All around on Saturday reeled stunned Munster fans, with reports bolting from nowhere that stalwart Donnacha Ryan has signed a two-year deal with Racing 92 in preference to extending his deal with Munster.
The report came from the Irish Examiner, stating that Ryan had decided to call time on his 13-year Munster career, along with his international career, most likely, given how reticent Joe Schmidt has been to hand out caps to those based overseas.
There is considerable substance to those reports, with Rassie Erasmus talking of Ryan's situation with RTE Sport today. Ryan has not had his central, IRFU contract renewed, with Munster instead offering him a two-year deal. Naturally, the money on offer does not match what he is currently earning from the Union, so Racing's riches have evidently turned his head.
Here's what Erasmus had to say:
We offered him a two-year deal but I understand he has got a much better deal from Racing 92. I guess in the next few days we’ll understand where he stands. Obviously he would be a great loss to us. He’s one of our stalwarts, really a Munster man. It will be sad.
We must really understand it’s a professional game. In three years time when he retires nobody is going to say it’s a shame he stayed at Munster a year longer, but then financially is not as well off. We can only say good luck and all the best.
Erasmus also addressed the recent reports in South African media concerning his possibly succeeding Allister Coetzee as the head coach of the Springboks as mere "speculation", before confirming his commitment to his IRFU contract. More detail on Erasmus' connection with the Springboks, and the reason he was overlooked for the job in the first place, can be read here.
[RTE]
