MUNSTER AND THE IRFU have confirmed the signing of Irish qualified fullback Mike Haley on a three-year contract from Sale Sharks.
The 23-year-old, whose maternal grandmother is from Tralee, Co Kerry, will join the province ahead of next season having made 105 appearances for Premiership outfit Sale.
Haley made his European debut against Munster back in October 2014 and has represented England Saxons on a tour to South Africa in June 2016 as well as featuring for an England XV against the Barbarians at Twickenham in May 2017.
The English-born back has found opportunities hard to come by at the AJ Bell Stadium this season with Australian James O’Connor Sale’s first-choice 15.
Munster have been in the market for a fullback ahead of Simon Zebo’s impending departure for Racing 92, and as reported by The42 yesterday, the IRFU’s IQ Rugby programme played a central role in the province’s capture of Haley.
“We are delighted to recruit an exciting young playmaker such as Mike,” Johann van Graan said.
“At 23, he has over six years of professional rugby under his belt and will be a great addition to our squad.”
Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond expressed his disappointment to see Haley leave the club, but said he would not stand in the player’s way of playing international rugby for Ireland.
“It has been a really difficult decision to let Mike go with us having brought him through from being a teenager and with Mike having a year left on his contract with the club,” Diamond said.
“However, he has aspirations to play international rugby with Ireland and we really didn’t want to stand in his way.
“Mike is a great lad and has served Sale brilliantly, making over 100 appearances. And although we would like to keep him at Sale, along with all our local talented lads, this is an exceptional circumstance and we wish him well.
“I hope all Sharks’ supporters would also wish Mike the best of luck.”
Commenting on his move to Ireland, Haley added: ”Obviously it was a very, very difficult decision. I’ve spent many happy years here at Sale but after lots of careful thought I just felt that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity I had to take.
“I have a strong family connections with Munster and used to go there all the time when I was younger and being eligible to play for Ireland was another big factor.
“But I will be giving absolutely everything for Sale between now and the end of the season.”
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RTE can put in a request to change Sky’s game to 3pm. I doubt Sky would deny them if they did.
you really think Sky wulould back down? 7 clocks seems to be their favoured time.
The Sky deal hasn’t gone down well in rural parts of Ireland. It would be a travesty if a senior football provincial final was not on television. I wouldn’t think Sky would want to be the cause of that. It would be a pr disaster.
it won’t be the first time it’s happened. the only reason it’s an issue now is because of Sky.
No way sky will change the schedule for their competitors. This was always going to happen once sky got involved and for that I think the gaa sold out. To have one of their marquee games of the season not being shown on rte is a massive disappointment and a sign of what’s the come.
out of curiosity..suppose premier sports wouldnt get it either because of sky for us UK based people….
Well no surprise here. GAA make a mess of one of the biggest fixtures of the year and could now lose it to Sly Sports !!! Laughing stock…
This issue is known in advance. People are talking about asking Sky to change their timeslot, but why did the Munster council choose this time and date for the replay?
Would imagine in order to fill their own coffers.
Surely they will come to an agreement. Lets be honest, Nobody wins if a Cork v Kerry Munster final is replaced by Derry v Wexford!
This is crap. Sky have the rights to the 3B games. This is a replay that Sky don’t have rights to! So, so what if it clashes, RTE is an independent broadcaster who can surely broadcast whatever it likes at 7pm on Saturday as long as it isn’t the games it sold!!! RTE needs to cut the crap & show the Munster final
The Derry and Wexford supporters might beg to differ. This is what the GAA signed up for when they did the deal with Sky.
Is this OUR NATIONAL game – Are @RTEsport serious that they won’t broadcast a 7pm replay game because the greedy GAA sold rights to other matches to Sky Sports??
was the first game in killarney as well??