Ricky Flutey to sign for Munster

BoarHunter

The story of Flutey playing for Brive will come to an end at the end of the season. The English center ( 30 y ) will sign a 2 year deal with Munster. He is replacing Jean De villiers who is leaving for the Stormers. Injured three months at the beginning of the season, Flutey played only 4 matches with Brive ( 0 points ).

faigs

Link?

NeitherJohn

I share faigs sentiment for a link!

Risteard

It's been reported that we're trying to sign him but nothing definte yet.

BoarHunter

http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/breves2010/20100221_132235_flutey-vers-le-munster.html

sorry that's all i have. It's in French.

funky penguin

Yes! Chance for an always hilarious Babelfish translation:

L' venture of Riki Flutey in Corrèze s' will complete at the end of the season. The English centre three-quarter (30 years, 1,79 m, 93 kg) goes s' to engage for two seasons in favour of the Irish province of Munster. It will replace the South-African Jean De Villiers (28 years, 1,91 m, 103 kg, 55 selections), who will evolve/move for Stormers in order to dispute the World cup 2011 in New Zealand. Wounded with l' shoulder left for three months, l' international of the XV of the Rose (10 selections) n' played that four matches with CA Brive (no test iinscrit).

GiftofGab

It's only a rumor so far. Thou there seems to be a strong consensus that he's going.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0220/fluteyr_munster.html

Jigga

Seems there is strong truth to the rumour if its being reported in France. Here's a rough translation of the L'Equipe piece:

The adventure of Riki Flutey in Corrèze will finish at the end of the season. The English inside centre (30 years, 1.79 m, 93 kg) will be playing for two seasons with the Irish province Munster. He will replace the South African Jean de Villiers (28 years, 1.91 m, 103 kg, 55 selections), that will return to the Stormers in order to compete in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. Having being out injured with his left shoulder for three months, he has played only four matches with CA Brive.

Co45

Complete slap in the face to the likes of Earls and Scott Deasy (who looks like he can more than cover the centre position). Though I don't blame Munster for signing him as having Mafi, Earls and Deasy covering two positions is far too lightweight.

irishbucsfan

Co45 wrote: »

Complete slap in the face to the likes of Earls and Scott Deasy (who looks like he can more than cover the centre position). Though I don't blame Munster for signing him as having Mafi, Earls and Deasy covering two positions is far too lightweight.

Not a slap in the face at all for Deasy. Completely irrelevant to Earls, who isn't a 12 and never will be.

I don't see how it's a slap in the face to a young player whose hardly played comptetitive rugby for you at all if you sign a regular international (arguably England's best player in the last two years) and Lion to play ahead of them.


Who was the last England international to play for Munster?

Co45

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Not a slap in the face at all for Deasy. Completely irrelevant to Earls, who isn't a 12 and never will be.

I seem to recall Mafi playing a lot of games at 13 and Fluety can play and has played 13 also. I suppose less so for Earls than Deasy as Earls has had the opportunities to more or less establish himself though!

I don't see how it's a slap in the face to a young player whose hardly played comptetitive rugby for you at all if you sign a regular international (arguably England's best player in the last two years) and Lion to play ahead of them.

It's a slap in the face for that very reason. Deasy thinks he might be getting a few starts next season and some game time with De Villiers going and then bang Flutey is signed. No doubt he'll understand why they signed him but its a slap in the face nonetheless!

PhatPiggins

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Not a slap in the face at all for Deasy. Completely irrelevant to Earls, who isn't a 12 and never will be.

I don't see how it's a slap in the face to a young player whose hardly played comptetitive rugby for you at all if you sign a regular international (arguably England's best player in the last two years) and Lion to play ahead of them.


Who was the last England international to play for Munster?

The hooker, something Long. Came over on a short term loan 3/4 years ago. We had a couple of leauge internationals as well.

Judgement Day

Let's try and think of Flutey as an itinerant Kiwi rather than an Englishman.

handsomecake

http://www.allblacks.com/news/12200/Riki-Flutey-to-sign-for-Munster

dreamer_ire

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0220/fluteyr_munster.html

The article on Flutey also refers to Dougie staying for the forseable future. I thought he was heading home but I'd be delighted if he stayed.

thomond2006

I presumed Munster signed Johne Murphy as a direct replacement for Howlett.

Howlett will be a loss if he goes, but not a big loss to be honest.

danthefan

Don't see the point in the Johne Murphy signing if Howlett is staying.

Aidric

thomond2006 wrote: »

Howlett will be a loss if he goes, but not a big loss to be honest.

A consistently excellent performer for us. Not a big loss? Rrright.

thomond2006

Aidric wrote: »

A consistently excellent performer for us. Not a big loss? Rrright.

I meant "not a big loss" in the sense that Johne Murphy is more than capable of filling his boots.

castie

Bit of a weird one if howlett stays.
I can see hurley suffering for game time except when o gara is rested and warwick plays 10.

themont85

castie wrote: »

Bit of a weird one if howlett stays.
I can see hurley suffering for game time except when o gara is rested and warwick plays 10.

Weird yes if Henry has said he has absolutely no shot at 2011 which is a slim possibility as it is.

castie

Would he be able to get into the team though?
New Zealand have some great talent on the wing already.

buck65

As I said in the Henson rumour thread, surely we should be looking at a TH and a backrow but actually watching the Edinburgh match I actually thought we did well in those areas. Buckley continues to confound me , I had him written off and then he does well!

Hurley is first choice 11 for us, Murphy will do well to get into the team if Howlett stays.

thomond2006

How many NIQ players are we allowed?

We already have:
Brugnaut (out of contract at the end of the season afaik, will probably leave)
N Williams (out of contract at the end of the season as well I think, should not be retained if so)
Warwick
Mafi (just signed new two year deal)
JdV (definitely leaving at the end of the season)
Howlett (out of contract at the end of the season, future as yet unannounced)

bamboozle

thomond2006 wrote: »

How many NIQ players are we allowed?

We already have:
Brugnaut (out of contract at the end of the season afaik, will probably leave)
N Williams (out of contract at the end of the season as well I think, should not be retained if so)
Warwick
Mafi (just signed new two year deal)
JdV (definitely leaving at the end of the season)
Howlett (out of contract at the end of the season, future as yet unannounced)

flutey wont be counted as a NIQ, he's an English passport.

Podge_irl

bamboozle wrote: »

flutey wont be counted as a NIQ, he's an English passport.

I dunno, he's fairly Not Irish Qualified

bamboozle

Podge_irl wrote: »

I dunno, he's fairly Not Irish Qualified

good point, mixing it up with SH players!

Hyperbullet

thomond2006 wrote: »

How many NIQ players are we allowed?

We already have:
Brugnaut (out of contract at the end of the season afaik, will probably leave)
N Williams (out of contract at the end of the season as well I think, should not be retained if so)
Warwick
Mafi (just signed new two year deal)
JdV (definitely leaving at the end of the season)
Howlett (out of contract at the end of the season, future as yet unannounced)

Could Manning be counted as well?

murphym7

Manning is not counted as a NIQ player - I think he is IQ as he has been here so long - ready to be corrected on that one though.

thomond2006

Hyperbullet wrote: »

Could Manning be counted as well?

What murphy said, Manning is Irish qualified on residency grounds.

Co45

thomond2006 wrote: »

How many NIQ players are we allowed?

We already have:
Brugnaut (out of contract at the end of the season afaik, will probably leave)
N Williams (out of contract at the end of the season as well I think, should not be retained if so)
Warwick
Mafi (just signed new two year deal)
JdV (definitely leaving at the end of the season)
Howlett (out of contract at the end of the season, future as yet unannounced)

Brugnaut
N Williams
Warwick
Mafi
Howlett
Flutey
Wian Du Preez
Toby Morland

A few of them have to go. Has Du Preez already gone actually?

budhabob

Co45 wrote: »

Has Du Preez already gone actually?

Yup, he's gone already. So has Toby Morland.

PhatPiggins

buck65 wrote: »

As I said in the Henson rumour thread, surely we should be looking at a TH and a backrow but actually watching the Edinburgh match I actually thought we did well in those areas. Buckley continues to confound me , I had him written off and then he does well!

Hurley is first choice 11 for us, Murphy will do well to get into the team if Howlett stays.

That is the enigma that is Buckley, shyte for 6 matches great for 1. Keeps everyone thinking we should give him more time he'll come good. If he played in any other position Munster/Ireland would have shipped him on by now.

thomond2006

From what I've read before Munster are allowed 6 permenant NIQ squad members (maybe somebody could confirm this or otherwise).

With that in mind, this is what I'd like to see:

Brugnaut

---

> A top quality TH prop.
N Williams

---

> George Smith, but we have good backrow depth as it is
Warwick
Mafi
Howlett (if he goes he doesn't need to be replaced with an NIQ as we'll have Murphy)
JdV

---

> Flutey

profitius

Co45 wrote: »

Brugnaut
N Williams
Warwick
Mafi
Howlett
Flutey
Wian Du Preez
Toby Morland

A few of them have to go. Has Du Preez already gone actually?

I hope they don't replace Nick Williams with another foreign backrower. We've loads of backrowers coming through from the academy.

Deasy will learn off Flutey although it remains to be seen where Mafi will play when Flutey gets injured (he is injury prone).

PhatPiggins

profitius wrote: »

I hope they don't replace Nick Williams with another foreign backrower. We've loads of backrowers coming through from the academy.

Deasy will learn off Flutey although it remains to be seen where Mafi will play when Flutey gets injured (he is injury prone).

In the sin bin, where he seems to be spending ever inreasing amounts of time.

phog

PhatPiggins wrote: »

In the sin bin, where he seems to be spending ever inreasing amounts of time.

Two YCs this season, hardly a huge amount of time in the bin.

profitius

phog wrote: »

Two YCs this season, hardly a huge amount of time in the bin.

To be fair, he is a bit of a headless chicken.

thomond2006

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/164152/Irish-splash-out-to-rescue-Riki-Flutey/

ENGLAND centre Riki Flutey looks set to turn his back on a move to London Wasps and join Irish province Munster next season.

Flutey wanted to rejoin Wasps less than 12 months after joining French outfit Brive but they were unable to afford the £100,000 transfer fee.

Wasps even asked for the RFU for help to pay it but they turned them down flat fearing that it would set a dangerous precedent for other clubs to ask for hand-outs.

Wasps had used the argument that the RFU would have more control over Flutey if he came back to the Premiership from France.

Then they wouldn’t run into the same sort of problems suffered when Stade Francais tried to recall James Haskell for a Top 14 encounter with Toulouse.

Flutey, 30, will go back to Brive this week – after England ended their Six Nations campaign in Paris last night – for talks with the club. But it’s now looking likely that he will be leaving Brive after one season, which started with the player struggling with a serious shoulder injury.

The New Zealand-born British Lions international will now have to pay his own way out of the final year of his Brive contract, which is worth around £270,000 a season.

Munster have offered him a much better deal financially than the one that was on the table from Wasps, who had offered an improved deal on the £170,000 they offered him to stay last year.

The Irish have tabled a three-year contract after only wanting to sign him for two seasons because he has to buy himself out of his deal.

And the contract that is on offer is worth only a fraction less than he currently picks up in France and he has the security of two extra years.

I thought this 'will he won't he' episode was over.

How trustworthy is the Express?

ScrubsfanChris

When I see it in the Irish Examiner I will believe it
Then they don't mention how much Munster are paying him for the three years.
Thats now 2 backs (Flutey/Murphy) signed with 1 leaving (De Villiers).
Munster could do with a front row or even a second row now.

Talking about centers, whats the story with Barry Murphy, is he injured?

Podge_irl

I can't believe they're going to spend that much on a centre they don't really need. They'd be far better off luring McFadden down to Munster (and a THP, but that's an awfully different issue).

chupacabra

Ugh i had hoped this was only a rumour. We dont want flutey! He is the definition of a mercenary and wont contribute much to us imo. We need to develop Deasy and Gleeson. Use our last NIQ slot for a good tight head ffs

CJhaughey

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Talking about centers, whats the story with Barry Murphy, is he injured?

I saw him walking around in Musgrave before the Scarlets game with a couple of young uns.
Didn't look injured, but who knows?

thomond2006

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Talking about centers, whats the story with Barry Murphy, is he injured?

IIRC he played a part in an A game not so long ago so he should be back in first team action soon.