MUNSTER HEAD COACH Anthony Foley has underlined the province’s desire to retain JJ Hanrahan, despite suggestions the 22-year-old is close to joining Northampton.
The Irish Times this morning reported that Hanrahan is on the verge of signing for the Premiership side next season after becoming frustrated by a lack a game time at Munster.
The Kerry native is moving into the final six months of his current two-year contract with the southern province, and it is believed that Northampton have made an offer worth considerably more than Hanrahan’s current deal.
“From what I gather, it’s speculation at the moment,” said Foley this afternoon in Limerick when asked to shed light on the situation.
JJ’s contract is up at the end of the season and Munster have offered JJ a contract. Obviously, when a guy like that is coming off contract, it does line up a number of suitors.
“Obviously, from my own experience as a player, you do get your head turned at times. It’s important that we all understand that and that we make sure we put our best case forward for him to stay. At the moment, it’s something that happens in professional sport, so we’ve got to deal with that.”
Hanrahan has made just four starts for Munster this season, none of them in the Champions Cup.
While the former Ireland U20 out-half did appear off the bench in the European clashes with Sale and Saracens, he was as unused substitute in last weekend’s defeat to Clermont at Thomond Park.
The mooted use of Hanrahan in the 12 shirt outside first-choice out-half Ian Keatley has so far not materialised, although the former Rockwell College student has played at fullback in two Pro12 fixtures.
When asked if Hanrahan has voiced concerns over his lack of starts in Munster’s biggest games, Foley pointed to the fact that Hanrahan’s pre-season had been extended last summer to help him overcome a longstanding issue with osteitis pubis.
I’ve spoken to JJ on a number of occasions,” said Foley. “The things we speak about obviously stay between us, but it’s about the whole picture with JJ. He’s a quality player and a player that we’ve used on a number of occasions this year.
“In pre-season, we spoke about his delayed return to play because we wanted to get his groins right and make sure that he was fully fit so that he could progress as a player, rather than just maintaining the status quo of where he was – play, deload, make sure he was right to play again, with no training and no physical development to get better.
“We looked after that. The consequence of that was that he starts the season three weeks later than everyone else and plays a bit of catch up to try and get back in there.
“I think everybody who’s seen JJ play understands the quality of player he is and why other teams would be going after him. It’s the same reason we want to keep him. A lot of the conversations are around what’s best for JJ to develop as a rugby player.”
With Munster having made their offer to Hanrahan, Foley is now hoping that the fan favourite’s future will soon be sorted. That said, the former number eight is not putting a deadline on the matter.
I think it’s something you’d like to get done and dusted as quickly as possible and have the information so that if we need to look for another player in that position, or vice versa – extending a lad’s contract.
“It’s about managing the situation. I don’t think there is any timeframe on it at the moment.”
