Not exactly what Munster needed to hear coming up to their biggest game of the season…
Munster fly-half JJ Hanrahan is on the brink of leaving the province at the end of the season with heavy speculation he will join English Premiership side Northampton.
According to
the Irish Times, Northampton have offered the Kerry man a lucrative deal in the region of €190,000 per year and the 22-year-old is said to be on the verge of agreeing terms with Jim Mallinder’s side.
Hanrahan is said to be frustrated at the lack of first team opportunities available at Munster where he plays a limited role at out-half and spends much of his time covering the rest of the backline.
He has made just four starts for Munster this season, two at fly-half and two at fullback, while tellingly, he was also an unused sub in last weekend’s Champions Cup defeat to Clermont Auvergne in Thomand Park, adding to rumours that he is to leave the Southern province.
The news will be a bitter blow to the province who view the versatile fly-half as one of their best and most promising young talents.
The path to the first team in Northampton would not be clear either with England capped Stephen Myler currently occupying the number ten jersey.
We will keep a close eye on this story and let you know if there are any more developments…
