MRSC USA: Season 2016/17

The MRSC are lucky to have a number of dedicated Branches in different areas around the world. USA Branch Chairman Séamus Brosnan tells us about the Season as experienced by our members in America!

While rugby is still a relatively small sport here it is one of the fastest growing sports in America and the 2016/17 Season was a particularly busy one for us Munster Rugby supporters in the USA. Unlike some of our sister branches in Dublin, London, and Brussels we do not have one central meeting location, due in part to various broadcast rights and geographic logistics in a large country, however we have had a number of succesful outings and events over the past year which we are very proud of.

New York City Gatherings

We had a couple of get togethers in Tír na nÓg in Times Square, NYC. Our thanks to the owners, who give us our own section, aptly named "The Munster Room" and generously supply finger food free of charge. We met in December between round 3 and 4 of the European Champions Cup and again in April between the quarter-finals and semi-finals. We have the usual suspects from Sunnyside, Woodside, and NJ but always welcome more guests – keep an eye on our Facebook page for details of any upcoming get togethers for the coming season. Our gathering in December was in remembrance of Axel Foley and we sent a sympathy card to his family. Thanks to Jim O'Malley for helping organize these events.

A Man Walks Into a Bar in Brussels….

While on a work trip in Belgium members of the USA Branch made their way to the Old Hak in Brussels to watch the Champions Cup Munster v Glasgow game in October. After a few conversations it turns out unknown to the head of the USA Branch and the Brussels Branch chairmen their fathers were best friends from college! A few pints in celebration were had that night kindling friendships for another generation.

Chicago

Nov 5th, 2016, what a day. Some people drove a thousand miles, some people flew thousands of miles, others just walked down the road to Soldier Field in Chicago to witness history in the making. It was a great week in Chicago with the Cubs ending a 107 year curse by winning the World Series Baseball Championship and Ireland breaking a 111 year drought by beating New Zealand. Prior to the game the USA Branch met up with members of the Brussels Branch who travelled over for the game. The figure of 8 during the pre game haka was special. The rest was history.

MRSC USA/Morris Rugby v Castleisland/Kerry

In what has become part of an annual trip members of the Morris Rugby Old Boys from NJ who are all MRSC members travelled to Munster in January 2017 for a game against a Castleisland selection of old boys (and some not so old boys). The red jerseys are unique with the MRSC logo and Morris Rugby logo in front, a USA and Ireland flag on each sleeve, and a Grateful Dead bear holding a pint of stout with the words, Síocháin, Grá, agus Rugbaí (Peace, Love and Rugby).

Fifth Annual Pilgrimage To Thomond Park

Members of MRSC USA Branch and Morris Rugby NJ made their 5th annual trip to Thomond Park in January 2017 for the last home pool game. New tourists were delighted to get the privilege to be part of the Guard of Honor welcoming the players on to the field before the decisive victory over Racing Metro. Thanks to Linda Molloy for coordinating things on the MRSC committee side.

MRSC Choir and NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade

Another special and unique event took place in March of this year. For the first time ever, in conjunction with the MRSC Choir, the MRSC USA Branch marched in the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. A big thank you to Helen Joy who coordinated things from the choir side and who invited us to march with them on the day. John Sutherland of the USA Branch designed and presented the MRSC Choir with their own banner to March in the parade and the choir in turn made a special presentation to the USA Branch of a dolmen drawing which included a number 8 Munster jersey. For further details of the choir's trip to the Big Apple click here.

USA v Ireland

Another great day out in June was had in NJ where Ireland beat the USA with an impressive display by Munster man Keith Earls. Though the game was not as big as the New Zealand game, many fans including a few members of the MRSC USA Branch still travelled to this game and enjoyed the tailgating in the summer heat.

Where In America?

The ability to watch live Munster games is limited in the USA. beIN Sports have the rights to the PRO12 games but rarely show them. ESPN has the rights to the European Championship games but generally only streams them online at www.ESPN3.com. We spend a lot of our time finding and posting game coverage details in the USA on our Facebook page. Having said that there are pubs/bars who show whatever Munster games they can and we are compiling a list of them. This is where we need your help. Please email MunsterRugbyUSA@mac.com or leave a comment on Facebook under this post at with details of any pub/bar you know that shows Munster games.

We look forward to another great season and we welcome all Munster supporters to get in touch and join us where possible!

Our sincere thank you to the USA Branch committee who do such great work throughout the season for our supporters in the States. Should you wish to contact the branch at any stage you can do so via email at MunsterRugbyUSA@mac.com