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Confirmed: Munster out-half to join Clermont Auvergne
By Ciarán Kennedy
Munster have this morning confirmed that JJ Hanrahan will leave the province at the end of the season and move to the Top14. Hanrahan has agreed a one-year contract – with the option of a second year – with Clermont Auvergne, a move widely reported in the French media last week, after Munster decided against offering the 28-year-old a new contract.
Hanrahan has made 140 appearances across two spells with the club, leaving for Northampton Saints in 2015 before returning to Limerick in 2017.
He had remained a central part of the team under head coach Johann van Graan but the recent return of Joey Carbery from a long-term injury has pushed Hanrahan back down the queue at out-half. Munster also have a wealth of young out-half talent coming though in the form of Ben Healy, Jack Crowley and Jake Flannery, leaving Hanrahan surplus to requirements.
"It was difficult to hear the news regarding my future with Munster Rugby, however, it has been a dream come true and a privilege to represent my home province and wear the jersey for eight years," Hanrahan said.
"I have lifelong friends from this club, and I am very proud to represent the people of Munster and in particular the people of Kerry.
"Equally, I believe I am going to a club with very similar traditions and values in Clermont and it’s an opportunity I am extremely excited for. Currently my main focus is to give everything I have to the Munster jersey during my time left here in Ireland."
Hanrahan will have caught the eye of Clermont when he played a key role in Munster's remarkable comeback win at the Stade Marcel Michelin earlier this season, scoring 24 points in a stunning 39-31 win.
Van Graan said, "JJ is a fantastic player and has been a great servant to Munster Rugby.
"We’ve said from the beginning we want to retain all of our players but unfortunately the harsh realities of what’s happened over the past year have come to a head.
"Due to the challenges stemming from the Covid landscape we are not in a position to hold onto a player of JJ’s calibre, and we are sorry to see him go.
"While he has a fantastic opportunity ahead of him we still have a job to do here and we look forward to JJ successfully seeing out his time in the red jersey."
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Latest Comments
We beat Wales. Oh wow.
Go to commentsAs has been the way all year, and for all England's play I can remember. I missed a lot of the better years under Eddie though.
Lets have a look at the LQB for the last few games... 41% under 3 sec compared to 56% last week, 47% in the game you felt England best in against NZ, and 56 against Ireland.
That was my impression as well. Dunno if that is a lack of good counterattack ball from the D, forward dominance (Post Contact Meters stats reversed yesterday compared to that fast Ireland game), or some Borthwick scheme, but I think that has been highlighted as Englands best point of difference this year with their attack, more particularly how they target using it in certain areas. So depending on how you look at it, not necessarily the individual players.
You seem to be falling into the same trap as NZs supporters when it comes to Damien McKenzie. That play you highlight Slade in wasn't one of those LQB situations from memory, that was all on the brilliance of Smith. Sure, Slade did his job in that situation, but Smith far exceeded his (though I understand it was a move Sleightholme was calling for). But yeah, it's not always going to be on a platter from your 10 and NZ have been missing that Slade line, in your example, more often than not too. When you go back to Furbank and Feyi-Waboso returns you'll have that threat again. Just need to generate that ball, wait for some of these next Gen forwards to come through etc, the props and injured 6 coming back to the bench. I don't think you can put Earl back to 7, unless he spends the next two years speeding up (which might be good for him because he's getting beat by speed like he's not used to not having his own speed to react anymore).
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