RONAN O’GARA, RACING 92′s assistant coach, has poured cold water on speculation suggesting Simon Zebo has signed a pre-contract agreement with the French club — but says they are chasing his signature.
Zebo this week announced his decision to leave Munster amid interest from several French clubs and although it has been widely-reported that Racing have secured his services, O’Gara insists it’s not a done deal yet.
Writing in his weekly column for The Irish Examiner, the former Ireland out-half says four Top 14 clubs are ‘seriously’ interested in signing Zebo.
“This is awkward. There seems to be a presumption that Simon Zebo is moving from Munster to Racing 92 next season,” O’Gara said.
“I’ve been even called the equivalent of Tadhg Kennelly. This much I know: Simon Zebo will move to France’s Top 14 after this season. Yes, we are in the frame. But this is a fast-moving story and as late as last night I was told there are four Top 14 clubs seriously interested in acquiring his services — and more than willing to flash the cash to do so.
“Until his club of choice says he’s coming, until Simon signs something, there are no other facts I can confirm. I’m not being clever. Racing want Zebo, but until someone tells me otherwise, it’s no done deal.”
Zebo was yesterday left out of Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad for the November internationals, with the head coach sending a clear message to the fullback after his decision to move abroad.
The 27-year-old, capped 35-times by Ireland, starts for the southern province in tonight’s Pro14 inter-pro against Connacht in Galway.
Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:
Lack of leadership is probably where Tipp have fallen down most since 2010. The likes of Mahony, Curran, Kelly, Cummins, Fanning were the type of players to take responsibility when the game was on the line. Conor O’Mahony’s intro last year v. Galway instantly galavanised Tipp and led to a fight back. Even if we eventually lost his influence on the game was noticeable. Of the 8 list above all are fantastic players, but for key men in the team most of them (Seamie and Barry aside) have tendency to be inconsistent, passive or go missing when the game is in the balance. Harsh to criticise your best players, but also hard to watch a team capable of winning All Ireland’s squander the opportunity year after year particularly when someone like EOS’s playing style made for the most exciting spectacles of total hurling when it came off. There are extenuating circumstances of course Brendan and Paudi have played out of position, Cahill and Bonnar have been disrupted by injuries and Noel’s troubles and comeback have been well documented but as their careers wear on you want to see them achieve the feats their talents are capable of.
How did Galway beat these guys last year.
They really are as unpredictable as … well Galway!!
This should be a handy one for Tipp at the wk end.
Jeez I dunno, Cork are very quiet and this is set up nicely for them, they love Thurles and they turned it on against Kilkenny in the league, all depends on which cork turns up but they rarely fail to fire against Tipp, and they owe them one since 2014
Couldn’t agree more with you An_Neal_Bocht. We went down in 2010 as red hot favourites and got ambushed. Cork are too quite and as you say they love Thurles. Still reckon we will win but not by a cricket score.
Cork are terrible.
They might ambush someone later in the year but it’s +10pts in favour of Tipp on Sunday
Not ten I think it will be close enough the two teams need to proform
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cork win this one. Pushed kilkenny all the way in a thriller and also went to Galways back yard and beat em in the relegation final. The pessure is all on Tipp, will they be able to handle it? They can’t be too confident going by whats happened in the last few years and all the close games they’ve lost.
Some man for the lists Jackie.