Munster's abundant woes this season were expected to be compounded with an exodus of players from the club to the monied fields of England and France, but it has not transpired.
Simon Zebo has today followed Keith Earls and Conor Murray in signing a new contract with Munster.
The winger has signed a two-year deal, which will see him remain at Thomond until 2018. Zebo had been strongly linked with a move to the Top 14, particularly to James Coughlan's Pau (to give them their official title).
Nobody has scored more tries for Munster in the last four seasons than Zebo, so head coach Anthony Foley was understandably pleased with the news:
It's great to have even more good news on the contract front today.
Simon's record speaks for itself and keeping a player with his experience and versatility is key to our plans going forward so we are delighted that he has committed his future to Munster.
Zebo is four games away from a century of appearances for Munster, and has been capped 21 times by Ireland. He has scored seven tries for Ireland, and his new contract will assuredly see him become Munster's all-time record tryscorer: he is currently joint-top with Anthony Horgan with 41.
Pleased to confirm - it's 2 more years for @SimonZebo https://t.co/iQBxdnOjG7 #SUAF pic.twitter.com/qH0boUvmZI
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) February 1, 2016
Confirmation Simon Zebo staying at Munster. Hear it's a provincial rather than national deal but financially very attractive. Had to be.
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) February 1, 2016
Great news for Munster and Ireland, and it affords us an opportunity to break this out again:
