Race for the league in URC defence excites Andy Kyriacou

Munster forwards coach Andy Kyriacou is looking forward to the "race for the league" in this season's BKT United Rugby Championship as the province looks to retain the title.

The win over the Stormers on 27 May last ended Munster's 12-year-wait for the title and Kyriacou, who on Monday signed a two-year extension in his role, is hoping for a further improvement from Graham Rowntree's squad this term.

Speaking to the media ahead of this Saturday's opening URC clash with the Sharks at Thomond Park, Kyriacou said: "We pressed pause at the end of May and then pressed play again when the lads came back into pre-season. We're still driving for improved performances on what we saw last season.

"We've just concentrated on us getting better. We're fortunate with Graham that he has not allowed things stand still; he wants our performances to improve, our skills to get better, our game understanding to get better, and the quality of our squad to get better. All the training during the summer.

"We want to start well and it starts on Saturday against the Sharks. That's all we are looking forward to. We know what a challenge this season will be having gone through it last year, but we are locked in for the Sharks and taking care of business at Thomond Park at the moment."

In terms of pre-season, things have gone well for those not involved in the World Cup, with the 40-year-old adding: "Huge strides were made in the way they trained. We saturated them with knowlwedge and overall there was a good summer in terms of the development.

Organisers of the BKT United Rugby Championship have announced changes to their European qualification system which they say will now offer 'full meritocracy'.

In a change from the previous qualification method,