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Leinster confirm scrum-half to re-join after two-year stint with Munster

Nick McCarthy is heading back to Leinster. (Getty)

Leinster have announced that scrum-half Nick McCarthy is to re-join the province following a two-year stint with Munster. McCarthy left Leinster in 2019 and has played 20 times for Munster across two seasons.

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However the scrum-half will now return to to his home province at the end of the season after finding first-team opportunities limited at Munster. Conor Murray remains Johann van Graan’s first choice scrum-half while Craig Casey has enjoyed a rapid rise this season, including a first Ireland cap. As a result McCarthy has managed to start only four games this season.

McCarthy made his Leinster Rugby debut in December 2015 in the Aviva Stadium against Toulon in the Champions Cup and his last game for the  province was the Guinness Pro14 Final against Glasgow Warriors in Celtic Park in 2019.

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      He came through the Leinster Rugby Academy system and scored four tries in 36 appearances for Leinster before signing with Munster.

      “Nick is a player we know very well. We know the qualities that he brings as a player but also as a person and the additional experience he now has from two years in another environment is an added advantage,” said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.

      “We look forward to him joining us for pre-season and welcoming him back to UCD.”

      McCarthy has been capped at Ireland Under-20 level and captained them at the 2014 Under-20 World Cup.

      “I want to thank everyone for my time in Munster Rugby,” McCarthy said.

      “It’s a special club to play for with a great rugby culture. I have really enjoyed the experience, learned loads and made friends for life.

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      “I am excited now to get back to Dublin in the summer. I will continue to challenge myself, compete at the highest level and hopefully add value to the squad in Leinster.”

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      PM 59 minutes ago
      Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start

      Nick,

      I am a long suffering England fan, who has had to endure watching 4 years of dull rugby, poor selections and painful defeats. Steve Borthwick talks about GPS and picks squads by numbers and then we put in a poor performance on the pitch - it’s been a consistent trend.


      Something changed in the Six Nations and we totally changed our style (literally overnight) and played some really good footie, which finally felt like positive rugby for a change.


      Genge has regained his pore-Covid form and is looking back to his best and is head and shoulders above Porter.


      Chessum has had a good year and hasn’t played a poor International game this season.


      Tom Curry was outstanding in the 6 Nations but they have been playing him at 6, wheras he is better at 7 and is lethal at the breakdown.


      Tom Willis was brought into the starting team at 8 and has been one of the best England players over the last year, who should have been on this Lions tour at 8. Earl had his best game since 2020 last week - not sure 1 game warrants Lions selection over a poor combination side and he is certainly second choice for his club 7 country behind Willis.


      Pollock will be a good player but like all young emerging players, he is inconsistent and can go quiet in games, which is why Curry should be the starter at 7. He brings energy to games, which is why he is good from the bench but there is an argument to say he is the 5th best England openside (Curry x2, Underhill & Earl are currently better) but will improve over the next 5 years. We just need to stop the media building him up for a fall, let him play and develop and you will see a sensational Henry Pollock for the Lions in 4 years time.


      Lions will be too powerful over 80 mins, so doesn’t really matter who they pick. Just please don’t put too much hype on Pollock. His 20 mins of International rugby going into this tour were positive but the media caused a frenzy and no other player would be selected on this basis.


      Let’s enjoy the rugby and give Pollock the space and time he requires.

      100 Go to comments
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