Former Ireland and Munster out-half Joey Carbery could theoretically explore a return to international rugby but in an England (or a New Zealand) later this year jersey, though he clarified this evening he's unlikely to do so.
Carbery, who earned 37 caps for Ireland during his senior career, is currently ineligible to represent his nation after leaving Munster for Bordeaux-Begles in the summer of 2024.
Now 29, Carbery is fast approaching the mid-point of his two-year deal with the high-flying French side but he is unable to be selected by Ireland due to IRFU limitations on overseas players.
Once viewed as the heir to Johnny Sexton, Carbery has not played for Ireland since their win against Fiji in the 2022 Autumn Nations Series.
The attention in the Irish reckoning has since turned to 22-year-old Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley - who usurped Carbery at Munster - when it comes to the out-half discussion.
World Rugby regulations implemented in 2022, which allow a player to switch international sides after three years of Test rugby exile, will make Carbery eligible for an international switch this November.
His links to New Zealand have been well-documented, the Blackrock alumnus was born in Dargaville before moving to Kildare at the age of 11.
Joey Carbery open to move to Premiership next season
However, Carbery also has family ties to England which would make him free to compete for the Red Roses from this winter onwards.
Carbery discussed the prospect of competing in England next, for whom he would be able to play due to links through his mother.
Speaking to Off The Ball, the former Leinster man admitted he has a decision to make on his future with a potential switch to the Premiership on the agenda.
It’s something I haven’t given a huge amount of thought to purely because I won’t know until contract negotiation comes around maybe in a year’s time or even earlier than that’s tricky to know because actually through my mum, I’m English-qualified as well in November because it’s been three years since I played for Ireland," he said.
“Look, I suppose I need to figure out where I am and what contracts are on the table and see where that brings me.
“If an English team comes looking then it makes it easier for me to slot into the Premiership because I’m English-qualified.
“If Bordeaux want to keep me then it’s going to be hard to say no because I’ve loved it so far and the team is so good."
Those quotes were spread across the media on Thursday, and in the end, Carbery issued a clarification saying the English qualification is only interesting to him in terms of earning a contract in the Premiership and earning English qualified status.
It does not seem like he has any interest in playing for England.
