Munster kicked off the 2025/26 season with a deserved 21-34 bonus-point win over the Scarlets in Wales.

A dominant first half saw Munster lead 0-13 at the break after a try from Craig Casey and eight points from the boot of JJ Hanrahan.

Clayton McMillan’s side pushed on in the second half as they scored three more tries through Mike Haley, Dan Kelly and Tom Ahern to secure the bonus-point win.

Munster now face Cardiff in Thomond Park next Saturday, get your tickets here. 

Both teams looked to apply pressure with their kicking game in the opening 10 minutes before Munster won a penalty which they kicked to the corner.

JJ Hanrahan got it to within five metres where the Munster maul rumbled towards the line before captain Craig Casey took the ball off the back of the maul to side step his way past a Scarlets player to score the first try of the game. Hanrahan knocked over the conversion to give Munster an early 0-7 lead.

A quick tap from Casey got Munster on the front foot when Munster were awarded a penalty in their own half. Good play from Thaakir Abrahams and Casey again brought play deep into the 22 where Munster looked certain to score but unfortunately Fineen Wycherley was penalised for rolling on the ground when he was tackled just short of the line which allowed the Scarlets to relieve the pressure.

Munster continued to dominate with a brilliant rip from Niall Scannell keeping the possession and territory in Munster’s favour.

Munster were searching for that second try which their dominance warranted and Abrahams almost got over in the corner with an acrobatic effort but he was pushed into touch after a superb pass from Mike Haley.

Munster did stretch their lead after 22 minutes on the clock when Scarlets went off their feet at the ruck which allowed Hanrahan to kick three points.

The Welsh side almost hit back a few moments later when they generated a 2v1 but a covering tackle from Dan Kelly saw Ellis Mee spill the ball in contact.

A barnstorming run from Brian Gleeson saw him bounce a number of tacklers as he ran from his own 22 off the base of a scrum deep into Scarlets territory. With front foot ball, Hanrahan produced a crossfield kick to Shane Daly who collected and tried to offload to Haley but Scarlets got a hand to it to spoil the effort.

However, Hanrahan added another three points approaching the half-hour mark to stretch Munster’s lead to 0-13.

Scarlets looked to have notched their first try of the game after the restart when Josh Macleod broke through the Munster defence but a brilliant covering tackle from Jack O’Donoghue just as Macleod attempted a certain try-giving pass saw the ball go forward and Munster were able to relieve the pressure.

Munster then produced a big defensive set to keep the Scarlets out and the visitors finished off the first half positively when Daly made another huge break but unfortunately for Clayton McMillan’s side, Scarlets won a breakdown turnover after the Cork man was brought to ground.

Munster got off to a great start at the beginning of the second half when Mike Haley crossed for Munster’s second try. Jack Crowley, who replaced JJ Hanrahan at the break, produced a lovely skip pass to Abrahams before collecting the ball again as the South African flyer went up the wing. Crowley then offloaded to Haley who touched down next to the posts. The Innishannon notched the conversion to give Munster a 0-20 lead.

Scarlets hit back with their first try of the game when Sam Costelow went through a gap between Wycherley and O’Donoghue before he offloaded to Blair Williams who fended off Abrahams to score next to the posts. Costelow converted.

With the game approaching the final 20 minutes, Munster got their third try. Off a scrum, Munster went down the short side where Abrahams was on the receiving end of a high-tackle. With the advantage, Munster spread the ball into midfield where Alex Nankivell accelerated through a gap before a producing a delightful no-look offload to Dan Kelly with Munster’s new signing scoring his first try for the club on his competitive debut. Crowley added the extras to put 20 points between the sides once again.

However, that 20 point lead was cut back to 13 again when the bounce of the ball spinned away from Haley and Mee gathered to score which Costelow converted.

The see-saw nature of the second half continued when Tom Ahern, who replaced Jean Kleyn in the second half, powered over for Munster’s fourth try which secured the bonus-point. The try came after a number of excellent carries from a number of Munster players with excellent clear-outs giving the visitors clean ball. Crowley notched the conversion to give Munster a 14-34 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

Scarlets did get another try back through Taine Plumtree which Joe Hawkins converted but Munster held out to get their season off to a perfect start.

BKT URC Round 1 Roundup

Alex Nankivell was awarded the BKT Player of the Match.

Niall Scannell earned his 200th cap for Munster.

Craig Casey captained Munster for the first time.

Dan Kelly scored on his competitive debut.

Conor Bartley made his first appearance for Munster.

Tickets

Saturday, October 4

URC Round 2: Munster Rugby v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.45pm; Buy tickets here

Friday, October 10

URC Round 3: Munster Rugby v Edinburgh, Virgin Media Park, 7.45pm; Buy tickets

Saturday, October 25

URC Round 5: Munster Rugby v Connacht, Thomond Park, 7.45pm; Buy tickets here

Saturday, November 1

Munster Rugby v Argentina XV, Thomond Park, 5pm; Buy tickets here

Saturday, November 29

URC Round 6: Munster Rugby v DHL Stormers, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here

Saturday, December 13

Champions Cup Round 2: Munster Rugby v Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here

Munster: Mike Haley: Shane Daly, Dan Kelly (O’Brien 69′), Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan ( Crowley 40′), Craig Casey (C) (Patterson 71′); Jeremy Loughman (J Wycherley 49′), Niall Scannell (L Barron 37′), Oli Jager (Bartley 62′); Jean Kleyn (Ahern 49′), Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Brian Gleeson (Coombes 57′).

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Seán O’Brien.