Peter O'Mahony in talks with French and English clubs

Current Muster captain Pete O’Mahony is reportedly in talks with English and French clubs after rejecting an offer from the IRFU to sign a national contract past the World Cup in 2019. O’Mahony’s current contract runs out in July.

It has been reported in the Irish Times that two unnamed French sides and a British team have all expressed serious interest in the 28-year-old former British and Lions captain. The decision which he has yet to make could ultimately cost O’Mahony his place in the Irish team for the World Cup in 2019.

It has also been reported that one of the French Clubs have offered O’Mahony double the salary of what the IRFU chief negotiator David Nucifora tabled.

It is believed O’Mahony’s agent, Conor Ridge of Horizon Sports Management, has drafted in Ryan Constable of Esportif International which currently has ties to French agents needed to finalise a move to the Top 14. Many people were quick to express their shock at the news including fans and current and former players.

I really surprised over this, inspired win v Eng this year, captained the Lions and is Munster rugby. One of the easier contracts to do??? https://t.co/fdTL7ub5TM

— Gordon D’Arcy (@Gordonwdarcy) November 28, 2017

Speaking on the uncertainty of his contract issues last Saturday O’Mahony said, “It would be nice to get it sorted, yeah. We’ll see though. Ideally, I would like to [stay]. I like it around here, but they’ve got to come to the table as well. I want to play for Munster and Ireland, but it’s got to be fair as well.”

With the chance of playing at the World Cup the major lure the IRFU has to keep players based in Ireland, it is clear that financially they cannot keep up with the billionaire foreign club owners with the likes of Marty Moore, Jonny Sexton and more recently Simon Zebo heading overseas.