AFTER THREE SEASONS with London Irish, it looks like Tomás O’Leary is on his way back to Munster.
O’Leary’s contract with the Exiles expires at the end of the current campaign, and Gerry Thornley reports in today’s Irish Times that the scrum-half will be back in a Munster jersey next season.
With Conor Murray likely to be unavailable to the province for the early part of next season due to his World Cup commitments with Ireland, the experienced O’Leary could provide adequate cover in the number nine shirt.
The 31-year-old left Munster to sign a three-year deal with London Irish in 2012, despite also being linked with a switch to Perpignan at the time.
But O’Leary’s time in England has been hampered by injuries, which have restricted him to eight appearances this season and 42 in total since joining London Irish, who are currently third-from-bottom in the Aviva Premiership.
O’Leary made 127 appearances over his seven seasons with Munster, during which he won Heineken Cup medals in 2006 and ’08. He also earned a Lions call-up in 2009 but missed the tour of South Africa after suffering a broken ankle.
A return to Munster may give O’Leary a chance to force his way back in to the international set-up. Capped 24 times, the Corkman hasn’t played for Ireland since March 2012.
Good back up to Murray – certainly better than Duncan Williams.
To be fair I have a Springer pup and I’m convinced if you put scrum cap on him & start at 9 no one could tell difference with Williams
What about Cathal Sheridan?
To be fair Sheridan is a very solid back up but he is hardly at O’Leary’s level. Either way between international call up’s and injuries you need 3 reliable 9′s in your squad, just look at the amount of games William’s has played this year….
He’s not bad. Better than Williams. But I would rather they looked for a new scrumhalf, because three seasons at London Irish makes me wonder if he’s improved.
He’s not the future and if an ageing scrumhalf playing in England should force his way into the Ireland squad it should be stringer.
Short term for Munster not a bad idea but hopefully he doesn’t get in the way of a young player coming through.
What’s happening with the Munster academy. There doesn’t seem to be any one coming through and have to look outside the province for ageing players as opposed to Leinster who just seem to have a conveyor belt of players in their early twenties making big impacts.
Leinster have there pick of the best rugby schools in the country,
Munster need to widen there recruiting ideas.
The Munster under 20s did win the interpros this session so there is talent there but competing with the Gaa for the best athletes is a difficult job.
Good point Sean but Munster really need to start prioritising the development of younger players. It really seems to have taken a back seat since penny left and the younger players don’t seem to be getting any game time even with the amount of injuries that Munster have. They don’t have the money to buy in the big players so this really is the only other option.
Munster have 3 leinster academy players in what many would consider their first choice 15 (all fit Conway may not start), leinster also have three former Munster academy player in their starting 15 so i think its total nonsense regarding the supposed lack of youth coming through. Also munster a have consistently won against leinsters over the years.
I wouldn’t disagree that leinster produce more players due mainly to population, i just think munster produce better quality per capita
I’m on about this season in particular and I understand the population difference. I just think that Penny really seen more benefit in bringing on the younger talent than foley with the tried and tested.
@ ken stop taking shyte. The Munster academy gave ye a lesson on who’s the top dog twice this year. Even though we are missing 15 players through injury at the mo. We’ve brought through killer, James Cronin, Casey, foley, tod, Sheridan, (jj), jack o’donoghue, sherry, bohane, o’dea, dineen, Zebo, all these players are under 24/25 and products of our academy A team. Sick of listening too the Leinster which despite yere demise tell us day in day out that were second best. Should have gone to Specsavers mr tony ward .
Philip I’m a Munster supporter and as I said I’m on about this season. I know the players that have come through the academy but as I said it has all taken a back seat since penny left.
Well if my memory serves we went too the aviva and pummelled Leinster at home in oct and earlier that evening our A team beat Leinster in donnybrook and you still believe Leinster have a better academy??! Makes no sense!
If they are considering o Leary and not looking for youth, they’d be better off going for stringer
Stringer will be 37, oleary will be 31…..
And yet Stringer is as fit as a fiddle and O’Leary is plagued with injury. I know who I’d prefer.
I hope you say oleary because strings will be retired very soon
Would have thought that Luke McGrath or Cooney could have got more game time at Munster?
Surely McGrath has to force his way to front of the Leinster pecking order next season. Both Reddan and Boss will be 35 by then and their powers have both been on the wane for a while?
I’d be very hopeful that Luke McGrath will play a starring role for Leinster over coming seasons?
Strange move for O’Leary in a way, sure good to move home but he’ll be second string so won’t play in any big games where Murray is fit. A bit like priestland going to bath, seemingly happy to be second choice.
he’s a clear second choice in London Irish. The club and the fans dont rate him so i really think he’s landed on his feet here
Williams has been playing well this season while TOL is 31 and hasn’t been a half decent player since 2009. I’m not sure I’d pick him over Duncan anymore. Sheridan is much better than both, seems like a waste of money.
Ya I agree penny was better at getting the young guys game time but with the amount of injured players this session Folye may feel it’s too risky to but to many inexperienced players on the team at any one time.
With a fit squad its easier to bring a young guy along .
It’s also a case of luck too Heaslip never goes off but the one time it happens Conan was ready to take his chance.
This makes no sense. A very regressive step.
Squad player only. 2nd/3rd choice, possibly behind Sheridan. Boss was 30 when he joined Leinster, ostensibly as back up to Reddan – has proved a great asset. Murray is the best scrum half in Europe currently, but he cannot play every game. Williams is simply not good enough, even for Pro12.
Surely there is a better scrumhalf then TOL! I cannot understand why they would bring him back when he has played so little with LI and hasnt really impressed over there either. Munster really need to clear out a lot of squad players and start again. They have been patching up theyre difficiencies the last few years with average players, we need to sign a maquee centre next year end of.
Ya we’ve lots of scrum halves better than a grand slam winning scrum half TOL. Their growing on trees!! He way also selected for the lions b4 sustaining a broken hand. What’s wrong with ye sheep! Do ye have any brains. Are ye smoking crystal meth?! TILeary has walked the walk and talked the talk but for some crushing injurys was one of the best no .9 in years.