Rags to Riches: The Story of Munster Rugby

Munster’s pursuit of rugby glory has been long, often heartbreaking but also inspiring. The seeds for their ascent into the pantheon of great teams were sown long before Munster’s current success, built on a reputation as a fearsome side for touring teams to play. The day Munster beat the All Blacks at Thomond Park by 12 points to nil will be forever ingrained in the minds of Munster rugby fans. That game on 31 October 1978 is enshrined in the annals of the game but other noble achievements by different Munster teams over the years have not been given the same recognition. Munster threw down the gauntlet to successive touring teams with no respect for reputation or achievement, as reflected in the magnificent 1992 victory over Bob Dwyer’s Australia, then the reigning World Champions. This story begins with the recollections of 82-year-old Jim McCarthy, capped from 1948 to 1955 when Ireland won the Grand Slam, Triple Crown and Five Nations, and the first Munster player to captain Ireland in 1954. Modern day heroes Tom Kiernan, Noel Murphy, Moss Keane, Keith Wood and Paul O'Connell take readers behind the scenes. Former champions and pundits contribute accounts of acclaimed performances against touring superpowers the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies. Overseas signings such as Jim Williams and Rua Tipoki lend an international flavour to the story. Lavishly illustrated with colour and black & white images, this is a must for all rugby fans. Relive the draw with Australia in 1958, victory over them in 1967, the first European Cup win in 2006 and many more triumphs. Munster has emerged as a team to be respected and have stamped class and authority on the northern hemisphere game.