Thomond still no-go if Reds make semis
MUNSTER will be forced out of Thomond Park once again if they progress to the Champions Cup semi-finals.
The Reds’ quarter-final clash against Toulouse will take place in Dublin on Saturday May 7 due to an Ed Sheeran concert, but they will not be returning home to Limerick should they progress to the last four.
For this season only, it has been agreed that the semi-finals will be played at the chosen venues of the highest-ranked clubs who reach the last four.
Previously, the higher ranking team had home country advantage in the semi-final stage of the Champions Cup.
A total of five venues in France, England and Ireland are in line to stage a semi-final match on the weekend of May 14/15.
However, Munster will not be able to avail of Thomond Park should they qualify, a statement from the province confirmed on Wednesday.
‘A total of five venues in France, England and Ireland are in line to stage a semi-final match on the weekend of 14/15 May depending on the results of the quarterfinals,’ it said.
‘If Munster win their quarterfinal against Toulouse on Saturday, 7 May at 3pm, they will play either Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road or Leinster Rugby at the Aviva Stadium.
‘Thomond Park will be unavailable on the weekend of 14/15 May and no viable alternative venue is available within the province.’
If Toulouse qualify, they will play either Leicester at Mattioli Woods Welford Road or Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.
Meanwhile, Ulster prop Tom O’Toole has been handed a threeweek suspension after being sent off against Toulouse in the Champions Cup earlier this month.
O’Toole was shown a red card in the 65th minute of the round 16 second-leg loss in Ravenhill after a collision with Anthony Jelonch.
Elsewhere, Former England hooker Tom Youngs has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect.
The 35-year-old has called time on his career after making 215 appearances for Leicester, as well as earning 28 Test caps for England and three for the Lions.
‘I am so grateful to all of the teammates that have helped me along the way, coaches who have taught me so much and fans who have been there for me, cheering us on,’ Youngs said in a statement on Leicester’s website.
‘I had always planned around this season being my last and I am comfortable with the timing of it now. I have no regrets and, looking back, am proud of what I have achieved at the only club I ever wanted to play for.’
A Premiership title winner in the 2012-13 season, Youngs captained the Tigers on 98 occasions. Only former England skipper Martin Johnson has performed the role more times.
Youngs is the son of former Leicester scrum-half Nick Youngs and spent his career playing alongside his brother Ben at club and international level. Youngs received his first England cap in a win over Fiji in November 2012 and made his Six Nations debut in 2013 before being selected by the Lions for that summer’s series in Australia.
After appearing for Leicester in the club’s 2021-22 pre-season, he took indefinite leave to care for his wife Tiffany, who is battling an illness, and has not featured during the current campaign.
“Thomond is unavailable on May 14-15”