The Munster Rugby Thread 24/25

[How bad boy]

Bit of chat that there's concerns with Jager's continuous head knocks, probably leads into the NIQ tight head being sanctioned by The Humph.

On a related note Salanoa has been training with the Irish squad for scrumaging work along with his own S&C programme.
He looked in great shape in his AIL cameos so he's obviously stepped up a level.

Jager has had a few bad ones alright. Got the auld AI to have a look at his history:

Incidents Since Joining Munster:
Since his move to the Irish province, Jager has had at least three confirmed instances of head injuries:

• November 2025: Jager was listed as following return-to-play protocols after a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) during a match against Argentina XV[1].
• May 2025: He was unavailable for Munster's URC clash against Benetton due to a head injury[2][3].
• January 1, 2024: In a match against Connacht, Jager suffered a concussion from what was described as a "strange looking tackle" and was stretchered from the field[4]. Following this, he entered the graduated return-to-play protocols[5].

Additionally, in February 2025, during an Ireland A fixture, Jager was forced to leave the match due to injury. While several other players in that game sustained head injuries, it is not explicitly confirmed if Jager's was also a concussion[6].

Most Serious Incident with the Crusaders:

The most severe publicly documented concussion of Jager's career occurred in August 2020 while he was playing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Aotearoa. In a match against the Highlanders, Jager was knocked unconscious by a reckless, off-the-ball tackle and had to be carried from the field[7]. The incident, which resulted in a yellow card for the opposing player, was significant enough that his coach, Scott Robertson, commented on its severity, noting that Jager was "knocked out"[7].

It is also worth noting that towards the end of the 2022 season with Canterbury, Jager sustained a neck injury that ultimately required surgery[8][9]. While not a concussion, a significant neck injury can be a related concern for front-row forwards.

3-4 in a year justifies a longer break from play.

Salanoa has to basically show the potential now or I suspect he's out.


In happier news, according to Munster, they've already sold 30k tickets for PuC for the Gloucester match. Which is great.

 

[How bad boy]

https://bsky.app/profile/threeredkings.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3m5fzcbcmh227

This did make me laugh yesterday, I was listening to a bit of their podcast and heard that, thought it was insane.


Here's the bit:

Sure, the fact that they appear to be randomly chucking the ball when maybe someone might jump or, fuck it, the basic error of the dummy throw, is down to Crowley's calling the next phase of play...

 

[nelly sham]

They must have very long arms because that's one hell of a reach

 

[MerchantOfEnnis]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1988527182298153085

 

[How bad boy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1988527182298153085

Makes sense. He's probably quite expensive and Munster are using up one of their NIQ spots where you have lots of pretty good players like Beirne, Ahern, Wycherley, O'Connell, Edogbo. Coombes and Gleeson can play there too. Both Conor Kennelly and Luke Murphy were in the Ireland under 20s team over the summer (although neither seem to be in the team for the SA match), so there's some good players coming through.
If there's one position that Munster hasn't had a problem developing players for, it's second row*.

That NIQ spot would be better used on the front row, Munster could really use a world class hooker. Prop would be nice too.

*Actually its flanker, but the point mostly stands .

 

[nelly sham]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1988527182298153085

Would be a shame but he also deserves a couple of years with a decent wedge of cash.
His style of play may catch up to him so he's got to secure the move and the money when he can.

He's been an incredible player for Ireland and remained loyal to Munster when many others would have told the IRFU to get fucked and walked away after the abhorrent treatment he got from the media back when he made the 2019 WC squad.

 

[nelly sham]

Aabrahms is being looked at also by French clubs.
He didn't go too well over there first time around and hopefully the Munster Branch see the value in what actual real pace can bring to the team and keep him around.

 

[How bad boy]

Aabrahms is being looked at also by French clubs.
He didn't go too well over there first time around and hopefully the Munster Branch see the value in what actual real pace can bring to the team and keep him around.

Yeah, having actual pace in the backline for a change is something that's hard to replicate.

 

[jeepers]

Yeah, having actual pace in the backline for a change is something that's hard to replicate.

It gives you so much more. He can change pace very quickly as well, which really fixes defenders.

 

[How bad boy]

Munster set to sign ex-Leinster tighthead Michael Alaalatoa

The IRFU are understood to have given approval for the NIQ signing.

www.the42.ie

Looks like Michael Alaalatoa might be on the way back, to plug a gap for Munster with Jager's head injuries, Salanoa not yet fit enough for pro rugby, Ryan being 37, Bartley inexperienced and injured, Foxe and Kieran Ryan being academy players...