Irish players being linked with moves to clubs in the Top 14 is very much en vogue at the moment with Paul O’Connell the latest high-profile name to hint at a move to France.
Following Jonathan Sexton’s switch to Racing Metro, speculation has suggested that Leinster teammates Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip are among those who might be interested in following in his footsteps, particularly if the IRFU aren’t prepared to fork out top dollar for their services.
At 34 years old (well, he turns 34 tomorrow) Paul O’Connell would seem a less likely candidate to try his hand in the Top 14 but in an interview with the Daily Mail he has hinted that the prospect intrigues him and that he would be open to the idea of a move which would probably see him see out his playing days in France.
When asked about the possibility of signing a new deal with the IRFU when his current contract expires next year, O’Connell, who stated his intention to play on until at least the 2015 World Cup, said: “I’m not sure… If I had to consider my options somewhere else I certainly would.
“It’s a big regret of mine not having played abroad. I’ve lived in Limerick all my life and while I love it here, I would like to experience life abroad. I haven’t started discussing my contract yet, so we’ll see what happens.”
Elaborating on what would make a move to France so attractive, O’Connell added: “I think certainly more and more people are going to go there from a financial point of view and also because of the facilities. What clubs like Racing Metro have now is second to none. The French Top 14 is turning into a fantastic league.
“Those clubs have very big squads too, so players maybe won’t have to play as many games as they would in the past, which has been a big fear for players going to France, he added.
“If the money keeps going the way it is, it could become a big headache for the home unions.”
You can read more of the O’Connell interview here but it seems as if a potential move to France is something he has given a lot of thought to and his comments on the possibility seem a little more than just a bargaining tool before he enters into contract negotiations with the IRFU.
It’s certainly worth keeping an eye on developments over the coming weeks and months.
