Munster Rugby sent shockwaves through the United Rugby Championship when the club moved on from Graham Rowntree midway through his third season as head coach. 

Rowntree led the club to the URC Grand Final win in 2023 and then guided the group to the best record in the URC regular season a season ago. 

But the change was made after a second straight loss in South Africa, this time to a Springboks-infused Hollywoodbets Sharks club, 41-24. It was the third straight loss for Irish Southern Province team. 

Munster Rugby lost just four URC regular-season matches all season a year ago, but the team enters the upcoming fall hiatus with four and a 2-0-4 record. 

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Call it a firing, sacking, mutual parting of the ways or even a departure. One of the most successful coaches in professional rugby the last couple years is out. 

And it doesn’t even feel like that big of a surprise.

There was a bonus-point loss to Zebre Parma, allowing three tries in the first 15 minutes to Leinster and then a disastrous trip to the Southern Hemisphere. The Red Army has 12 points overall and is 12th on the URC table. 

There are reasons the team is where it is that have nothing to do with Rowntree, who likely won’t stay unemployed very long. 

Munster’s well-documented injury issues this season, and the Ireland international schedule, haven’t helped. But losing to Zebre Parma, which has a -80 point differential, 42-33, probably shouldn’t happen for one of the premier clubs in the world. 

Leinster Rugby Bonus Point Streak Snapped By Lions

Yes, the Emirates Lions lost to Leinster 24-6 in Dublin, but the Lions became the first team since Week 3 of this season to avoid a bonus-point loss to the No. 1 team in the poll . 

In the table, Leinster is 6-0-0 and has a six-point lead on Glasgow and an 11-point lead on the Lions.

We didn’t move the Lions down, because unlike the Bulls and Warriors, the Lions' only loss this season is to clearly the best club, and possibly the best professional club in the world this season, Leinster. 

URC Enters Rugby Hiatus

With the Autumn Nations Series starting, the clubs in the URC won’t play again until the Warriors host the Scarlets and Ulster hosts Leinster to start Round 7 on Nov. 29. Then, the league re-enters hiatus, as the clubs play in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. 

Rounds 8 and 9 will be played from Dec. 20-Jan. 1, as the club enters its derby rounds for the holidays. 

URC Power Poll After Round 6 

Here are the rankings after a third of the season. 

1.  Leinster Rugby

• Last week: 1
• Round 6: Leinster Rugby 24, Emirates Lions 6
• Round 7: Ulster vs Leinster

2. Emirates Lions

• Last week: 2
• Round 6: Leinster Rugby 24, Emirates Lions 6
• Round 7: Munster vs Lions

3. Vodacom Bulls

• Last week: 5
• Round 6: Bulls 17, Benetton 15
• Round 7: Connacht vs Vodacom Bulls

4. Glasgow Warriors

• Last week: 4
• Round 6: Glasgow Warriors 28, DHL Stormers 17
• Round 7: Glasgow Warriors vs Scarlets

5. Scarlets Rugby

• Last week: 9
• Round 6: Scarlets 30, Zebre Parma 8
• Round 7: Glasgow Warriors vs Scarlets

6. Connacht Rugby

• Last week: 11
• Round 6: Connacht Rugby 31, Dragons RFC 7
• Round 7: Connacht vs Vodacom Bulls

7. Hollywoodbets Sharks

• Last week: 9
• Round 6: Hollywoodbets Sharks 41, Munster Rugby 24
• Round 7: Sharks vs DHL Stormers

8. Cardiff Rugby

• Last week: 11
• Round 6: Cardiff Rugby 21, Ulster Rugby 19
• Round 7: Cardiff vs Dragons

9. Ulster Rugby

• Last week: 3
• Round 6: Cardiff Rugby 21, Ulster Rugby 19
• Round 7: Ulster vs Leinster

10. Ospreys Rugby

• Last week: 16
• Round 6: Ospreys 22, Edinburgh Rugby 13
• Round 7: Zebre Parma vs Ospreys

11. Benetton Rugby

• Last week: 12
• Round 6: Bulls 17, Benetton 15
• Round 7: Edinburgh vs Benetton

12. Edinburgh Rugby

• Last week: 6
• Round 6: Ospreys 22, Edinburgh Rugby 13
• Round 7: Edinburgh vs Benetton

13. DHL Stormers

• Last week: 10
• Round 6: Glasgow Warriors 28, DHL Stormers 17
• Round 7: Sharks vs DHL Stormers

14. Dragons RFC

• Last week: 15
• Round 6: Connacht Rugby 31, Dragons RFC 7
• Round 7: Cardiff vs Dragons

15. Zebre Parma

• Last week: 14
• Round 6: Scarlets 30, Zebre Parma 8
• Round 7: Zebre Parma vs Ospreys

16. Munster Rugby

• Last week: 12
• Round 6: Hollywoodbets Sharks 41, Munster Rugby 24
• Round 7: Munster vs Lions

URC Standings Table After Round 6

URC Rugby Schedule For Round 7 Fixtures

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URC Rugby Fixtures Friday, Nov. 29

• 2:35 p.m. ET - Glasgow Warriors vs Scarlets
• 2:35 p.m. ET - Ulster vs Leinster

URC Rugby Fixtures Saturday, Nov. 30

• 10 a.m. ET - Sharks vs DHL Stormers
  
• 12:15 p.m. ET - Cardiff vs Dragons
• 12:30 p.m. ET - Connacht vs Vodacom Bulls
• 2:35 p.m. ET - Munster vs Lions
• 2:35 p.m. ET - Zebre Parma vs Ospreys
• 2:35 p.m. ET - Edinburgh vs Benetton

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