Rugby

Munster to face All-Blacks XV at Thomond Park in November

The province have hosted a number of high-profile friendlies since renovating their iconic ground

Munster’s Calvin Nash, with ball, will make his first Test start
Calvin Nash's Munster will play an All-Blacks select XV in November. (David Davies/PA)
By Liam Grimley

MUNSTER will face down an All-Blacks XV at Thomond Park in November.

Since the redevelopment of Thomond Park in 2008, Munster Rugby have hosted international opposition in the form of the All Blacks, Australia and the Māori All Blacks at the Limerick venue.

The southern province will continue its reputation for high-profile friendlies, having faced South Africa XV in November of 2022, in which they beat the Springboks Select 28-14.

They also won in a clash with Crusaders of the New Zealand Super Rugby competition 21-19 in Cork’s Páirc Ui Chaoimh.

The Red Army has played the All Blacks, the national team of New Zealand, 8 times since 1905.

In 1978, they became the first Irish team, including the Irish national team, to win a match in the history of competition between the countries.

They remained the only Irish team to beat the All Blacks until the Irish national team defeated New Zealand in November 2016.

Famously, Munster hosted the Māori All Blacks in a capped friendly in Thomond Park on November 11, 2016.

Before kick-off, the Māori All Blacks captain, Ash Dixon, led a tribute to Munster’s late head coach Anthony Foley by placing an All Blacks jersey with Foley’s initials on the halfway line, before performing the haka and presenting the jersey to Foley’s two sons.

In that fixture, Munster came away 28-14 winners, with tries from Niall Scannell, Dan Sweetnam and Ronan O’Mahony, with the province also getting a penalty try. fiv

Tributes to Munster Rugby Coach Anthony Foley at Thomond Park in Limerick. 
Anthony Foley

The Munster - All Blacks fixture is one that is steeped in history and has impacted the rivalry between New Zealand and Ireland, so much so that in Ireland’s famous win against New Zealand in Chicago in 2016, the Irish side faced the haka in a figure of eight formation in honour of Anthony Foley.

Many a fan saw that and felt that that gesture helped the boys in green to the famous victory in the American Midwest.

Ireland face the Haka in Chicago in a shape of eight in memory of Munster's Anthony Foley
Ireland face the Haka in Chicago in a shape of eight in memory of Munster's Anthony Foley

Munster Rugby chief Ian Flanagan said: “We will be delighted to welcome the All Blacks XV to Thomond Park in November as part of their Northern Hemisphere tour.

“We have a long and rich history of hosting international sides and I’m sure November’s match will add another exciting chapter to this tradition.”

Fans will be hoping to avenge their last meeting between an All Blacks side, when they