TOP 14 SIDE Clermont have confirmed the signing of JJ Hanrahan from Munster ahead of next season.
The Kerry man has penned a one-year deal with the option of a second season.
Hanrahan will leave his native Munster for the second time in his career, having previously had a two-year stint with Northampton in the English Premiership.
Joey Carbery’s recent return from a long-term ankle injury meant Hanrahan’s chances of game time in Munster would have diminished. Munster boss Johann van Graan has confirmed that Hanrahan was not offered a new deal due to financial pressures caused by Covid-19.
The province will look to youngsters Ben Healy, Jack Crowley, and Jake Flannery to move up the pecking order at out-half next season.
“It was difficult to hear the news regarding my future with Munster Rugby, however, it has been a dream come true and a privilege to represent my home province and wear the jersey for eight years,” said Hanrahan.
“I have lifelong friends from this club, and I am very proud to represent the people of Munster and in particular the people of Kerry.
“Equally, I believe I am going to a club with very similar traditions and values in Clermont and it’s an opportunity I am extremely excited for. Currently, my main focus is to give everything I have to the Munster jersey during my time left here in Ireland.”
Hanrahan had an excellent game against Clermont as Munster won away to the French side in the Champions Cup this season, with his accurate place-kicking important in that superb comeback victory.
28-year-old Hanrahan will compete with former France out-half Camille Lopez for the number 10 shirt in Clermont next season, while the club also hope he can play a role in the development of young prospects Théo Giral and Gabin Michet.
“I’m very happy and looking forward to joining such a prestigious club as ASM Clermont Auvergne,” said Hanrahan.
“I will be proud to wear the Clermont jersey and to have the opportunity to have a new experience living in France with the ambition of contributing everything I can to help the club and the team to win new titles.
“I can’t wait to play at the Stade Marcel-Michelin in front of incredible fans who are famous far beyond the borders of the Auvergne.”
Munster boss van Graan wished Hanrahan well ahead of his move this summer.
“JJ is a fantastic player and has been a great servant to Munster Rugby,” said van Graan.
“We’ve said from the beginning we want to retain all of our players but unfortunately the harsh realities of what’s happened over the past year have come to a head. Due to the challenges stemming from the Covid landscape we are not in a position to hold onto a player of JJ’s calibre, and we are sorry to see him go.
“While he has a fantastic opportunity ahead of him we still have a job to do here and we look forward to JJ successfully seeing out his time in the red jersey.”
- This article was updated at 1.22pm to include Johann van Graan’s confirmation that Hanrahan was not offered a new deal.
Liverpool are done. Milner, Henderson and Firmino are too old. Mane and Wijnaldum, two of their most consistent players, allowed to leave. Their replacements Thiago and Keith spend more time on the bench than on the pitch. Van Dijk is a good centre halve but his poor form is highlighting the lack of a decent partner for him. As for Salah? He looks like he has one eye on a move out of Anfield. Klopp will need a miracle to turn things around there.
@John Fagan: and the whole squad is burned out as a side affect of klopps high intensity style , same thing happened at dortmund.
@John Fagan: yeah the new guy Keith is really struggling in Manes old position. Good take.
@John Fagan: Didn’t Salah just sign a new contract at Liverpool over the summer? “Too old” Firmino who scored a brace and 3 assists just two weeks ago? Van Dijk’s main CB partner, Matip, is just back from injury. Mane wanted to leave but they signed Diaz who has been pretty prolific so far and Nunez so I’m not sure things are as bleak as you’re saying – and I’m not a Liverpool fan even
@John Fagan: we’ll see come the end of the season just how ‘done’ we are.
@Cathal Jenkinson: first of all Firminos brace and assists were against Bournemouth in a 9-0 hammering. Salah will come good, he’s too good of a player not too. In relation to VVD again he has, for some obvious and some less obvious reasons, been poor but should improve. It’s Midfield and using the high line where pool struggle. Thiago and Keita are injury prone and Henderson getting on. I think they’ll still get too 4 and get out of the group in the CL but that’s about it.
@Damien Leen: indeed we will
@John Fagan: as they where done 2 years ago. It’s great insights you find from opposing supporters.
@Gareth Keenan: Very harsh on Keith.
@Getard Lanslanger: I thought so too!
There’s no doubt Liverpool will bounce back. But the bar they set for themselves was incredible. It was almost 110% in 9 games out of 10. They’ll come back again but can’t see them getting close to city this year. Genuinely think there’s a good race on for 2nd across all the rest. Liverpool favourites but other teams now raising the bar themselves at the right time.
Liverpool s problems were evident long before Napoli game , and if you keep persisting doing the same thing and look for better then it’s called delusion . Keita is injured and all of a sudden he is fit for his country , something in the off field department needs sorting first imo .The high line is great if your mid field first does it’s job and I will include firmino in that department because he drops to bolster it , and the space that this leaves when people don’t work is obvious to all .
Always thought a manager’s job(generic, not just football) was to understand the scope, scale and changing nature of the environment within which they operate and adjust appropriately BEFORE the sh!t hits the fan.
Only a verbal agreement for potter at Chelsea , time to klippity klop down the road to london!!