MUNSTER HOPE TO see a new contract for captain Peter O’Mahony finalised in the coming weeks, following confirmation today that Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Dave Kilcoyne and Felix Jones have all signed fresh deals.
The latter trio have agreed to stay with the southern province for the next two seasons, while tighthead prop Archer has put pen to paper on a three-year extension to his contract.
O’Mahony is expected to join high-profile Ireland internationals Johnny Sexton, Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney in agreeing a new IRFU deal with Performance Director David Nucifora, with Munster understandably keen to see that process completed.
“It’s great to see,” said O’Mahony of the new contracts for Ireland teammates Foley, Archer and Jones.
The guys who have signed are young internationals coming through. It’s important that we get this kind of calibre of player signed up as soon as possible and it obviously bodes well for the future of Munster to get them signed up.”
Of his own contract, which expires at the end of this season under its current terms, O’Mahony was understandably coy.
“I’ll be in negotiations over the next couple of weeks,” said the Cork native. “I’ll leave that run its course; I’m worried about the rugby side of things to be honest.”
Munster head coach Anthony Foley is relieved that at least four contracts have been sorted, even if he awaits confirmation on O’Mahony.
The former number eight admits that he is involved in the process of re-contracting players in his role, along with CEO Garrett Fitzgerald, team manager Niall O’Donovan and Munster’s Professional Game Committee.
“It’s important that we look after our players, it’s important that they get good deals, it’s important that they get the stability of knowing that their future is with Munster,” said Foley in welcoming the contract news.
It’s great to have the likes of Dave Foley, Felix Jones, Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne sign up. Hopefully that brings another degree of confidence to the squad.”
The fear of Irish players vacating the country in pursuit of lucrative French deals seems to have faded somewhat in the last year, and Foley smiles at the idea that Top 14 clubs might be used as a bargaining chip.
He is content that Munster offer a product worth sticking around for, whatever the draws of moving abroad.
“It’s all about supply and demand, isn’t it? We’ve a good environment here, where we’re competitive in the fronts that we play on.
“We want to win trophies, we have a good set-up and we’d like to think that players who strive for high standards, who strive to win trophies, will want to play for Munster.”
In brief
Dave Foley on his new two-year contract:
It wasn’t a case of just wanting to get it signed. It’s great to get it signed, because now that’s out of the way. I’m here for two more years. Obviously I’ve got this year as well, so I can just focus on having a completely clear mind. I’m going into this [Clermont] game in a completely clear mental state.”
Felix Jones on his new two-year contract:
It depends person to person in terms of the speed of it, or how difficult it is or not. In my case, it was quite easy. I was delighted just to get it out of the way and done early, just to concentrate on my rugby. I’m delighted to be staying here for another two years.”
