NORTHAMPTON SAINTS HAVE confirmed the capture of JJ Hanrahan from Munster ahead of next season.
The 22-year-old Kerry native is understood to have become frustrated by the lack of first-team opportunities at his home province over the course of the current campaign.
Munster made a three-year contract offer to keep the highly-rated Hanrahan at the province, but the lure of the ambitious Saints swayed the out-half/centre. Hanrahan confirmed his decision to Munster management yesterday.
“I’m excited by the challenge that awaits me at Northampton Saints and I hope that I can help continue the Club’s recent successes in England and to challenge for European honours,” said Hanrahan.
I was hugely impressed by the setup at Franklin’s Gardens. Like Munster, Northampton is a club that has a proud history, great structures and a passionate local supporter base. I am really looking forward to testing myself in a new environment.”
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The loss of Hanrahan will come as a major disappointment to Munster fans, as well as the coaching staff at the province. While Ian Keatley’s status as first-choice out-half has been underlined with a new two-year contract, Hanrahan’s potential is clear.
The former Rockwell College student was nominated for the 2012 IRB Junior World Player of the Year award, while he has sparkled intermittently for Munster at out-half, centre and fullback.
I have thought long and hard about this decision, and as difficult as it is to leave I believe it is the right step to take for my future progression,” said Hanrahan.
“Growing up, Munster was all I knew and I will certainly miss it. I am very fortunate to have represented the province and team but I need to do what is best for me and avail of the next opportunity.
“I have had nothing but positive experiences at Munster. It is my home club and running out in the red jersey has been and remains a great privilege.
Hanrahan has made seven starts for Munster this season. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
“The coaching staff, from the academy through to the senior coaches, have been brilliant with me since I entered the academy. I remain fully committed to the Munster cause in the Pro12 and the European Champions Cup for the remainder of the season.”
Speaking from Munster’s point of view, CEO Garrett Fitzgerald expressed the province’s disappointment.
We understand his reasons for leaving at the end of the season and appreciate the opportunity available to him.
“We have done everything possible in looking to retain such a skilful player and offered a highly competitive package in the process but unfortunately the decision is out of our hands.
“We would like to wish JJ all the best, he is a talented player with a very bright future ahead of him.”
If he really wanted to leave and try to establish himself for ireland selection, he should have went to connacht. He could have progressed his career really well, playing every week. While also adding serious attacking ability to connacht. Probably wudnt hav made as much money as in England but in terms of ireland selection would hav been smarter
You got there in the end. Money talks in pro sport. Connacht’s backline will more then likely be taken apart in an attempt to bolster Leinster, ulster & Munster. Plus with northhapton he’ll get to play for a team who could be a match for the best sides in Europe.
If I’m not mistaken, connacht are sitting in 6th in the pro 12 (last Heineken cup spot), unbeaten at home for most the season, still hav a shot at progressing in the challenge cup and are selling out the sportsground regularly. So why would connacht born players want to leave in the near future. We are a work in progress but if we keep going the way we are, more irfu funding will hav to follow!
Major error on Munster’s part: they struggle to produce creative backs, and JJ is a huge talent. From Hanrahan’s perspective – and probably Ireland’s – this is likely to be a good move. He will develop more at Franklins Gardens than he has this season in Limerick.
Astonishing to see Foley essentially chose Keatley over JJ.
You would hope he will develop at Franklins Gardens and come back a stronger player but that is not always the case with Irish players who have moved to England. While Irish player development is a mandate for the Irish clubs because the IRFU hold the purse strings in England it’s all about results, and in the grind to the top many fine young prospects have crushed over there, and while there are players who have eventually succeeded (Murphy, Stringer) and come back stronger like Ross, Reddan (god I hope he doesn’t return to Leinster too), Jennings, Cullen. There is a far longer list of Irish players who have flopped or disappeared into the background. The comparison I cannot get out of my head when it come to JJ is Jeremy Staunton, there are so many blatant similarities between the two. I hope he overtakes Meyler quickly establishes himself as a 10 at the highest level and returns to Munster a complete player but nothing is a given in these situations…
Its hard to blame him, he was hardly used this season until reports emerged that he was considering a contract with Northampton that Foley decided to pick him but the damage was already done. Top player to lose for Munster and will be a big loss in the backline.
In terms of his international prospects he probably stands a better chance if he moves now while hes young and gets a ton of starts abroad then comes home in 2-4 years. It will make him a better 10
Munster only have themselves to blame. This guy should have been a regular in the team for the last couple of years but instead choose to play the likes of Hurley instead.
I don’t blame him for grabbing the opportunity. He knows where he stands in Munster and he obviously wants to play Out Half and he’s not rated highly enough in his current club and there’s not much he can do to change that.
Great potential and a huge loss to Munster. I’ll never forget that try in Perpignan and I don’t think we have any other player who could have scored that try that way.
Shockingly poor management from Munster, JJ has to potential to reach the absolute top level of the game and could have been the defining player for Munster over the coming years instead he is moving to major rival in terms of European competitions and leaving Munster down a genuinely creative backline option in team already short in that department. Given his obvious potential surely Munster and the IRFU for that matter should taken every available step to ensure he remained in Ireland. Any amount of players on the Munster roster could have been cut to offset the cost whether imports like Smith/ Howard / Bleyendaal or players below the required standard like Dineen/ Williams/ Holland/ Murphy….
Most worryingly is this the start of trend of foreign teams poaching younger players not protected by IRFU contracts. There are any number of promising players around the country with competition ahead of them who could be offered lucrative terms abroad off the top of my head any of Ulsters 12′s, some Leinster’s second tier backrow players like Conan, Ryan or Connacht’s McSharry could all be vunerable for example.
Agreed, munster seem more content on having a number of very average Rabo players on decent wages rather than a few key quality players.
Hard not to argue with JJ’s decision, munster release their two starting centers yet JJ plays second fiddle to a 30+ converted full back starting his first season at 12.
This is a well trodden path by Tommy Bowe, Roger Wilson’s generation. They left because Ulster had amateurish management. JJ is making a subtle statement about how the club is managed be that Axel and /or Fitzgerald. Ulster are equally vulnerable to this, because of similar reasons. Humph leaving was also a subtle statement about Ulster management.
When Bowe left Ulster had stalled as a club, as had his own career, he was entering his prime age and out of favour with Ireland, Osprey were a top team and Bowe’s career was a at a low ebb and nationally he was out of the picture. JJ should have the world at his feet at Munster, I can understand why he has left, but Munster and the IRFU need to take a serious look at why this happened like they did after our top player were targeted in the wake of Sexton’s move, our top prospects could be next in line. Hopefully JJ’s journey mirrors Tommy’s (over a shorter timespan) and we can all rejoice at have a world class talent rejoining the Irish fold in a couple of season.
@Johnny, curious how you put it. If Munster are not stalled and JJ own career is not stalled, then why is he moving clubs? It could be argued that JJ is entering his prime age and if he is not out of favour with Ireland, then moving to Northampton will distance him from the squad. Northampton are a top team who beat both Conor O’Shea and Mark McCall to the Premiership last season. JJ warming the bench could be considered by some as a career at a low ebb and is he in the national picture? Ulster are again stalled. The brains trust that was humph has left an aftermath, so much so that Stephen Ferris spoke out against the IRFU policy on the bbc. All is not what it should be at Ulster. The academy is not producing the depth required and there is no sign of any measures that are likely to do that. So would agree that the IRFU need to intervene but if an ambitious player is leaving a province for another successful club then the questions are about the management.
Garret Fitzgerald has been fumbling along now for a number of years. He’s been in the job too long. Like frank Murphy in GAA. Munster need a new director of rugby.
Great talent and best of luck to him I hope he returns soon.
But let’s not pin all the blame on Munster .
Did he ever really out perform keatly for the 10 spot ?
And if the money is not there to match North Hampton there is only so much Munster can do!
I also dont think this will help his Ireland chances at all how many Ireland players grim the last 10 year’s have played for teams outside of Ireland? Tommy bowe is the only one I can think of
Regarding Irish selection, he is simply being pragmatic. He cannot get near the Ireland squad until he is a regular for his club. He clearly feels he has more chance of achieving that in Northampton.
One thing is now for certain: JJ will not be playing at RWC15
Come on. He is chasing the money! He was offered a 3 year contract by munster. He won’t play anymore there than he has done here with myler established at 10, burrell established at 12 and foden established at 15. If he was really moving for playing opportunities he would be going to Connacht who need a goal kicking 10 to run their exciting back line.
I his last 2 Pro12 matches for Munster JJ failed to play to the required level to challenge either Keatley or Hurley. Against Connacht he was anonymous at first centre while at out half against Glasgow he missed a couple of easy penalties which were the difference between winning and losing.
I don’t rate him as a centre but agree that he has potential at out half but coaches need more than potential.
Hopefully he succeeds at Northampton, hones his skills in top level competition as their first choice outhalf for a couple of seasons and returns to Munster and Ireland a complete player on an IRFU contract like T-Bowe with the Ospreys…. (silver lining?)
Whilst I couldn’t agree with Axel’s continued favouring of Keatley over JJ at out half, I can see his logic. Where he loses me completely is in regularly selecting Hurley – a mediocre player – ahead of Hanrahan at 12. This is a consequence.
I agree that the outhalves should have been rotated a lot more and JJ deserved a lot more game time this season. Fitzgerald and Foley really messed up. That said JJ was quick enough to walk away. He only really just broke into the first team last year and himself and Keatley shared the 10 jersey last season. He hasn’t been played as much as he should have this season but he was very quick to go elsewhere rather than stay and fight for a place in the club that brought him up through their academy. Hope he does a Paul Warwick on it and does a U-turn later in the season.
He hasn’t played that we’ll when selected and definitely not consistently well. You have to be consistently better than your direct rival for a jersey to deserve it and he hasn’t been unfortunately. He was anonymous against Connacht last week for instance.
That said I don’t think Keatley is setting the world alight either. I wasn’t a fan of Rob Penney but he rotated the squad well. Been plenty of opportunities to give JJ a run.
Axle has said that JJ has struggled with a groin injury which is why he hasn’t started enough. I agree that Keatley has been a bit bi polar but when he has been good it’s been excellent. I think that this decision by JJ is petulant and immature. I hope he goes on to fulfill his potential but this poor decision reminds me of Jeremy Staunton who made a similar poor decision at the same time in his career and became a journey man 10.
Exactly. JJ was late back to season due to injury so Keatley was always going to have bit of head start. I still think he should have got more games but it does seem like he’s very quick to jump ship rather than fight for his place. Ian Madigan had more reason to leave leinster given he barely has had a chance at outhalf and considering he was a more established player in a first team set up. Yet he is staying on and working on getting his place back. Respect his patience and loyalty to his club. As you said it was bit premature by only mid season for JJ to up sticks and leave. A lot more rugby to be played this season
This is Shit but I don’t think we can part all the blame on Munster.
Can anyone say he played better than keatly and did enough to get his place?
This was also the case under Penny he got more game time with Penny but when the chips where down keaths was 1st choice 10 .
We also don’t know the story behind the sence is JJ a good trainer does he have the right attitude is he progressing as a professional ?
These are all factors taking into account .
Add to that the captain of a world cup winning under 20s New Zealand team Tyler bleyendaal is on the way .
I’m sure they made him good offer to stay but then the ball is in JJs court he has 2 contracts in front of him he has to pick one Munster didn’t make him sign it .
If he really wants to put himself in the window for Ireland well history will tell you England is not the place to do it.
Bowe and sexton only 2 in last 10 year’s to play outside of Ireland and play for Ireland both where and are still top test players
What an absolute waste, JJ showed such promise and wasn’t given half enough of a chance to develop himself. Now we’re stuck with Keatley who has the consistency of a wet paper bag
People are going on as if he was something special. He wasn’t even a first team player. Let him off and develop as a player. He would have had a better chance of first team rugby with a weaker team than Northampton all the same. He could still end up being a bench warmer.
Good luck to jj.. disappointed to see him leave but hardly the disaster many are making it out to be. Do think he’s a good player with potential to be great. Would have him over keatley and Hurley for that matter..but thankfully for all munster fans I’m not the coach. He has a right to sample a different rugby culture without being accused as petulant. It baffles me the reaction here when a player leaves Ireland for a foreign club.. when theyre good its the end of the world, when they are average its a good move for them.
Hope he grows as a player and comes back to us better for it
Terrible news for Munster and the management would want to have serious look at themselves.The writing was on the wall as soon as Axel got the job with the return to a physical bully style at the expense of talented ball playing backs.Keatley at best is ROG light just trying to play by numbers in to corners and hope for pens which isn’t great when he’s so inconsistent with the boot and putting Hurley in center as just another big body is hindering Munster aswell.A trio of JJ,Keatley and Howard with Hurley and Earls to back up would give us more options to worry defences instead they know we’re just about bashing it up.
Munster have just jumped ahead of Leinster in the queue to sign Henshaw, ultimately it will be the IRFU who will decide when and where he goes to, it a no brainier now. With Sexton back at Leinster Munster are going to get the next big call from the top brass. Not a bad bit of business
jP why would Henshaw move to Munster?
if he wants to play with other Irish backs he either goes to ulster or Leinster or stays out west.
If it was me I’d want to be on a rugby pitch with sexton every day.
One reason Darcy played so many times for Ireland was his understanding with bod and later with sexton.
Infact Darcy has a very good chance of starting 12 for Ireland because of his experience of playing outside sexton.
Munster have a 10/12 signed Tyler-bleyendaal but was delayed joining the team with a bad injury.
He’s in rehab and last I heard going well
He’s a well rated player too
He has done the right thing (for himself) by leaving but going to Northampton is definitely not the right decision. Myler is king there and has just signed new 2 year contract. He will get the same, if not less, game time with Saints.
There was always the possibility of him being first here choice for the 10 shirt in the near future but can’t say same about Northampton.
Can’t see it being about money as they wouldn’t have much more than ourselves, especially not for a squad player which I’m sure he will be.
Very disappointing overall. Growing tired of the Axel era already
STG 150,000 pa. Munster had no hope of paying that for a #2 outhalf. At least not unless DOB was willing to help out as he has done with several Leinster players.
Should the IRFU have got involved and encouraged him to go to Connacht? He would have been playing with Marmion, Aki and Henshaw and getting more game-time. What’s not to like?
“the game time he belives he deserves”
that’s the thing Chris everyone has an opinion on weather JJ or keatly should play 10 for Munster , no douth that JJ is a gifted player but this is the second coach who belives he is not ready to be the starting 10 for the biggest games.
He was offered a 3 year deal that’s unheard of for 22year old non international.
Munster and the other Irish teams have 1 bargaining chip when it comes to the big money teams and that’s the chance to play for your home team or Ireland.
This time it looks like the money won if it works out for him and he nails down the 10 spot at NorthHampton great ! he can then return to an Irish team at only 24 years of age and try and get on the Ireland team
So two Munster coaches, Penney and Foley, must both be wrong because they both had Keatley as their first choice.Of course Jj wants to be number one but he has got to earn the jersey.He failed to prove to 2 successive coaches that has. Every one is talking about him seems to mention the same word
“potential ”
Not “proven”. He was offered a 3year deal for similar money as Saints offered him by munster which is pretty incredible for a no2 outhalf .He had two contracts on offer and he went with Saints for his own reasons. Not sure what else people expected Foley and Munster to do?
Tom that’s why I said ” he believes” we have all though at certain times we should be selected ahead of others and sometimes you need to change clubs to get the game time you want.
Just because he thinks he’s good enough doesn’t mean he is.
He’s got his chance now Chris to prove it.Hope it works out well for him.in two years both his and Keatleys respective contracts will be up for grabs again and then we will see if his gamble worked. Maybe then he will have fulfilled his undeniable potential and munster and the IRFU will pay top euro to get him back.All academic now anyways.time for the younger players to step up and prove their worth
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Can’t blame him. He needs to advance his career, and I hope he’ll come back to us in the future as a better player. Best of luck to him
Quality player with potential to kick on further now but I’m not convinced he’s guaranteed his place in Northampton either…….
Very foolish from Munster. Think he had incredible potential
Would be delighted if today’s news was that JJ had signed for two more years and Keatley was gone to Northampton.
Nnnnnnnooooooooooooo!
If he really wanted to leave and try to establish himself for ireland selection, he should have went to connacht. He could have progressed his career really well, playing every week. While also adding serious attacking ability to connacht. Probably wudnt hav made as much money as in England but in terms of ireland selection would hav been smarter
You got there in the end. Money talks in pro sport. Connacht’s backline will more then likely be taken apart in an attempt to bolster Leinster, ulster & Munster. Plus with northhapton he’ll get to play for a team who could be a match for the best sides in Europe.
If I’m not mistaken, connacht are sitting in 6th in the pro 12 (last Heineken cup spot), unbeaten at home for most the season, still hav a shot at progressing in the challenge cup and are selling out the sportsground regularly. So why would connacht born players want to leave in the near future. We are a work in progress but if we keep going the way we are, more irfu funding will hav to follow!
To increase their income, profile and chances of winning silverware. Those are the usual reasons players move.
Sign a 31 year old scrum half and get rid of a 22 year old out half. Makes no sense yet another step backwards
$$$$$$$$$
Northampton aren’t exactly made of money, Dave. If it was France, then yes, definitely $$$
Major error on Munster’s part: they struggle to produce creative backs, and JJ is a huge talent. From Hanrahan’s perspective – and probably Ireland’s – this is likely to be a good move. He will develop more at Franklins Gardens than he has this season in Limerick.
Astonishing to see Foley essentially chose Keatley over JJ.
Let’s not forget Penney did the same.
You would hope he will develop at Franklins Gardens and come back a stronger player but that is not always the case with Irish players who have moved to England. While Irish player development is a mandate for the Irish clubs because the IRFU hold the purse strings in England it’s all about results, and in the grind to the top many fine young prospects have crushed over there, and while there are players who have eventually succeeded (Murphy, Stringer) and come back stronger like Ross, Reddan (god I hope he doesn’t return to Leinster too), Jennings, Cullen. There is a far longer list of Irish players who have flopped or disappeared into the background. The comparison I cannot get out of my head when it come to JJ is Jeremy Staunton, there are so many blatant similarities between the two. I hope he overtakes Meyler quickly establishes himself as a 10 at the highest level and returns to Munster a complete player but nothing is a given in these situations…
Disaster!
Its hard to blame him, he was hardly used this season until reports emerged that he was considering a contract with Northampton that Foley decided to pick him but the damage was already done. Top player to lose for Munster and will be a big loss in the backline.
Wow . . Anthony Foley is very quickly eroding his legendary status! Disgraceful!
This is BS. Angry is not the word…
Disgraceful stuff from Munster management.
In terms of his international prospects he probably stands a better chance if he moves now while hes young and gets a ton of starts abroad then comes home in 2-4 years. It will make him a better 10
2 year deals for keatley and JJ…hopefully at the end of the 2 years its goodbye keatley and foley and back with ROG and JJ
Munster only have themselves to blame. This guy should have been a regular in the team for the last couple of years but instead choose to play the likes of Hurley instead.
”We have done everything to retain such a skillful player”
yeah, apart from giving him gametime. Complete shambles that this has happened, even more so because it’s the fact that Foley hasn’t backed him.
No it’s not down to foley but down too that pr1ck garret Fitzgerald who let rob penny go. Fitzgerald out!
I thought Foley picks the team not Fitzgerald. Foley wouldn’t play him, neither did Penney. Same old crap from you Philip Ryan
I don’t blame him for grabbing the opportunity. He knows where he stands in Munster and he obviously wants to play Out Half and he’s not rated highly enough in his current club and there’s not much he can do to change that.
Great potential and a huge loss to Munster. I’ll never forget that try in Perpignan and I don’t think we have any other player who could have scored that try that way.
Garrett Fitzgerald out, turning us into also rans
Shockingly poor management from Munster, JJ has to potential to reach the absolute top level of the game and could have been the defining player for Munster over the coming years instead he is moving to major rival in terms of European competitions and leaving Munster down a genuinely creative backline option in team already short in that department. Given his obvious potential surely Munster and the IRFU for that matter should taken every available step to ensure he remained in Ireland. Any amount of players on the Munster roster could have been cut to offset the cost whether imports like Smith/ Howard / Bleyendaal or players below the required standard like Dineen/ Williams/ Holland/ Murphy….
Most worryingly is this the start of trend of foreign teams poaching younger players not protected by IRFU contracts. There are any number of promising players around the country with competition ahead of them who could be offered lucrative terms abroad off the top of my head any of Ulsters 12′s, some Leinster’s second tier backrow players like Conan, Ryan or Connacht’s McSharry could all be vunerable for example.
Agreed, munster seem more content on having a number of very average Rabo players on decent wages rather than a few key quality players.
Hard not to argue with JJ’s decision, munster release their two starting centers yet JJ plays second fiddle to a 30+ converted full back starting his first season at 12.
This is a well trodden path by Tommy Bowe, Roger Wilson’s generation. They left because Ulster had amateurish management. JJ is making a subtle statement about how the club is managed be that Axel and /or Fitzgerald. Ulster are equally vulnerable to this, because of similar reasons. Humph leaving was also a subtle statement about Ulster management.
When Bowe left Ulster had stalled as a club, as had his own career, he was entering his prime age and out of favour with Ireland, Osprey were a top team and Bowe’s career was a at a low ebb and nationally he was out of the picture. JJ should have the world at his feet at Munster, I can understand why he has left, but Munster and the IRFU need to take a serious look at why this happened like they did after our top player were targeted in the wake of Sexton’s move, our top prospects could be next in line. Hopefully JJ’s journey mirrors Tommy’s (over a shorter timespan) and we can all rejoice at have a world class talent rejoining the Irish fold in a couple of season.
@Johnny, curious how you put it. If Munster are not stalled and JJ own career is not stalled, then why is he moving clubs? It could be argued that JJ is entering his prime age and if he is not out of favour with Ireland, then moving to Northampton will distance him from the squad. Northampton are a top team who beat both Conor O’Shea and Mark McCall to the Premiership last season. JJ warming the bench could be considered by some as a career at a low ebb and is he in the national picture? Ulster are again stalled. The brains trust that was humph has left an aftermath, so much so that Stephen Ferris spoke out against the IRFU policy on the bbc. All is not what it should be at Ulster. The academy is not producing the depth required and there is no sign of any measures that are likely to do that. So would agree that the IRFU need to intervene but if an ambitious player is leaving a province for another successful club then the questions are about the management.
This is some joke, Anthony Foley is not cut out to man management at all.
Garret Fitzgerald has been fumbling along now for a number of years. He’s been in the job too long. Like frank Murphy in GAA. Munster need a new director of rugby.
Great talent and best of luck to him I hope he returns soon.
But let’s not pin all the blame on Munster .
Did he ever really out perform keatly for the 10 spot ?
And if the money is not there to match North Hampton there is only so much Munster can do!
I also dont think this will help his Ireland chances at all how many Ireland players grim the last 10 year’s have played for teams outside of Ireland? Tommy bowe is the only one I can think of
Regarding Irish selection, he is simply being pragmatic. He cannot get near the Ireland squad until he is a regular for his club. He clearly feels he has more chance of achieving that in Northampton.
One thing is now for certain: JJ will not be playing at RWC15
Why not?
Come on. He is chasing the money! He was offered a 3 year contract by munster. He won’t play anymore there than he has done here with myler established at 10, burrell established at 12 and foden established at 15. If he was really moving for playing opportunities he would be going to Connacht who need a goal kicking 10 to run their exciting back line.
Meyler is leaving northampyon so id say the prospect of being first choice is why hes leaving
Myler is going nowhere. He has just signed on for two more years.
Was he mentioned in the leaked email? Might be a reason to leave …Honest question not starting any Munster bashing
I don’t think so. Was just mentioned as “injured”
I his last 2 Pro12 matches for Munster JJ failed to play to the required level to challenge either Keatley or Hurley. Against Connacht he was anonymous at first centre while at out half against Glasgow he missed a couple of easy penalties which were the difference between winning and losing.
I don’t rate him as a centre but agree that he has potential at out half but coaches need more than potential.
unbelievable really. If Keatley is the answer them it must be a stupid question.
Hopefully he succeeds at Northampton, hones his skills in top level competition as their first choice outhalf for a couple of seasons and returns to Munster and Ireland a complete player on an IRFU contract like T-Bowe with the Ospreys…. (silver lining?)
Whilst I couldn’t agree with Axel’s continued favouring of Keatley over JJ at out half, I can see his logic. Where he loses me completely is in regularly selecting Hurley – a mediocre player – ahead of Hanrahan at 12. This is a consequence.
Yeah, especially since he signed Tyler to use as a second player maker as was very vocal about how he wanted to play that way
Devastating news for Munster rugby football.
I agree Paul Sheehan
I agree that the outhalves should have been rotated a lot more and JJ deserved a lot more game time this season. Fitzgerald and Foley really messed up. That said JJ was quick enough to walk away. He only really just broke into the first team last year and himself and Keatley shared the 10 jersey last season. He hasn’t been played as much as he should have this season but he was very quick to go elsewhere rather than stay and fight for a place in the club that brought him up through their academy. Hope he does a Paul Warwick on it and does a U-turn later in the season.
He hasn’t played that we’ll when selected and definitely not consistently well. You have to be consistently better than your direct rival for a jersey to deserve it and he hasn’t been unfortunately. He was anonymous against Connacht last week for instance.
That said I don’t think Keatley is setting the world alight either. I wasn’t a fan of Rob Penney but he rotated the squad well. Been plenty of opportunities to give JJ a run.
Axle has said that JJ has struggled with a groin injury which is why he hasn’t started enough. I agree that Keatley has been a bit bi polar but when he has been good it’s been excellent. I think that this decision by JJ is petulant and immature. I hope he goes on to fulfill his potential but this poor decision reminds me of Jeremy Staunton who made a similar poor decision at the same time in his career and became a journey man 10.
Exactly. JJ was late back to season due to injury so Keatley was always going to have bit of head start. I still think he should have got more games but it does seem like he’s very quick to jump ship rather than fight for his place. Ian Madigan had more reason to leave leinster given he barely has had a chance at outhalf and considering he was a more established player in a first team set up. Yet he is staying on and working on getting his place back. Respect his patience and loyalty to his club. As you said it was bit premature by only mid season for JJ to up sticks and leave. A lot more rugby to be played this season
This is Shit but I don’t think we can part all the blame on Munster.
Can anyone say he played better than keatly and did enough to get his place?
This was also the case under Penny he got more game time with Penny but when the chips where down keaths was 1st choice 10 .
We also don’t know the story behind the sence is JJ a good trainer does he have the right attitude is he progressing as a professional ?
These are all factors taking into account .
Add to that the captain of a world cup winning under 20s New Zealand team Tyler bleyendaal is on the way .
I’m sure they made him good offer to stay but then the ball is in JJs court he has 2 contracts in front of him he has to pick one Munster didn’t make him sign it .
If he really wants to put himself in the window for Ireland well history will tell you England is not the place to do it.
Bowe and sexton only 2 in last 10 year’s to play outside of Ireland and play for Ireland both where and are still top test players
What an absolute waste, JJ showed such promise and wasn’t given half enough of a chance to develop himself. Now we’re stuck with Keatley who has the consistency of a wet paper bag
People are going on as if he was something special. He wasn’t even a first team player. Let him off and develop as a player. He would have had a better chance of first team rugby with a weaker team than Northampton all the same. He could still end up being a bench warmer.
Good luck to jj.. disappointed to see him leave but hardly the disaster many are making it out to be. Do think he’s a good player with potential to be great. Would have him over keatley and Hurley for that matter..but thankfully for all munster fans I’m not the coach. He has a right to sample a different rugby culture without being accused as petulant. It baffles me the reaction here when a player leaves Ireland for a foreign club.. when theyre good its the end of the world, when they are average its a good move for them.
Hope he grows as a player and comes back to us better for it
Terrible news for Munster and the management would want to have serious look at themselves.The writing was on the wall as soon as Axel got the job with the return to a physical bully style at the expense of talented ball playing backs.Keatley at best is ROG light just trying to play by numbers in to corners and hope for pens which isn’t great when he’s so inconsistent with the boot and putting Hurley in center as just another big body is hindering Munster aswell.A trio of JJ,Keatley and Howard with Hurley and Earls to back up would give us more options to worry defences instead they know we’re just about bashing it up.
I guess the zebra murderer becomes more important for Munster now
Munster have just jumped ahead of Leinster in the queue to sign Henshaw, ultimately it will be the IRFU who will decide when and where he goes to, it a no brainier now. With Sexton back at Leinster Munster are going to get the next big call from the top brass. Not a bad bit of business
jP why would Henshaw move to Munster?
if he wants to play with other Irish backs he either goes to ulster or Leinster or stays out west.
If it was me I’d want to be on a rugby pitch with sexton every day.
One reason Darcy played so many times for Ireland was his understanding with bod and later with sexton.
Infact Darcy has a very good chance of starting 12 for Ireland because of his experience of playing outside sexton.
Just wondering who will play outlhalf when Keatley is not available?
Guess Zebo will have to step up to the mark – or maybe Earls?
:-)
Munster have a 10/12 signed Tyler-bleyendaal but was delayed joining the team with a bad injury.
He’s in rehab and last I heard going well
He’s a well rated player too
Bleyendaal will probably be second choice outhalf when JJ departs…..that is if he ever manages to get over here
Beat me to it Seán Pól!
He’s arriving this month apparently
He has done the right thing (for himself) by leaving but going to Northampton is definitely not the right decision. Myler is king there and has just signed new 2 year contract. He will get the same, if not less, game time with Saints.
There was always the possibility of him being first here choice for the 10 shirt in the near future but can’t say same about Northampton.
Can’t see it being about money as they wouldn’t have much more than ourselves, especially not for a squad player which I’m sure he will be.
Very disappointing overall. Growing tired of the Axel era already
STG 150,000 pa. Munster had no hope of paying that for a #2 outhalf. At least not unless DOB was willing to help out as he has done with several Leinster players.
Several? Or one?
Lads relax. ..we have Hurley and Bohane……. who he !
While I agree with most comments, I reckon people saying he played better at 10 than Keatley are wrong IMO
Should the IRFU have got involved and encouraged him to go to Connacht? He would have been playing with Marmion, Aki and Henshaw and getting more game-time. What’s not to like?
This….
Disaster for Munster and Irish rugby. Money from UK and France winning, only a matter of time when all our rugby talent will leave to go overseas.
Tom this is not about money, it’s about a young player not getting the correct man management or game time he believes he deserves
“the game time he belives he deserves”
that’s the thing Chris everyone has an opinion on weather JJ or keatly should play 10 for Munster , no douth that JJ is a gifted player but this is the second coach who belives he is not ready to be the starting 10 for the biggest games.
He was offered a 3 year deal that’s unheard of for 22year old non international.
Munster and the other Irish teams have 1 bargaining chip when it comes to the big money teams and that’s the chance to play for your home team or Ireland.
This time it looks like the money won if it works out for him and he nails down the 10 spot at NorthHampton great ! he can then return to an Irish team at only 24 years of age and try and get on the Ireland team
So two Munster coaches, Penney and Foley, must both be wrong because they both had Keatley as their first choice.Of course Jj wants to be number one but he has got to earn the jersey.He failed to prove to 2 successive coaches that has. Every one is talking about him seems to mention the same word
“potential ”
Not “proven”. He was offered a 3year deal for similar money as Saints offered him by munster which is pretty incredible for a no2 outhalf .He had two contracts on offer and he went with Saints for his own reasons. Not sure what else people expected Foley and Munster to do?
Fair point Chris.
Tom that’s why I said ” he believes” we have all though at certain times we should be selected ahead of others and sometimes you need to change clubs to get the game time you want.
Just because he thinks he’s good enough doesn’t mean he is.
Those arguments don’t stack up. It’s simply about the money.
He’s got his chance now Chris to prove it.Hope it works out well for him.in two years both his and Keatleys respective contracts will be up for grabs again and then we will see if his gamble worked. Maybe then he will have fulfilled his undeniable potential and munster and the IRFU will pay top euro to get him back.All academic now anyways.time for the younger players to step up and prove their worth