On behalf of Young Munster Rugby Football Club and all its members and staff, I am absolutely delighted to extend a hearty welcome to all players, officials and supporters visiting Tom Clifford Park throughout this season. Following in the footsteps of my father, Jimmy Cantillon, who held the office of President on two occasions, I feel immensely proud and privileged to have been granted this highest of honours for myself and my family and feel humbled by the challenge that is presented to me.

In our 116 years, we have always prided ourselves on our hospitality and I’m sure this year will be no different. Now that the professional game has brought so many changes, it is all the more important that the rugby tradition of friendliness and hospitality is not diminished. I assure you that Young Munster RFC will not be distracted from our endeavours to make your visit a pleasant one. Young Munster RFC is representative of so many of the best virtues of rugby football in Ireland, not least; it’s enduring and invaluable contribution to the community in the area. Last season has been a memorable one for our club, both on and off the field.

On the playing front the club is thriving at all levels and is benefiting from the structures put in place over the last couple of years. The success of our teams is complimented by improvements in our facilities which now include a purpose built All-Weather Pitch and a state-of-the-art Gymnasium in Tom Clifford Park. This year, it is our goal to install floodlighting on our main pitch, which will enable us to play games on very popular Friday evenings and other nights when required. During the summer months we have carried out refurbishment works to our main pitch to ensure the best possible playing surface for the coming season and we look forward to watching many games of quality rugby that can be enjoyed by both players and supporters alike.

I would like to wish our Club Captain, Shane O’Neill, and his squad, our Director of Rugby Mike Prendergast, our Assistant Coach John Broderick and all other Coaches, Managers, Background Personnel, Ground and Facilities Personnel, the very best of luck for the coming season and success in their relative competitions. You have our total support. I would also like to thank all those behind the scenes for their hard work and voluntary support for Young Munster and I look forward to working with them in the coming season in generating a new found optimism for Young Munster as a club with real potential.

Here at Young Munster we believe that properly and competitively structured club rugby is imperative for the development of players and the success of Munster and Irish rugby. It is our policy to encourage and develop players of all skills levels at Tom Clifford Park and we are happy to do so into the future. To run a leading first division club these days takes huge effort and a lot of money. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors who contribute to the running and success of our club. I thank Bus Éireann, our main sponsor since 1993 and the longest lasting sponsorship in Irish Rugby football, for their continued, much valued support of Young Munster. I also thank our own Gerry O’Shea & GGL Security, Syncreon, long-time supporters, Peter Clohessy & The Sin Bin, Jack Storan and Donal Mulcahy of Rasher’s Bar and Barry Leddin of Leddin’s Bar as official sponsors. In these difficult financial times for the club we are indeed very grateful. Just as their contributions are important to our club, it is equally important that members and friends of Young Munster in turn support them and all our other advertisers and sponsors when and wherever possible. The club would not survive, let alone achieve success, without the on-going support of all our sponsors.

Finally to our 1st, 2nd, 3rd, U-21, Women and Underage squads may I wish you all a successful year. My focus for the year will be to play my part in enhancing the proud tradition of Young Munster RFC which in my view is to excel on the playing field, to run the club with focus and vision and to enjoy the company of our members, dedicated supporters and guests. Have a wonderful season everyone.