'It’s complicated, that scenario was complicated' Graham Rowntree

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree is never one to mince his words.

The former England prop has done a sterling job since taking over the Irish province leading them to a BKT United Rugby Championship title in the 2022/23 season.

Whilst league success has been consistently good since he joined the set-up, Munster have struggled majorly in Champions Cup slumping to back-to-back last-16 losses.

Central to these loses has been an absence of front line players through injury with last season reaching near historic levels for the province.

Chief amongst the players Munster will be relying on this season is former captain Peter O’Mahony.

Leading the province for a decade, the backrow is the epitome of a Munster Rugby player with his snarky, never back down attitude often dragging his teammates to success.

Stepping down as captain last season, for the first time since making his debut in 2010, O’Mahony’s role with the province was uncertain.

Part of this uncertainty was a rumoured rift with Rowntree which the head coach addressed when speaking to the media yesterday.

“By the way, on that, we didn’t fall out,” Rowntree said.

“I didn’t raise my voice once. I raise my voice a lot in various contexts, but I’ve never raised my voice in any contract negotiations.

“It just took a long time.

“It’s complicated, that scenario was complicated, but we got to a greater agreement,” he explained.

Now settled and with O’Mahony locked in for the season, Rowntree had the monumental of naming just the ninth Munster captain of the professional era.

Taking the dive, the Munster boss unveiled that world class lock Tadhg Beirne who led the province on occasion last season would take on the role permanently from this season.

“He did a great job last year, he managed us through most of the season as captain.

“He is world-class. If he’s fit, I’ll be picking him. That’s a big one for a captain, I think, he’s got to be up there with one of your best players. He’s got an aura about him the way plays the game.

“He’s good for the group, he’s a giver as well. He likes pulling along the group standard-wise. He’s easy-going, a laid-back dude as well; he does it his own way.”

Munster will begin their BKT United Rugby Championship campaign this Saturday against Irish rivals Connacht Rugby.