I’m excited to announce that Munster will be playing an exhibition game in Hartford, Connecticut on August 23rd. Check out http://www.usarugby.org/default.asp for more details about tickets. I would certainly urge any would be fans out there to get hold of tickets, as they are going quickly. You never know, you may even see me there!
Another reason for my excitement is beacuse our Irish publishing friends, Gill & MacMillan, are releasing a book in August, called Munster: Champions of Europe.
It is sure to be a fantastic read, as it follows a story that itself is so fantastic, it could easily be mistaken to have come from fiction!
Munster Rugby Team were up against truly monumental odds to win the Heineken Cup, and played against some of the most grueling of competitors. This really is a story of triumph and glory, and I don’t mind admitting to being a bit biased as I’m from Munster!!
It began with the toughest draw that a team could ask for. They were up against the defending Heineken Cup and English champions, London Wasps, the side that had beaten them in the quarter finals in 2007, Welsh team Llanelli Scarlets, and certainly not least, the new powerhouse of French rugby ASM Clermont Auverge.
Back to back wins in Stradey Park and crucial losing points in Coventry and Montferrand saw them emerge Pool winners only to face the prospect of away games in both the quarter-final and semi-final. They became the only team in the history of the Heineken Cup to win quarters and semis away from home, defeating Gloucester and Saracens.
And finally, there was the never to be forgotten 24th May at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, when they defeated Toulouse, the most successful team in the history of the tournament, to become champions of Europe for the second time in three years.
It has been a fantastic year for Munster, and I think that credit is more than due for their tremendous efforts. Lets hope that I’ll be able to catch a bit of the excitement in Hartford this August!
Best,
Liam
