"Doesn't sit well with me" - Munster captain Tadhg Beirne disappointed by early Champions Cup exit

Beirne did not hide from expressing his disappointment, as the Ireland international revealed how this was the first time in his Munster tenure that the side has failed to reach the knock-out stage of Europe's premier club rugby competition. Beirne spoke to the media after Munster's agonising 31-29 defeat at Thomond Park.

"It's the first time that I haven't been into the knock-out stages of the Champions Cup since I've been here, and it doesn't sit well with me at all. I know that dressing room certainly, you could feel it in there. It's important, we have to dust ourselves off. We're back to the URC next week, and if we are lucky enough to get into the Challenge Cup, then it's another opportunity of silverware.

"That's what we'll be striving towards. So we'll have to look at this, and we don't want to be in this situation ever again. If we make Champions Cup next year, we'll definitely refer to this and when we're in our group stage next year."

Munster's underwhelming ride in the Champions Cup began with a heavy away defeat against Bath, as the current Premiership and Challenge Cup holders ran riot in the 40-14 hammering at the Rec. The Red Army turned their fortunes around with a spirited home victory over Gloucester, with the 31-3 triumph at Cork's GAA stronghold of Pairc ui Choimh, now viewed as a retrospective life ring with the pool finished.

Gloucester sank to finish bottom of Pool 2, with the Cherry and Whites now ousted from Europe entirely for the 2025/26 season. Beirne recalled how the Champions Cup still holds a sharp competitive edge, with wins seemingly harder to find in the tournament this year, than ever before for his Munster side.

"It's an incredibly difficult competition". The British & Irish Lions star explained. "Our group in particular, you can see that we've lost two games now by one score in the last two weeks. It's really nip and tuck and we're out of the out of the competition just like that.

"It's incredibly disappointing, but it just shows how important it is to get your wins in this competition, particularly your home ones, and we weren't able to do that. It's incredibly disappointing, but the competition is still alive and well, for sure, the competition is there, for sure."

Munster now turn their attention back to their domestic pursuits, as the United Rugby Championship returns this weekend. Munster raced out the gate for a hot-start to the season, with a five match winning run propelling to second in the table. However, defeats to the Stormers and Leinster sees Munster now sit at sixth, with all eyes on Friday in the hopes of returning to winning ways.

Clayton McMillan's men take on the Dragons under the floodlights of Virgin Media Park, in a clash that has steadily shaped up to be a must win occasion for the men in red.

"For now, our focus will will move on to dragons in the URC." Beirne added., "That's our opportunity right now to win silverware, and depending on results, later today, we'll find out if we've another opportunity in the Challenge Cup."