Munster's O'Leary to consider French move.

[Restrepo]

Munster's O'Leary to consider French move.

- By Hugh Farrelly

Wednesday November 30 2011.


HAVING missed out on the World Cup with Ireland and lost his starting place with Munster, scrum-half Tomas O'Leary is considering a move abroad to re-ignite his rugby career.

Sources indicate that preliminary moves are underway to gauge interest in overseas clubs, with a switch to the Top 14 in France a preferred option for O'Leary, whose contract expires at the end of this season.

O'Leary, who turned 28 in October, has won 22 caps for Ireland and was part of the Grand Slam-winning side in 2009, when consistent form earned him selection on the Lions tour before injury prevented him travelling.

Injury problems hindered O'Leary's participation in this year's Six Nations and World Cup warm-up internationals but, having established himself as Ireland's first-choice since 2008, he was a surprise omission from Ireland's 30-man World Cup squad with Conor Murray, who has overtaken O'Leary as first-choice at Munster, joining Eoin Reddan and Isaac Boss as one of the three scrum-halves.

French clubs have been unsuccessful in their pursuit of Ireland players in recent times, with Rob Kearney turning down a reported €500,000 offer from France to stay in Ireland and Jonathan Sexton also rejecting a lucrative offer to switch to the Top 14.

But with O'Leary no longer first choice for province or country, Top 14 clubs such as Castres and Toulon, without a frontline international scrum-half on their books, could use a player like O'Leary.

While the majority of Ireland's World Cup squad were home-based players, a move to the Top 14 would not rule out an international recall for O'Leary. "There is no official policy precluding Ireland selection due to where players are based," said the IRFU. "While the IRFU obviously wants to keep all of our players in Ireland playing for our four provinces, it has not been as issue thus far."

[Restrepo]

O'Leary's French direction.

Top 14 move could prove springboard for Reds' out-of-favour scrum-half to get his career back into international spotlight.

- Wednesday November 30 2011.


TOMAS O'LEARY is not the first Ireland international to be linked with a move to France.

Over the last few seasons, Rob Kearney, Jamie Heaslip and Jonathan Sexton have all been courted by Top 14 clubs, while Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll was paraded by Biarritz president Marcel Martin in front of expectant home supporters back in 2005.

Being the subject of concerted, lucrative courtship is no bad thing when it comes to players negotiating deals to remain in Ireland but, in O'Leary's case, the logic behind such a move is meatier than merely seeking a contract bargaining tool.

The main motivation for O'Leary would be the fact he is no longer first-choice at Munster and has fallen out of Ireland's top three, behind Conor Murray, Eoin Reddan and Isaac Boss and, with Paul Marshall making waves in Ulster, game-time is a priority.

All the indications point to Murray (a player who has made the most of his rapid elevation with a series of accomplished displays at the World Cup and on his return) now being regarded as the established first choice with Munster and Ireland.

Having been promoted ahead of long-time incumbent Peter Stringer on Munster's run to the 2008 Heineken Cup title, O'Leary is now experiencing the flip-side of that situation with a gut-wrenching swoop from being Ireland's go-to No 9, to provincial back-up.

O'Leary made significant contributions as substitute to Munster's seismic opening European victories over the past few weeks and, while persistent injury problems and consequent loss of form contributed directly to his provincial and national demotion this year, he looks to be fit and firing once more.

Nonetheless, with the Heineken Cup the accepted casting ground for the Ireland team, being reduced to bit-part contributions off the bench reduces his capacity to work his way back into the Ireland reckoning.

While the IRFU understandably would prefer to keep all their top players with the provinces, and would be wary of a trickle to France becoming a flow, playing abroad does not ensure non-selection for the national side -- as the World Cup participation of Tommy Bowe (Ospreys) and Geordan Murphy (Leicester) proves.

When there is a 50-50 call in certain positions, the likelihood is that the home-based player will get the nod.

This is the reason why Mick O'Driscoll, Dan Tuohy and Devin Toner have been called up to the Ireland second-row ahead of London Irish stalwart Bob Casey in recent seasons and why Ulster's Chris Henry was favoured over (the similarly styled) Northampton No 8 Roger Wilson for the 2010 summer tour.

France came agonisingly close to winning the World Cup, despite a chaotic campaign and dubious selection policy and their domestic league, in terms of quality and intensity, is the best in [COLOR=#009900 !important]Europe[/COLOR].

Nailing down a regular spot with a Top 14 club would carry considerable clout on a player's international resume and, while players may haven been operating in a void back in Donal Spring's time, that is no longer the case, with coverage of French club matches easily available.

O'Leary is the type of scrum-half who could flourish in the Top 14 environment. While France excels at producing wispy, footballing scrum-halves in the Dimitri Yachvili, Morgan Parra, Julien Dupuy mould, the more physical No 9s are highly valued also, and Byron Kelleher has set a Top 14 template which O'Leary, at his best, can readily follow.

Then there is the timing aspect. O'Leary is out of contract at the end of the season, has just turned 28 and has many years left in his career.

A two-season stint in France would allow him ample time to return to Ireland and finish his career on home soil, availing of the tax incentive (40pc back over 10 years) for doing so.

Additionally, the fact that Ireland are at the start of a four-year World Cup cycle would allow enough time to come back and challenge for England 2015, while you would imagine a productive spell in the Top 14 would enhance, rather than reduce, O'Leary's claim for a place in the 2013 Lions squad to tour Australia, regardless of whether he was playing international rugby.

After a superb 2008/'09 season, O'Leary made the Lions squad for South Africa only to be denied by injury and the overall aim should be to get back to that level of performance -- a move to France could be just the act of rejuvenation required.

The nature of his last-minute omission from the World Cup squad was a massive psychological blow but O'Leary's response, including turning out for an All-Ireland League encounter as he battled his way back, has been encouraging.

A pro-active approach is always the best way forward. Mike Ross, Eoin Reddan, Damien Varley and Sean Cronin are all examples of players who took the plunge in search of game-time with productive results.

If the right offer is made, O'Leary going to France would certainly qualify as a proactive move -- and one which could benefit all concerned -- including Ireland coach Declan Kidney.
Ireland's wild geese

Jeremy Davidson - Castres
The Ulster second-row was perfectly suited to the abrasive nature of rugby in the south of France but, just like Brennan, fell out of the Ireland picture as Paul O'Connell came through and established himself. Went on to coach the Castres forwards.

Donal Spring - Bagniers
One of the heroes of Munster's win over the All Blacks in 1978, Spring won seven caps but was never dropped before his switch to Bagniers, where he fronted up superbly, describing his time there as "a learning curve in survival".

Trevor Brennan - Toulouse
A life-changing switch that brought the former Leinster back-row two Heineken Cup medals and a successful reinvention as a second-row. But Brennan did not add to his 13 caps after making the move. Compensation came with becoming a major hit in Toulouse, where he runs a popular Irish bar.

- Hugh Farrelly.

[MrsMcGahan]

New contract coming up?

[Cowboy]

Is he central contracted?

[deltared]

It's call my bluff time! Someones going to get hurt!!

[Viigand]

Would be a good move for him. He is back on form as his last two outings have shown, but will find it hard to get in ahead of Murray. Wouldn't like to see both himself and Strings leave though, I'm not entirely convinced that Duncan Williams is up to that standard, but I probably haven't seen enough of him to say that for definite.

[McCloud]

Is that champagne corks I hear popping down in Cork city?

[bugler]

Is he central contracted?

He is/was, but won't be next round, presumably.

Hard to know what to make of it, but he's in an interesting position compared to the players usually involved in these types of stories (DOC, BOD pissing about with AP/Top 14 sides with no intention of ever leaving). As the second article points out it's a better time for him to go now than in 2/3 years time due to the tax rebate. In salary terms, there is probably a wider gap between what Munster will pay and what foreign clubs would pay...be interesting to see how it turns out.

[mr chips]

Is that champagne corks I hear popping down in Cork city?

That's a very pointed question.

[John Cooper Clarke]

Kite flying by an agent I suggest. Surprised the Miami Dolphins or similar didn't get a mention.

[bugler]

Would be a good move for him. He is back on form as his last two outings have shown, but will find it hard to get in ahead of Murray. Wouldn't like to see both himself and Strings leave though, I'm not entirely convinced that Duncan Williams is up to that standard, but I probably haven't seen enough of him to say that for definite.

Strings surely won't leave at this stage though even if only for purely financial reasons. That could be something Munster factor in, retaining Strings/Williams/Murray. Should the worst happen and Murray gets injured, or even when away with Ireland, we could call upon a veteran still in great shape.

[the plastic paddy]

TOL has got to do what is right for him. How about this as a scenario, Tomas goes to France on a two year contract and with his departure, Munster are able to tempt young Luke McGrath from Leinster to come as back up to Murray and Williams with Strings expertise on hand to bring out the best in these youngsters and cover in case of injury? Wouldn't be the end of the world and McGrath is a serious prospect who should certainly be playing Rabid rugby next year somewhere in Ireland. Sure it is only agent talk but it could be serious.

[Point]

Is that champagne corks I hear popping down in Cork city?

I'd have replied earlier but I had to recover from the fits of laughter. He's bulls hitting, this should be an easy one for Garrett

I'd prefer if he faced reality and moved into the back 3, where he has the talent to succeed.

If he wants to stay as a scrumhalf, and leave, perhaps McGahan can bring him to his next Rugby League club ? Passing isn't such an issue there....

Still, at least this is a recognition that Murray is the superior player and, barring both legs falling off, will always be the starting scrumhalf for Munster.

[Old Dog]

Kite flying by an agent I suggest. Surprised the Miami Dolphins or similar didn't get a mention.

In fairness to Hugh Farrelly, he alluded to that in the article.

(Incidentally Hugh, it's Bagnères that Springer went to, not Bagnieres!)

[Point]

Would be a good move for him. He is back on form as his last two outings have shown, but will find it hard to get in ahead of Murray. Wouldn't like to see both himself and Strings leave though, I'm not entirely convinced that Duncan Williams is up to that standard, but I probably haven't seen enough of him to say that for definite.

In fairness, Williams hasn't been injured for a good while now, and while not up to Murray's standard, is turning out to be a decent back up.

[Old Dog]

Players who are genuinely planning to head abroad tend to do the deal first and then announce it, rather than whoring themselves around via the pages of the national tabloids. At a time of IRFU cutbacks, it's a rather foolish thing to do, IMHO.

That said, one must have some sympathy for TO'L who has plummeted from Lions selection to virtually redundant status in the course of 2 seasons.

[John Cooper Clarke]

Strings surely won't leave at this stage.....

He's 34, arguably 3rd or 4th choice at this stage, not playing particularly well imho, and is out of contract at season end.

He might well have no choice.

[John123]

My sources tell me this is not kite flying. I mentioned it in another O'Leary thread that this was his preferred option only a couple of months back.

[Point]

He's 34, arguably 3rd or 4th choice at this stage, not playing particularly well imho, and is out of contract at season end.

He might well have no choice.

He should have done it 2 years ago when he had the chance, and it should be a no-brainer for him to do it now. He's got a good 2-3 years left in him, rarely gets injured and is fit as a non-drinking, non-smoking, judo throwing, gym nut can be.

[bugler]

He's 34, arguably 3rd or 4th choice at this stage, not playing particularly well imho, and is out of contract at season end.

He might well have no choice.

He would have a massive financial incentive to retire. If he wants to play on but still keep that cash then he either stays with Munster or goes to another province.

Going abroad is not an option at this point.

[John Cooper Clarke]

He would have a massive financial incentive to retire. If he wants to play on but still keep that cash then he either stays with Munster or goes to another province.

Going abroad is not an option at this point.

Munster might not even offer him terms.

[Point]

He would have a massive financial incentive to retire. If he wants to play on but still keep that cash then he either stays with Munster or goes to another province.

Going abroad is not an option at this point.

Can he not come back to Ireland after a couple of years as a professional rugby player for say, an AIL club, for a season, and then retire ?

[bugler]

He should have done it 2 years ago when he had the chance, and it should be a no-brainer for him to do it now. He's got a good 2-3 years left in him, rarely gets injured and is fit as a non-drinking, non-smoking, judo throwing, gym nut can be.

I assume you mean to another province...I'm no accountant, but at this stage he would have to be paid insane money abroad to offset the 40% rebate.

[Point]

Munster might not even offer him terms.

Exactly, and a two or three year contract with a French or English club would surely be ample compensation (if he couldn't then finish at an AIL club for a season before retiring).

[bugler]

Can he not come back to Ireland after a couple of years as a professional rugby player for say, an AIL club, for a season, and then retire ?

I think Mullet did that. Not sure if it's still an option. No doubt someone knows the details.

The risk of a career ending injury could put everything away. There may be ways around everything, but personally I think this issue must have been in Strings mind already for him not to leave, and it would be a risk for uncertain gain.

[Point]

I assume you mean to another province...I'm no accountant, but at this stage he would have to be paid insane money abroad to offset the 40% rebate.

No, I actually meant a foreign club....and there are plenty of insane clubs in France

[Point]

I think Mullet did that. Not sure if it's still an option. No doubt someone knows the details.

The risk of a career ending injury could put everything away. There may be ways around everything, but personally I think this issue must have been in Strings mind already for him not to leave, and it would be a risk for uncertain gain.

It would be interesting to find that out....I'm sure that would have been made known if it was disallowed though.

As I said previously, Stringer has had a largely injury free career up to this, and in anycase, if he was to suffer a career threatening injury during a contract, he would presumably be covered by players insurance as others are.

[McCloud]

Can he not come back to Ireland after a couple of years as a professional rugby player for say, an AIL club, for a season, and then retire ?

A couple of years ago the mullet did that and so that option has now been cut off by the tax man.

[Point]

A couple of years ago the mullet did that and so that option has now been cut off by the tax man.

Do you have any link, as I don't recall seeing that in print ?

[John Cooper Clarke]

Do you have any link, as I don't recall seeing that in print ?

I'm certain I read that somewhere. A rinky dink season with an AIL club won't cut it.