Munster v Leinster friendly to clash with Rugby World Cup opener

Munster and Leinster have confirmed they will meet in a pre-season friendly at Musgrave Park on 8 September, the same night that France host New Zealand in the opening game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The game in Cork is the second pre-season fixture confirmed by the hosts, who will also face the Barbarians in a men's and women's double-header at Thomond Park on 30 September.

The friendly will be a first visit of Leinster to Musgrave Park since November 2007, and is the only pre-season fixture as yet announced for Leo Cullen's side.

It's just over five weeks since Munster defeated Leinster 16-15 in the semi-finals of the BKT United Rugby Championship at the Aviva Stadium, with Graham Rowntree's side going on to win the URC at the end of May with a 19-14 win against the Stormers in the Grand Final in Cape Town.

The 2023/24 URC season is set to get under way on the weekend of 21-22 October, which coincides with the World Cup quarter-finals.

Tickets for the Munster-Leinster friendly will go on sale this Friday, 23 June, with the game kicking off at 7.30pm, although it is set to clash with the opening fixture of the Rugby World Cup, where hosts France take on New Zealand at Stade de France.

Ireland, who begin their own campaign the following afternoon [9 September] against Romania in Pool B in Bordeaux, will almost certainly face one of France or New Zealand in the quarter-finals, should they get beyond the group stage.