Since the inception of the Celtic League they have been the third most successful side, winning the title in 2003, 2009 and 2011 and finishing as runners up in three other seasons, second only to Leinster.
The Red Army were at their most powerful between 2003 and 2011, during which time their Celtic League and Heineken Cup trophies were all won.
Without a major for five years though, the closest they game to glory was the 13-31 defeat to Glasgow Warriors at the Kingspan stadium last year.
Seven Munster legends, including Donncha O'Callaghan, Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer, all have more than 200 appearances for the province and began their careers in the 90s, lasting all the way through to the 2011 Celtic League triumph.
Axel Foley:
Anthony 'Axel' Foley was the founding member of Munster's 200 Club, with 202 appearances accumulated in a career stretching from 1995 to 2008.
The back row forward scored 39 tries in his provincial career and was appointed Munster captain in 2005 when Jim Williams left the province.
Foley was on the losing side twice in Heineken Cup finals, agonisingly losing 8-9 to Northampton Saints in 2000 before a controversial finish to the 2002 final when Leicester Tigers ran out 15-9 winners.
Munster bounced back the following year, winning the Celtic League in 2003, before Foley captained his side to European glory over Biarritz Olympique in the 2006 Heineken Cup final.
Realising that his powers were on the wane he stood down as captain for the 2007-08 season, making way for Paul O'Connell to take charge.
O'Connell, just like Foley, led Munster to Heineken Cup glory during his first season in charge, an achievement that heralded Foley's retirement in the summer of 2008.
The former captain begun his coaching career with Munster A in 2009 and was promoted to the first team's forwards coach at the end of the 2011 season.
After three years as forwards coach he took over from the departing Rob Penney as head coach in 2014, leading Munster to the Guinness PRO12 final during his first year in charge.
Greatest season, 2005-06:
Munster have yet to do the double of Celtic League and European Cup success in the same year.
This year will be no different as they were knocked out of the group stage of the Champions Cup and are currently in a battle to make the Guinness PRO12 semi-finals.
Both Heineken Cup winning seasons were accompanied by third-place finishes in the Celtic League so it was left to the choice of European wins to decide their greatest season.
People say the first one is always the sweetest, but winning the trophy for a second time in three seasons is arguably the greater achievement.
The clincher though was Munster's route to the 2006 final in Cardiff, beating fierce rivals Leinster in the semis.
That 30-6 victory, away at Lansdowne Road, was the Ronan O'Gara show.
The fly-half racked up 20 points to put the Boys in Blue to the sword and book his team's place in the Cardiff showpiece.
After defeats in 2000 and 2002 Munster, under the guidance of head coach Declan Kidney, finally got their hands on the cup thanks to a man-of-the-match performance from scrum-half Peter Stringer.
His solo effort was added to Trevor Halstead's try and a further 13 points from the boot of O'Gara to seal the victory, despite Biarritz closing a seven-point half-time deficit to just a single point with ten minutes to go.
The win was the first of four major titles for the Munster-men between 2006 and 2011.
Greatest XV:
15. Shaun Payne
The South African import has become a cult hero with Munster fans. He made more than 100 appearances for the province and after stayed with the club beyond retirement, becoming club manager from 2007 to 2012.
14. Doug Howlett
The Kiwi scored 35 tries for Munster in more than 100 appearances between 2008 and 2013. Part of the 2008 Heineken Cup winning side and even scored in the final.
13. Rua Tipoki
Another Kiwi and another member of the 2008 Heineken Cup winning side. He formed a formidable partnership with Lifeimi Mafi and his defensive solidity formed the bedrock of many a victory.
12. Trevor Halstead
Stringer's try may be the more memorable but the South African's effort was just as crucial in the Red Army finally emerging victorious in a European final.
11. Simon Zebo
The province's all-time leading try scorer. He's scored more in the Celtic League than any other Munster player and his ability to play full-back means he's a must in any greatest XV.
10. Ronan O'Gara
Who else? Arguably the best fly-half in Irish rugby history, let along Munster. The leading Munster points scorer of all time with 2,560 for the Red Army.
9. Peter Stringer
Stringer's solo dart from the back of the scrum has become the defining memory of Munster's defining match in European rugby. With 230 appearances he is third on Munster's all time appearance list.
1. Marcus Horan
A member of Munster's 200 club with 218 appearances in total. The Limerick man began his Munster career in 1999 and was a pivotal member of the pack that dominated Europe for much of the next decade.
2. Jerry Flannery
A stalwart of the all-conquering Munster front row and so impressive were his performances that he was selected for the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, which he was sadly ruled out of due to injury.
3. John Hayes
With 212 appearances in the red shirt Hayes won two European cups with Munster as well as a Test appearance in the 2009 Lions tour.
4. Donncha O'Callaghan
It couldn't be anyone else could it? DO'C holds the record for most Munster appearances with 263. The second row is still plying his trade, now in the Aviva Premiership for Worcester Warriors after 17 years in a red shirt.
5. Paul O'Connell
The towering giant was not only inspirational in a red shirt but also green. Munster, Ireland and Lions captain during his 15-year career, O'Connell is one of rugby's all time greats, not just Munster.
6. Alan Quinlan
He may have been eased out of the starting line up for that European final by Denis Leamy but Quinlan still racked up 206 appearances for his province and was named man of the match as Munster won a second European Cup in 2008.
7. David Wallace
With three Test appearances for the Lions Wallace followed in the footsteps of brothers Richard and Paul. Accumulating 197 Munster appearance during a 15-year career for the province he is one of the most popular player's in their history.
8. Anthony Foley
After experiencing the bitter taste of defeat in two European Cup finals, Foley captained Munster to their first continental triumph in 2006. Not content with playing for and captaining the province he took on the head coach role in 2014.
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