous season saw head coach Graham Rowntree depart by the end of the October, with head of rugby operations Ian Costello taking charge until the end of 2024/25.
On paper, a sixth-place finish in the URC table and a Champions Cup quarter-final looks reasonable given the coaching change, but the season was a constant rollercoaster.
A shock defeat to Zebre in Parma set the tone, and they never got a consistent run of form through the season, something that wasn’t helped by only having access to Alex Codling on a part-time basis while he continued to work with the Ireland women’s team.
A Champions Cup round of 16 win in La Rochelle was the high point, while they beat Connacht and Ulster home and away, but defeats at home to Edinburgh and the Bulls left them scrambling in the final two rounds, where they needed bonus-point wins against Ulster and Benetton to make sure of Champions Cup qualification.
Their season ended in incredible drama, when they were beaten by the Sharks in a place-kicking competition after a nail-biting 24-24 draw in Durban in their URC quarter-final.
What’s new? Plenty! For a start, Clayton McMillan (above) is the new man in charge.
The New Zealander arrives on a three-deal from the Chiefs, whom he led to three Super Rugby final appearances in the last three seasons. Alex Codling will also start working full-time as forwards coach, while Mike Prendergast, Denis Leamy and Mossy Lawler remain in situ.
McMillan’s arrival signals a new era at the province, particularly when you consider the loss of experience in the playing group.
Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne have all retired. Between them, they have a combined 928 Munster appearances and 297 Test caps.
Additionally, Rory Scannell has moved on – another 200 Munster appearances out of the building – while Liam Coombes, Jack Daly, Jack Oliver, Patrick Campbell, Scott Buckley, Billy Burns and Cian Hurly have also been let go.
Technically, there are five new signings, although in reality there is just one new face.
Michael Milne and Lee Barron spent the final third of the season on loan from Leinster, but begin their first official season at the province now.
Likewise Andrew Smith, the former Ireland Sevens international who was deemed surplus to requirements at Connacht.
JJ Hanrahan (above) is back at Munster for his third spell and will provide an experienced option at out-half when Jack Crowley is unavailable.
The province have also upskilled their midfield, with former Ireland Under-20 centre Dan Kelly joining from Leicester Tigers. The 24-year-old, who won a cap for England in 2021, is officially Irish-qualified again.
Loosehead Kieran Ryan, second row Evan O’Connell, back row Ruadhán Quinn and centre Fionn Gibbons have all been promoted to the senior squad.
First three fixtures: Scarlets (A), Cardiff (H), Edinburgh (H)
One to watch: Ruadhán Quinn was the youngest man ever to play a competitive game for the province in the professional era when he made his debut at the age of 18 in October 2022, and three years on he looks primed to kick on.
Having played seven times in his first two seasons, he made 11 appearances in 2024/25, and has now moved up to his first senior contract for this season.
Munster have plenty of depth in the back row, but Quinn’s versatility across the back of the scrum will make him a useful tool, and the 6ft 3in forward looks to have bulked up in the off-season.
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