FORMER MUNSTER AND Ireland second row Paul O’Connell will reportedly leave his post with Top14 club Stade Francais at the end of the season, according to reports in France last night.
The Limerick man took up responsibility for the Paris club’s line-out last summer, but RMC Sport report that he has announced his departure to the squad amid suggestions of a difference in opinion with ex-Springbok, Blue Bulls and Leicester coach Heyneke Meyer.
O’Connell worked within the Ireland U20s setup last season under head coach Noel McNamara.
The 2015 Bouclier de Brennus winners currently sit eighth in the Top14, just five points off the pace for the Barrages.
RMC also report that Mike Prendergast will also move on after a year with Stade and is in advanced talks with Toulon, who are in search of a backs coach.
Murray Kinsella and Andy Dunne dissect Ireland’s disappointing Six Nations campaign, and discuss the pros and cons of rugby’s new law proposals in the latest episode of The42 Rugby Weekly:
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Best of luck to him. Fantastic prospect prior to his injuries, could very well have been in challenging for the starting hooker jersey in Japan. Hopefully the gametime gives him a chance a chance to recapture some form. Tough to see him getting a look in a Munster with Scannell, Marshall and O’Byrne ahead of him and Barron tearing up trees coming through the academy.
@Johnny 5: also Munster have Billy Scannell in the academy, he was on the ireland u20 extended panel
@Patrick O Connell: have watched him a lot, every bit as good and better as brother Niall at the same age. His time will come at next years u20s.
Nice to see mike going for some game time. Nothing worse than seeing good players not playing. Best of luck to him.
@Jim Demps: Great move for Mike. Good luck to him.