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Joey Carbery is one of six players to extend their Munster deals
By Kim Ekin
Joey Carbery has had a welcome vote of confidence from Munster as the Irish province has agreed on a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the province until summer 2024. The out-half joined Munster from Leinster in 2018 but frequent injuries have limited his availability and he is currently sidelined after getting hurt in last month’s Champions Cup win at Wasps.
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That fractured elbow suffered in mid-December has left Carbery in a race to be fully fit in time for the start of Ireland’s 2022 Six Nations campaign, but he now at least has the solace of knowing that his Munster future for the next couple of seasons has been secured.
He wasn’t the only Ireland international to agree on fresh terms with the club as Chris Farrell and Jean Kleyn, along with youngsters Liam Coombes, Jack O’Sullivan and academy member Alex Kendellen, also put pen to paper on extended deals just a day after assistant coach Graham Rowntree confirmed he will be staying on despite the already announced exits of boss Johann van Graan and assistant Stephen Larkham next summer.
A Munster statement read: “The six players have signed two-year contract extensions that will see them remain with the province until at least June 2024. Since joining the squad in 2018 Ireland international Joey Carbery has made 30 appearances in red, scoring 264 points.
“During this time, the out-half has been unlucky with injuries but has returned to show his quality on each occasion and while he is currently sidelined with an elbow injury, it’s a huge boost to have a player of his calibre commit to the province.
“With four tries in ten appearances, Coombes has shown his quality and versatility since moving up to the senior squad from the academy in 2020. A product of Skibbereen and CBC, 24-year-old Coombes plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and has lined out on the wing and outside centre for the province.
“Ireland international centre Chris Farrell has scored eight tries in 52 Munster appearances since making his debut in September 2017. Farrell has earned 15 international caps since moving to Munster from Grenoble and has been an ever-present for the province since returning from an abdomen injury last month.
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“Ireland international lock Jean Kleyn is closing in on a century of Munster appearances, scoring twelve tries in 97 games since joining from the Stormers in 2016. Kleyn has been one of the province’s most consistent performers over recent seasons and is currently sidelined with a knee injury.
“Back-row forward Jack O’Sullivan has scored two tries in 21 Munster appearances since making his debut in 2019. A product of PBC, the 23-year-old UCC clubman made his Champions Cup debut in January 2020 and made ten appearances last year after graduating from the academy.
“In his second year of the academy, 20-year-old Alex Kendellen will advance to the senior ranks ahead of the 2022/23 season. A product of PBC, the UCC back row forward has made four appearances to date – including a Champions Cup debut against Castres last month – with his first start coming against Connacht in the United Rugby Championship last weekend.”
