After Peter O’Mahony left his position unexpectedly in November last year, Tadhg Beirne, the 32-year-old Irish forward, has been announced as the full-time captain of Munster Rugby by Graham Rowntree. The choice wasn’t surprising as Beirne had lead the team most of last season. Despite his international commitments, he succeeded in playing 17 provincial games and 14 matches for Ireland.
Beirne and the rest of the seven members of Munster who went on a tour to South Africa are not due to return to their regular matches until the third URC session against Ospreys in Cork on October 5th; this match will likely be Beirne’s debut as a captain.
In the professional era, Beirne is now part of an exclusive list of eight athletes who have been awarded captaincy of Munster; a list which includes Pat Murray, Mick Galwey, Jim Williams, Anthony Foley, Paul O’Connell, Doug Howlett, and former captain O’Mahony.
In 2018, upon deciding to transfer to Munster from Scarlets, Beirne played his first international match for Ireland against Australia. Subsequently, he debuted for Munster against Glasgow in September the same year. Beirne has made 76 appearances for Munster thus far, scoring eight tries and winning a URC title in 2023. He also boasts 11 tries in 52 games for Ireland and three tries in five matches for the British & Irish Lions.
In reaction to the news of his appointment, Beirne commented, “I consider it a tremendous honour to be declared as Munster Rugby’s captain and to guide this exceptional squad into the upcoming season. The past six years have been incredible, and I am immensely proud. Only a few individuals have been given the chance to captain Munster Rugby, and to follow in the path of such fantastic players and leaders is a significant honour. Leading the team on several occasions before was always facilitated by the presence of so many leaders within the squad.”
“The significance of captaining this tightly-bonded team into the forthcoming season is not lost on me.” Munster’s chief coach, Rowntree, affirmed, “Tadhg’s performance on the field is top-notch, making him ideally suited to guide Munster through the upcoming matches. Since his arrival in 2018, he has evolved into a central figure for the team, commanding esteem through his superior skill.” Rowntree further emphasised Tadhg’s towering presence both on and off the field, highlighting his ability to maintain high-standard performances even under the responsibility of being a captain. Tadhg, he stressed, is someone who raises the bar for the whole team’s performance, proving his leadership mettle in critical matches of the previous season.