FRENCH CLUB BIARRITZ have confirmed the signing of Irish duo James Hart and Dave O’Callaghan ahead of the 2019/20 season following their release from Munster.
Scrum-half Hart has signed a three-year deal with the ProD2 outfit, while back row O’Callaghan is under contract in the south of France until 2021.
27-year-old Hart, who joined Munster from Racing 92 in 2017, returns to French rugby after failing to break into the first-team reckoning at the southern province, as he made just 16 appearances in two seasons.
The former Clontarf FC nine first came through at Grenoble and will be hoping to revive his career with Biarritz, while O’Callaghan will be looking to put a string of frustrating injuries behind him.
O’Callaghan, the Cork native who came up through the Munster academy, made a total of 85 appearances for the province and featured in the Champions Cup more than 10 times, but injury limited his involvement last season to just three games.
Biarritz finished eighth in ProD2 last season.
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Good luck to them both and I hope they enjoy and further their career
@Mark Smith: Really? I hope it goes terribly for them, they’re miserable there and then they retire in disgrace.
I’d say you actually mean Dave O’Callaghan there.
French rugby clearly more suited to Hart . Biarritz aren’t the club they used to be though .
@Limón Madrugada: if anything these boys will put them back on the right road, especially DOC
Both absolute gents
Hart was a disastrous signing for Munster, he hardly got a look in.
@Treaty Bhoy: ah, think it was more of a disaster for Hart. It’s not like Munster didnt have viable options.. get analysis as usual though
Really disappointed with Hart. I saw him a lot when he was in France and really thought he’d make the national squad when he moved to Munster. He’s a very French style 9. But he never kicked on, arguably went backwards. I wish them both luck.
@Ger: completely agree, I had hart down for an international squad player when he moved home and then he disappeared at Munster… strange one
@Ger: he didn’t really get a chance to be fair to him.