Two more players exit Exeter, including recent quarter-final starter

Munster have bolstered their midfield options by capturing the signature of Sean O’Brien from Exeter for next season. The Irish province have already released Chris Farrell and Dan Goggin from their contracts before the end of the current campaign, the pair respectively heading off to France and Australia, while it was also announced that former All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa will leave after just a single year at the club.

Those departures have now resulted in the recruitment of O’Brien, who emerged at Connacht before heading to the Gallager Premiership Chiefs in the summer of 2021. He has recently enjoyed successive knockout stage Heineken Champions Cup starts versus Montpellier and the Stormers.

A statement read: “Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm the signing of centre Sean O’Brien on a two-year deal ahead of the 2023/24 season.

“From Westmeath, the centre has been playing with the Premiership’s Exeter Chiefs for the past two seasons and most recently started in the club’s Champions Cup round of 16 and quarter-final games. The 24-year-old has previously played for Connacht and lined out for the Ireland U20s in 2018 with current Munster players Diarmuid Barron, Jack Daly and Jack O’Sullivan.”

Confirmation of the O’Brien-to-Munster deal emerged on the same day that Exeter lost 21-year-old forward Ollie Leatherbarrow to Newcastle on a two-year deal after two years at the Chiefs. "I will always be massively grateful to the Chiefs and Exeter University for the opportunity they have given me," said the former Scotland U20s back row.

"The pathway it has provided me, and others for that matter, is clear to see and it clearly works. The past two years have been great, on and off the field, and I leave the Chiefs and Exeter with so many happy memories. I've no doubt that the club will continue to flourish in the future, but now is the time for me to try a new challenge.

"I’m massively excited by the move and the chance to be part of the Newcastle squad. It’s a big opportunity for me to become a better player and a better person in a great environment as a club, and in an exciting city."