Munster's Graham Rowntree named Coach of the Season

Munster's Graham Rowntree has been voted Coach of the Season for the 2023/24 BKT United Rugby Championship.

The Englishman, who won the title win Munster last year, brought the province back to the semi-finals this season before losing to Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park.

Despite their disappointing end to the campaign, Munster finished top of the table for the regular season, the highlight being their impressive bonus-point wins away to the Bulls and Lions in April, as they picked up maximum points from their South African tour.

Prior to their defeat to Glasgow, the province had been on a ten-game winning run, matching their best form in the league since 2011.

The award was voted for by the league's head coaches, with Rowntree following Leinster's Leo Cullen (2022) and Glasgow's Franco Smith (2023) in winning the prize.

It's the third individual end of season award for Munster, with out-half Jack Crowley named Next-Gen Player of the Season, and Shane Daly taking the Ironman Award for playing the most minutes of any player in the league.

Watch the URC final, Bulls v Glasgow Warriors, on Saturday from 4.55pm on the RTÉ News Channel