Graham Rowntree set to name new Munster Rugby captain ahead of URC opener

The southern province are without a permanent skipper since Peter O'Mahony's decision to step away from the role early last season.

The likes of Diarmuid Barron and Tadhg Beirne have filled the void in games since then but a long-term replacement is yet to be named.

O'Mahony captained Munster for over a decade and Rowntree wanted to take all the time he needed before making such a big decision.

“Most clubs have a leadership group and I’ve got eight guys in mine,” Rowtree said at a URC Coaches on the Couch session

“I’d like to think I can call on any of them to captain the team and rely on each other’s support.

“Tadhg [Beirne} did a good job, very good. This will be the first time a Munster coach has picked a captain for 10 years.

“There’s no playbook here. I wasn’t going to be rushed.

“I certainly wanted to see a few other guys, candidates to see how they performed and some of them were injured for big pockets of last season.

“So, I’ve had to take my time. I’m close to announcing who that will be and that will be announced the week of the first URC game.

“I took my time on purpose. In short, I have a very healthy leadership group and they’ll help the candidate that’s named.”