Ex-Ireland 10 Joey Carbery heavily implies he'd play for Six Nations rivals

Former Ireland fly-half Joey Carbery has revealed he is open to representing England, as he approaches three years without a Test appearance for the nation he was once tipped to lead.

The 27-year-old who left Munster under somewhat of a cloud last year, is currently plying his trade at Top 14 heavyweights Bordeaux.

Carbery had been hailed as the heir apparent to Johnny Sexton at international level.

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The New Zealand-born pivot was initially got his start at Leinster, where the presence of Sexton at standoff often meant deputising at full-back. With Ireland and then-head coach Joe Schmidt eager to see him develop as an out-and-out fly-half, a high-profile interprovincial transfer to Munster followed in 2018.

The move was meant to fast-track Carbery’s progress but persistent injuries and the emergence of younger talents Jack Crowley and Ben Healy curtailed his game time. With things clearly not working out in Limerick, the No.10 left Irish rugby in the rearview mirror with a move to Top 14 heavyweight Bordeaux.

Carbery has now told Irish sport’s radio show Off the Ball that he is prepared to represent England should he sign for a Gallagher Premiership club in the near future.

“It’s something [returning to Irish rugby] I haven’t given a huge amount of thought to purely because I won’t know until contract negotiation comes around maybe in a year’s time or even earlier than that,” Carbery told Off the Ball.

“It’s tricky to know because actually, through my mum, I’m English-qualified as well in November because it’s been three years since I played for Ireland.

“Look, I suppose I need to figure out where I am and what contracts are on the table and see where that brings me.

“If an English team comes looking then it makes it easier for me to slot into the Premiership because I’m English-qualified.

Carbery – who has played 11 times for UBB this season – hasn’t finalised any move or doesn’t know whether he’ll stay in the south-west of France.

“If Bordeaux want to keep me then it’s going to be hard to say no because I’ve loved it so far and the team is so good.”

Speaking previously about his final days at Thomond Park, Carbery did not shy away from admitting the relationship had soured.

“It was at the end of the 2023 season when I didn’t get picked for the World Cup or the Six Nations before that,” he explained. “I wasn’t enjoying [rugby] at all and I was like, ‘Is it worth it?’ I’ve always played my best when I’ve enjoyed it and went into work with a smile on my face. That was gone.

“I don’t think quitting rugby was ever a realistic option because I had a year left on my contract with Munster, but I had an inkling that there might be a fresh start somewhere else. I do think I’m better for it,” he said of his move. “This opportunity has come around, and it might not have happened had I stayed. Now I’m eager to prove people wrong.”

Under World Rugby’s eligibility rules, players can represent a new country if they complete a three-year stand-down from international rugby and either qualify through heritage or residency.