Munster will be wearing their Alternate kit on Friday night.

Munster travel to Kingsholm on Friday night for a vital Champions Cup clash against Gloucester (7.45pm, live on BT Sport).

Munster travel to Kingsholm on Friday night for a vital Champions Cup clash against Gloucester (7.45pm, live on BT Sport).

Pool 2 is evenly poised ahead of the weekend’s clashes with all four sides vying for top spot and a quarter-final place.

While Munster and Gloucester face off at Kingsholm on Friday night, second-placed Castres travel to face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Sunday afternoon (1pm).

A large contingent of Munster supporters are travelling to the south-west of England and the MRSC have compiled an away guide for the weekend, which you can read here.

Munster, who will be wearing their Alternate kit for the clash, go into the game on the back of an impressive bonus-point win away to Connacht that saw Johann van Graan’s side move to the top of Guinness PRO14 Conference A.

Gloucester, meanwhile, fell to a 34-16 loss away to Leicester Tigers in the Premiership but have a formidable home record and will be eager to secure the win in front of a sell-out home crowd.

See full Munster team details here.

Check out the best training pics from this week here.

Team Line-Ups

Gloucester: Tom Hudson; Charlie Sharples, Billy Twelvetrees, Mark Atkinson, Ollie Thorley; Danny Cipriani, Callum Braley; Josh Hohneck, Henry Walker, Fraser Balmain; Ed Slater, Gerbrandt Grobler; Franco Mostert, Lewis Ludlow, Ben Morgan (C).

Replacements: Franco Marais, Alex Seville, Ciaran Knight, Freddie Clarke, Gareth Evans, Ben Vellacott, Owen Williams, Henry Trinder.

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, Tyler Bleyendaal, Dan Goggin.

Press Pass

Munster Head Coach Johann van Graan, captain Peter O’Mahony and full-back Mike Haley all spoke to the media this week, hear the thoughts of the trio ahead of the clash below.

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Match Officials

Referee: Romain Poite

Assistant Referees: Cyril Lafon & Stephane Boyer

TMO: Denis Grenouillet

Next Home Game

For the second time this season Thomond Park has sold out two weeks in advance of a fixture, with Munster’s Round 6 Champions Cup clash against Exeter Chiefs set for a capacity crowd of 26,267 on Saturday, January 19 (5.30pm).

See full details here.

6 Nations Rugby In Cork

Six Nations rugby comes to Cork for the first time in the coming months as the Ireland U20s host England and France at Irish Independent Park.

Friday, February 1, 2019

Ireland U20s v England U20s, Irish Independent Park, 7.15pm; Buy tickets here

Friday, March 8, 2019

Ireland U20s v France U20s, Irish Independent Park, 7.15pm; Buy tickets here