History of rugby union matches between Leinster and Munster explained

Leinster versus Munster is, according to some Irish commentators, one of the biggest provincial rivalries in world rugby,[1] which dates back to 1879, the year of founding of the provincial sides. Games between the two have occurred on an annual basis since the inception of the Irish inter-provincial championship in 1946. Since the beginning of the inter-provincials in 1946, Leinster hold a 62–45 advantage in overall wins, with five draws. Additionally, since the inception of the Celtic League in the 2001–02 season, Leinster hold a 35–18 advantage in overall wins, with one draw in that time.

The fierce rivalry has grown since the turn of professionalism as both teams battled for domestic and European dominance, and has sometimes become a heated and bitter affair, on and off the pitch.[2] The rivalry is heightened by the fact that Leinster and Munster have been among the stronger provinces in Irish rugby, and among the strongest teams in European competition.[3]

The birth of the modern era rivalry could be attributed to the Heineken Cup semi-final in 2006, when Munster defeated Leinster 30–6 in Lansdowne Road en route to winning their first European Championship. Munster then went on to enjoy a period of success by again winning the European trophy in 2008. A shift in fortunes occurred in 2009 however, when Leinster defeated Munster 25–6 at the same stage of the competition in front of 82,208 spectators at Croke Park, which was a world record attendance for a club game;[4] [5] Leinster went on in 2009 to claim the first of four European titles to Munster's two. The matches between the two teams regularly sells out their stadiums.[6]

In addition to European competition, the two sides regularly face each other in the United Rugby Championship. Leinster and Munster have consistently been among the strongest teams in that tournament, with Leinster reaching twelve finals winning seven, and Munster reaching seven finals winning three. They have finished top two in the Pro14 championship three times — with Leinster defeating Munster 24–20 in 2002,[7] Munster winning 19–9 in the 2011 final and Leinster defeating Munster 16–6 in the 2021 final.[8] [9]

Summary of games since 1946

DetailsPlayedWon by LeinsterWon by MunsterDrawn
Leinster Home5938201
Munster Home5324254
Overall11262455

Statistics

Biggest win

Leinster: 32–0 (1958–59)

Munster: 30–6 (2005–06)

Highest scoring match

Leinster 40–45 Munster (85 points, 1996–97)

Lowest scoring match

Munster 0–0 Leinster (0 points, 1953–54)

Most consecutive wins

Leinster: 6 (2018–19 – 2020–21)

Munster: 3 (1989–90 – 1991–92, 1996–97 – 1998–99, 2004–05 – 2005–06)

Highest attendance

82,208 (Heineken Cup semi-final, Croke Park, May 2009)

Results

Season Home Away Winner Note(s)
1946/47 Leinster 15 Munster 11 Leinster (1)
1947/48 Munster 14 Leinster 11 Munster (1)
1948/49 Leinster 6 Munster 0 Leinster (2)
1949/50 Munster 3 Leinster 3 Draw (1)
1950/51 Leinster 8 Munster 6 Leinster (3)
1951/52 Munster 9 Leinster 12 Leinster (4)
1952/53 Leinster 0 Munster 3 Munster (2)
1953/54 Munster 0 Leinster 0 Draw (2)Lowest scoring game in history of fixture
1954/55 Leinster 8 Munster 9 Munster (3)
1955/56 Munster 9 Leinster 12 Leinster (5)
1956/57 Leinster 19 Munster 9Leinster (6)
1957/58 Munster 19 Leinster 12 Munster (4)
1958/59 Leinster 32 Munster 0 Leinster (7)Largest winning margin in history of fixture
1959/60 Munster 18 Leinster 14 Munster (5)
1960/61 Leinster 14 Munster 9Leinster (8)
1961/62 Munster 3 Leinster 6 Leinster (9)
1962/63 Leinster 6 Munster 14 Munster (6)
1963/64 Munster 6 Leinster 10 Leinster (10)
1964/65 Leinster 14 Munster 3 Leinster (11)
1965/66 Munster 6 Leinster 3 Munster (7)
1966/67 Leinster 5 Munster 9 Munster (8)
1967/68 Munster 5 Leinster 8 Leinster (12)
1968/69 Leinster 8 Munster 12 Munster (9)
1969/70 Munster 6 Leinster 12 Leinster (13)
1970/71 Leinster 10 Munster 0 Leinster (14)
1971/72 Munster 0 Leinster 9 Leinster (15)
1972/73 Leinster 9 Munster 17 Munster (10)
1973/74 Munster 13 Leinster 3 Munster (11)
1974/75 Leinster 9 Munster 6 Leinster (16)
1975/76 Munster 9 Leinster 0 Munster (12)
1976/77 Leinster 12 Munster 6 Leinster (17)
1977/78 Munster 15 Leinster 10 Munster (13)
1978/79 Leinster 3 Munster 12 Munster (14)
1979/80 Munster 3 Leinster 4 Leinster (18)
1980/81 Leinster 18 Munster 9 Leinster (19)
1981/82 Munster 15 Leinster 15 Draw (3)
1982/83 Leinster 6 Munster 9 Munster (15)
1983/84 Munster 13 Leinster 22 Leinster (20)
1984/85 Leinster 15 Munster 9 Leinster (21)
1985/86 Munster 6 Leinster 15 Leinster (22)
1986/87 Leinster 15 Munster 3 Leinster (23)
1987/88 Munster 10 Leinster 3 Munster (16)
1988/89 Leinster 23 Munster 12 Leinster (24)
1989/90 Munster 10 Leinster 3 Munster (17)
1990/91 Leinster 12 Munster 27 Munster (18)
1991/92 Munster 20 Leinster 3 Munster (19)
1992/93 Leinster 21 Munster 20 Leinster (25)
1993/94 Munster 21 Leinster 19 Munster (20)
1994/95 Leinster 14 Munster 36 Munster (21)
1995/96 Munster 15 Leinster 19 Leinster (26)
1996/97 Leinster 40 Munster 45 Munster (22)Highest scoring match in history of fixture
1997/98 Munster 15 Leinster 12 Munster (23)
1998/99 Leinster 10 Munster 25 Munster (24)
1998/99 Munster 18 Leinster 24 Leinster (27)
1999/00 Leinster 13 Munster 30 Munster (25)
1999/00 Munster 31 Leinster 20 Munster (26)
2000/01 Leinster 16 Munster 16 Draw (4)
2000/01 Munster 26 Leinster 20 Munster (27)
2001/02 Leinster 24 Munster 20 Leinster (28)League Final
2001/02 Munster 6 Leinster 6 Draw (5)
2002/03 N/A N/A N/A No Fixture
2003/04 Leinster 8 Munster 15 Munster (28)
2003/04 Munster 24 Leinster 13 Munster (29)
2004/05 Leinster 17 Munster 15 Leinster (29)
2004/05 Munster 19 Leinster 13 Munster (30)
2004/05 Leinster 17 Munster 23 Munster (31)Celtic Cup Semi-Final
2005/06 Munster 33 Leinster 9 Munster (32)
2005/06 Leinster 35 Munster 23 Leinster (30)
2005/06 Leinster 6 Munster 30 Munster (33)European Cup Semi-Final
2006/07 Leinster 27 Munster 20 Leinster (31)
2006/07 Munster 25 Leinster 11 Munster (34)
2007/08 Munster 3 Leinster 10 Leinster (32)
2007/08 Leinster 21 Munster 12 Leinster (33)
2008/09 Leinster 0 Munster 18 Munster (35)
2008/09 Munster 22 Leinster 5 Munster (36)
2008/09 Munster 6 Leinster 25 Leinster (34)European Cup Semi-Final
2009/10 Leinster 30 Munster 0 Leinster (35)Largest winning margin in professional era
2009/10 Munster 15 Leinster 16 Leinster (36)
2009/10 Leinster 16 Munster 6 Leinster (37)League Semi-Final
2010/11 Leinster 13 Munster 9 Leinster (38)
2010/11 Munster 24 Leinster 23 Munster (37)
2010/11 Munster 19 Leinster 9 Munster (38)League Final
2011/12 Leinster 24 Munster 19 Leinster (39)
2011/12 Munster 9 Leinster 18 Leinster (40)
2012/13 Leinster 30 Munster 21 Leinster (41)
2012/13 Munster 16 Leinster 22 Leinster (42)
2013/14 Munster 19 Leinster 15 Munster (39)
2013/14 Leinster 22 Munster 18 Leinster (43)
2014/15 Leinster 23 Munster 34 Munster (40)
2014/15 Munster 28 Leinster 13 Munster (41)
2015/16 Munster 7 Leinster 24 Leinster (44)
2015/16 Leinster 16 Munster 13 Leinster (45)
2016/17 Leinster 25 Munster 14 Leinster (46)
2016/17 Munster 29 Leinster 17 Munster (42)
2017/18 Leinster 23 Munster 17 Leinster (47)
2017/18 Munster 24 Leinster 34 Leinster (48)
2017/18 Leinster 16 Munster 15 Leinster (49)League Semi-Final
2018/19 Leinster 30 Munster 22 Leinster (50)
2018/19 Munster 26 Leinster 17 Munster (43)
2018/19 Leinster 24 Munster 9 Leinster (51)League Semi-Final
2019/20 Munster 6 Leinster 13 Leinster (52)
2019/20 Leinster 27 Munster 25 Leinster (53)
2019/20 Leinster 13 Munster 3 Leinster (54)League Semi-Final
2020/21 Munster 10 Leinster 13 Leinster (55)
2020/21 Leinster 16 Munster 6 Leinster (56)League Final
Most consecutive wins in history of fixture
2020/21 Leinster 3 Munster 27 Munster (44)Rainbow Cup fixture
2021/22 Munster 19 Leinster 34 Leinster (57)[10]
2021/22 Leinster 35 Munster 25 Leinster (58)[11]
2022/23 Leinster 27 Munster 13 Leinster (59)[12]
2022/23 Munster 19 Leinster 20 Leinster (60)[13]
2022/23 Leinster 15 Munster 16 Munster (45)League Semi-final fixture[14]
2023/24 Leinster 21 Munster 16Leinster (61)[15]
2023/24 Munster 3 Leinster 9 Leinster (62)[16]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Leinster-Munster rivalry is vital to Irish rugby in general and two clubs in particular. .
  2. http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/champions-cup/myopic-munster-fans-a-blight-on-old-rivalry-26529558.html "Myopic Munster fans a blight on old rivalry"
  3. https://www.pledgesports.org/2020/05/great-rugby-rivalries/ "Great rugby rivalries"
  4. https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro14/leinster-the-biggest-losers-as-empty-stadiums-mean-a-huge-financial-hit-1.4345966 "Leinster the biggest losers as empty stadiums mean a huge financial hit"
  5. Web site: RaboDirectPRO12 : News : Leinster's O'Kelly relives his greatest day in rugby. www.pro12rugby.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20141221202804/http://www.pro12rugby.com/news/4179.php . 2014-12-21.
  6. https://www.pledgesports.org/2020/05/great-rugby-rivalries/ "Great rugby rivalries"
  7. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/dec/17/rugbyunion.leinster "Leinster kings of the Celts"
  8. Web site: Munster win Magners League final to lay ghost of Leinster double. 30 May 2011. Guardian. 30 May 2011.
  9. Web site: Munster 19-9 Leinster. 30 May 2011. BBC Sport . 30 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110529112709/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/13565913.stm. 29 May 2011 . live.
  10. Web site: Ringrose turns on the class to help Leinster secure bonus point win over Munster . the42 . 2 April 2022 . 3 April 2022.
  11. Web site: Munster set for away URC quarter-final as Leinster prove too strong at the Aviva . the42 . 21 May 2022 . 21 May 2022.
  12. Web site: Leinster knuckle down in the second half to see off Munster's brave challenge at the Aviva . Irish Times . 22 October 2022.
  13. Web site: Second half surge sees Leinster edge Munster in thriller at Thomond . the42 . 26 December 2022 . 26 December 2022.
  14. Web site: MATCH REPORT: LEINSTER RUGBY 15 MUNSTER RUGBY 16 . Leinster rugby . 15 May 2023.
  15. Web site: Leinster edge Saturday night thriller over Munster . RTE . 25 November 2023 . 26 November 2023 . Glennon . Michael .
  16. Web site: Live United Rugby Championship: Munster v Leinster updates . RTE . 26 December 2023 . 26 December 2023 . Glennon . Michael .