LEINSTER’S ROWAN OSBORNE will be a Munster player next season.
Osborne’s switch, which was first reported by The42 last month, has been confirmed this afternoon.
The 24-year-old scrum-half will leave his home province this summer to link up with Johann van Graan’s squad on a one-year contract.
“I am delighted to be joining Munster next season, one of the biggest clubs in Europe with a great fanbase and history,” Osborne said.
“I am hugely looking forward to working with and learning from a really talented group of players and a great coaching ticket and working hard to help bring success to the club.”
With Nick McCarthy moving in the opposite direction by returning to Leinster for the 2021-22 campaign, Osborne will join Conor Murray, Craig Casey and Neil Cronin as an option for the southern province’s number nine shirt.
Osborne, who attended Clongowes Wood College, represented the Ireland Schools team in 2014 but did not advance to the Leinster academy.
After becoming a key player for Trinity in the All-Ireland League, he first linked up with Leinster during the summer of 2019 and impressed while on trial. He made his professional debut that October against the Ospreys, before scoring a try a week later off the bench against Edinburgh.
The Kildare native, who has made a total of 10 appearances in the Guinness Pro14, said: “I would like to sincerely thank everyone in the Leinster Rugby community – fans, players, coaches and staff – for the past two years. It has been a privilege to represent my home province.
“I have learned an incredible amount and have had the opportunity to work and play with some of the best people in rugby, as well as making life long friendships. There is, of course, still work to do and trophies to win this season.”
Let’s cal him Rowan Van Der Osborne
@Stanley: …Jesus!…why waste the energy?
Good signing all round, he probably needs game time and with Murray and Casey going to be away with the Irish for a good chunk of next season, himself and Cronin should get plenty of games
@Patrick O Connell: cronin is still not fit after his acl operation, so another 9 is needed
@Chris Tobin: Probably just make do with short term signings during international windows, barring a long term injury to anyone. I really think the move like the Patterson one should be utilized more. One province gets emergency cover without a big outlay, while the the other gets valuable gametime into an unused player.
@Patrick O Connell: I wouldn’t be so sure about Casey and Murray both being away on international duty next season. Murray yes, Casey still a lot to do.
@David Finn: Casey will be in the squads, Cooney is out of favour, McGrath is behind JGP so they won’t be picked
Bit random is it not.
One Leinster guy out and then one in.
Maybe we thought he was south African.
@Paddy Waggon: change the record
@Tom Murphy: I don’t play record s
No big money older South African players available???
@Reg: priceless. That’s just so funny. How do you come up with comedy gold like that?
@michael o farrell: by , buying South Africans for every position.
@Reg: nope, Ulster have the NIQ spot taken regarding the scrum half position
Best of luck to him I hope it works out very well for him.
Patterson better than this guy, no need for it
@Sole Trader: Thanks for letting us know; perhaps you could give JVG a bell and let him know that too?
@Sole Trader: Patterson is just short term injury cover. He’s still on Leinster’s books.
@Richard James: I could do a better job than jvg mate, wouldn’t waste my voice.
@Richard James: infairness Sole probably knows more about rugby the Jvg .
@Paddy Waggon: thank you paddy wouldn’t be too difficult !
@Sole Trader: in that case I’d love to read your CV
@Richard James: So I’m guessing you’ve never once questioned a single decision made by a referee, or selection or substitution call made by a manager, or an on field decision made by a player etc? Not once?