MUNSTER ARE SET to complete the signing of Mike Haley from Sale Sharks ahead of next season.
The southern province have been looking to bring in a fullback since confirmation of Simon Zebo’s impending departure to Racing 92 and it appears that Haley is the solution.
The move was first reported by The Rugby Paper in the UK last weekend and The42 has since confirmed the story with sources close to Munster.
Haley still has a year left on his current Sale contract, meaning Munster and the IRFU may have to pay a fee for the fullback unless a mutual agreement for an early release can be reached.
The 23-year-old played for the England Saxons twice in 2016 but remains Irish-qualified due to those games having come against South Africa ‘A’ – who are not their union’s official second team.
As such, Haley – who also represented an ‘England XV’ in a non-capped match against the Barbarians last summer – remains eligible for Ireland thanks to family roots in Limerick.
The42 understands that the IRFU’s IQ Rugby programme, run by Joe Lydon, has played a central role in Munster’s capture of Haley, with his Irish-qualified status making him attractive as Irish rugby looks to continue to grow its depth.
Irish-qualified prop Ciaran Parker joined Munster from Sale last summer, while former Sharks scrum-half James Mitchell moved to Connacht at the start of this season.
Haley made his senior Sale debut in April 2014 and has gone on to become an impressive presence in the 15 shirt in recent seasons – including a start against Munster in the Champions Cup back in 2014.
It now seems that Haley’s future at club and perhaps international level lies in Ireland.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Well i answered 4 questions and got them all wrong, no need for me answer anymore.
Longford has a 100% record in All Ireland final too – they never lost a final..
I like the question about which team has a 100% record in All Ireland Football finals, I knew it but I’m from Limerick. It was the very 1st one as well.
2 stats that are great have associated with your county in their own right but probably not together.
0/12!!
I know you don’t want to appear controversial, but Michelle Smith still has her Olympic gold medals, knocking Pat and his hammer into second place?
4/12 and one was a guess… I didn’t study history for the LC, that’s my excuse!
Genuinly got 0 out of 12 bad instinct this week.
It’s Dr Pat O’Callaghan!
Oldest rugby player methinks is incorrect. Tony O Reilly played for Ireland in the 50′s/ 60′s/70′s
I have a feeling that there were more guys older than 36 !
Tony O’Reilly made his debut aged 18 in 1955 and his final appearance in 1970 aged 34. Younger than Paul O’Connell is now. Irelands oldest player was John Hayes who (god help him) played on until the age of 36.
7 out of 12 happy with that, some interesting questions there.
2 out of 12
how many counties have never had an all ireland final chance
how many counties have never had an opportunity to play in an all ireland final