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Munster (also known as Munster Rugby) are an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the Magners League and Heineken Cup. They won the Heineken Cup final in 2006 to become the champions of Europe. The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch, and encompasses 15 domestic clubs. Their main home grounds are Thomond Park, Limerick, and Musgrave Park, Cork.
The Munster Rugby branch was formed in 1879. Their most famous victory occurred in 1978 when they defeated the All Blacks. They remain the only Irish side to have ever done so. With professionalism in rugby union in the mid 1990s the Munster team competed in the new European Heineken Cup. After three seasons of not making it past their group stage, Munster made the quarter finals in the 1998-99 season, and in the subsequent season made their first final appearance, though they lost to English club Northampton. They were again runners-up in 2001-02, losing to English club Leicester, though the following season they won their first Celtic League title, with the championship being introduced the previous season. In the third Heineken Cup final in 2005-06, Munster famously defeated French club Biarritz to win their first European championship.
Munster are known for their fan support and game day atmosphere (the noise during play and complete silence during an attempt to kick a goal). Games involving Munster hold several Heineken Cup records for highest attendances in every stage of the finals, as well as the highest ever attendance for a rugby game in Spain. Munster play in a red jersey, blue shorts and red socks. The Munster Rugby logo consists of three crowns and a stag. The team motto is "To the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible."
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