Following on from here
New Munster chat thread folks. warning deserved there. https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=109477571#post109477571
Wouldn't be surprised if Tector ends up moving down south, maybe on a season-long loan
"I don't see why it would be reported as such if plans were not being considered to bring Flannery back to Munster"
Oh Sweet Summer Child, you have a lot of learning to do... :P
Agents my friend. Agents.
Maybe there were plans to do so, but that was three months ago. Cat amongst the pigeons suggests that this is out of the blue. It isn't.
Munster were reportedly closing in on resigning Jake Flannery to replace Ben Healy. Murray Kinsella reported on it 3 months ago.
The42 understands that Munster are also close to re-signing Jake Flannery from Ulster. The Tipp man moved from his native province up to Belfast last summer but has had limited opportunity, so it looks like he is now set for a return home. Having only made six Munster appearances the first time around, the versatile 23-year-old will hope for more chances under the new coaching team.
i dont see why it would be reported as such if plans were not being considered to bring Flannery back to Munster
So Munster will need to recruit. Which they’ll have been aware of for a fair while.
I think we’ve the lowest number of NIQ players of all the Provinces at present, and with Carbery and Crowley in the Ireland reckoning, I think it’s possible we could see an experienced cover signing. (A bit like Alby Mathewson at 9 a few seasons ago, say).
And to be fair to Carbery, he’s been pretty robust since coming back from injury
Ultimately, Flannery was a guy who we were comfortable leaving go previously.
“cat amongst the pigeons” seems very much overstating it.
And none of this is news to Munster. If it was something that suddenly came up out of the blue then you may have been correct, but Munster have known all of this for months.
your 3rd choice internationally capped outhalf, yes.
thats exactly what i was referring to when i said the cat was amongst the pigeons.
The real issue is that if the 3rd choice 10 is an academy option Crowley won't be able to paper over the shortage in the centres.
Just yesterday people were saying that Crowley would fix the shortage at centre and Flannery would get game time as a 10 cover.
Munster need another centre.
Exactly my point. Theres a dearth of outhalfs in Munster now with Healy leaving.
every club needs at least 3 senior outhalves to traverse the season, especially with players in ireland camp. Does munster really want to be reliant on carbery, with his injury profile, and a very green Butler (8 senior minutes to his name) to guide them through the URC while Crowley is at RWC and 6Ns?
with sexton leaving, theres even a possibility that Carbery AND Crowley could be in some ireland camps.
So, essentially, we still need to replace our departing 3rd choice 10.
It's great for Flannery, after very little game time with Ulster he manages to get a 3 year deal there.
Butler in year 3 of the academy will likely start getting game time next year. Dylan Hicks will likely come in as a year 1 at out half too.
well, Healy is gone.
Theres Crowley and Carberry and one of them will be with ireland for the foreseeable.
After that youre into the academy for Tony Butler (Rory S is not a serviceable out half)
So really, flannery could have found himself in the 22 jersey quite a lot in the coming season if he had have gone. And with this in view, the senior squad needs another outhalf.
Id would imagine the reason Flannery is staying Ulster as Madigan probably going to retire so Flannery will be eyeing up Billy Bs 10 jersey should he not renew in 2024.
Does it? He’d be well down the depth chart for either Ulster or Munster.
For who? Munster would have been well aware of all these developments.
so Jake Flannerys not going home to Munster anyway.....
that throws the cat amongst the pidgeons a bit
Sean O'Brien at Exeter might very well be available. They signed him in 2021, so if a 2 year deal he might be coming to the end of a contract.
They already have Rory O'Loughlin (often features on the wing for them though), Henry Slade and a couple of other options in the centre, but just announced the signing of Joe Hawkins (20 year old capped for Wales in the 6N) for next season, so feasible that O'Brien will see a reduction in his game time.
He made the Midi Olympique team of the round this week after his performance at 12 v Montpellier this past weekend.
The Aki move would make sense wouldn't it though? Connacht look to have moved on and have an exciting talent in Cathal Forde to build around, and then depth options like Tom Daly (plus academy lads like Daniel Hawkshaw and John Devine - all of whom are 12s).
Come on lads, it's obvious.
The only central contracts not confirmed for next season are Sexton (retiring), Earls (very likely retiring) and... Aki?
It was rumoured he had renewed, but not announced. Why not, when the IRFU usually make such a big deal of contract extensions?
Because he's going to Munster.
His contract runs out after the world cup. TBH I doubt we'll see him lining out for Munster again.
Rumours of Flannery comming back but he’s gone backwards since going to Ulster ….can’t see him adding any quality or depth to squad
Hasn't Earls signed on until post RWC, he may stay on until the end of next season.
Ya, Flannery was rumoured awhile back but nothing was ever confirmed.
Sam Arnold coming back would be another IQ option, but unlikely I'd imagine (he's in the 1st year of a 3 year deal with Brive). I wonder if another NIQ player could be considered, even post-RWC?
Is Flannery coming back? I heard the rumour a few months back, but nothings been mentioned since.
It was reported in the Sunday Times a couple of weeks ago that Flannery is staying in Ulster on an improved contract, with Madigan departing.
No offence to Goggin but he's exactly the sort of player Munster should be offloading, the problem now is getting someone better.
Yes but Flannery is coming back next year to fill in for Healy.
Yeah, you wouldn’t think so in such an attritional position. Can’t really think of any IQ players they could attract, so that would mean another NIQ centre.
I’d be surprised if they don’t sign someone else, tbh.
With Healy leaving, and last weekends selection, it may be an indication Crowley will be preferred at 10 going forward.
And even with Daly and Liam Coombes as cover, 3 senior centres isn’t enough.
Even if that was the plan Healy's departure makes it look impossible.
Earls is probably going to retire too further reducing center options. I assume Oli Morris will be out. He just hasn't featured and his contract is up. I wonder if theres any IQ centers available abroad.
No but if you are losing 3 and only gaining one senior centre. Then he may have to. There aren’t any prospects in the academy coming through are there? It always seems to be a problem position for Munster. Bit like SH for Leinster.
Unless of course they’re planning on moving Crowley there on a more permanent basis.
He can, but has been great this season and established himself as first choice wing. I’d be loathe to see him move.
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