'You have to look at all your options.'
With that it became clear that Ian Madigan's club/provincial future was very much open to change. He was never going to say that he was definitively looking at pastures new but his status as Leinster's go-to utility back is obviously less than ideal.
A player with hopes of making it to the top of the game is never going to be happy to sit on the bench in the hope of getting a run out here or a Pro12 game there. With a slot at no.10 seemingly out of the question and no.12 being kept warm for a certain R. Henshaw, Madigan's options are running out in Leinster blue but it looks like he'll have plenty of options overseas.
With his contract up at the end of the season, Madigan has been subject of speculation linking him with a lucrative move to the Aviva Premiership. Now however, it seems he also has some Gallic suitors casting their eyes at him from the Top14.
The Irish Times are reporting that Bordeaux-Begles have thrown their hat into the ring while Montpellier are also thinking of making a move for Madigan after Francois Trinh Duc's confirmation that he would move to Toulouse at the end of the season.
Bordeaux join Championship side Bristol in being firmly linked to the Ireland out-half. A €500,000 a year contract from Bristol is thought to be on the table and while that kind of deal would be difficult to turn, Madigan himself has said that he would be taking a huge risk accepting an offer from a club who are not even sure of being in the Aviva Premiership next season.
Harlequins have also been suggested as a destination and Madigan has admitted that he would be open to working under Conor O'Shea. While we can always hope that he might even stick around in Ireland and move to the other provinces, that seems unlikely. With interest from France now joining the offer(s) from England, Madigan will certainly have a big decision to make over the next couple of months.
