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Munster season over after Bulls rampage

30 May 2026; Mike Haley of Munster is held up by Harold Vorster, Cameron Hanekom and Ruan Vermaak of Vodacom Bulls during the United Rugby Championship quarter-final match between Vodacom Bulls and Munster at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Afr
Mike Haley gets tackled by three Bulls

Munster's season came to an end after a 45-14 BKT URC quarter-final defeat to Bulls in Pretoria.

The hosts ran in six tries as they progressed to a semi-final meeting with Glasgow Warriors, who beat Connacht last night.

The South African side flew out of the traps and scored two tries in the first eight minutes when Embrose Papier crossed under the posts following a neat attack off a scrum penalty advantage before Kurt-Lee Arendse went over to help them into a 14-0 lead.

Handre Pollard slotted a penalty to further extend the Bulls' lead but Munster responded with a couple of tries of their own through Jack O’Donoghue and Alex Nankivell to narrow the deficit to three points.

30 May 2026; Brian Gleeson of Munster during the United Rugby Championship quarter-final match between Vodacom Bulls and Munster at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile
Brian Gleeson makes a run for Munster

Munster’s hard work was undone at the end of the half as the Bulls restored their 17-point lead with two tries before the interval, Johan Grobbelaar striking from close range before Cameron Hanekom scored on the stroke of half-time.

Bulls were threatening to run away it and got their first try of the second half in the 54th minute when Papier claimed his second of the afternoon and the hosts’ fifth.

Stravino Jacobs went over in the corner to round off the scoring with the Bulls’ sixth try of the afternoon to ensure they go through to face Glasgow at Murrayfield in the last-four clash.

Leinster are the last Irish province remaining in the competition. Leo Cullen's men host the Lions at 8pm.

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