Munster have announced the departure of head coach Graham Rowntree by mutual agreement. The former England prop leaves after three consecutive defeats in the United Rugby Championship. Rowntree was named head coach in 2022 after joining the Irish province three years earlier as forwards coach.
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Former France international front row Rabah Slimani has signed for Leinster. The 34-year-old prop won the last of 57 caps for France in 2019, having made his debut for Les Bleus off the bench against New Zealand in 2013. Slimani has played almost 300 games in the Top 14 with Stade Francais and most recently Clermont Auvergne.
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Leinster were unable to shed their losing habit in Investec Champions Cup finals after they were edged 31-22 by Toulouse with only extra time separating the rivals at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The two most successful teams in the competition’s history went toe to toe in a thunderous collision with the boot of Thomas Ramos proving decisive for the French side.
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Thomas Ramos kicked the winning penalty from the halfway line as France edged England in a seven-try thriller to finish second in the 2024 Six Nations. After Ireland’s title win in Dublin, the hosts led 16-3 in Lyon before Ollie Lawrence scored either side of the break to hand England the advantage. Marcus Smith stretched their lead but Leo Barre and Gael Fickou hit back.
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For the second year in a row Ireland have been crowned Guinness Six Nations champions on home soil, and for the second year in a row they survived a few scares along the way to seal it. Andy Farrell’s side completed back-to-back championships with a 17-13 defeat of Scotland on the final day of the campaign, overpowering the visitors in the final quarter after what had been an error-strewn first hour.
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