Another twist in the tale.
On The Hard Yards, on May 21, Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman indicated that Ulster were on the look-out for ‘a foreign 10’.
The news, delivered in a matter-of-fact manner, suggested that Ulster’s intentions were in the ether. It also suggested that neither Joey Carbery nor Ross Byrne would be playing their rugby in Belfast next season.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt and IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora had pitched themselves right into the middle of what would become a six-week transfer saga.
Schmidt and Nucifora had dropped by Leinster’s UCD headquarters the week before the province played Scarlets in the Champions Cup semi-final and suggested it was time for Carbery or Byrne to move on. Looking at the best interests of the national team, as is their remit, the pair felt Leinster having Johnny Sexton, Byrne and Carbery as competing out-halves was far from ideal.
Leinster did not want to lose one of their young stars but eventually came to the conclusion that Byrne was the better option to hang on to as Carbery would be called up for each and every Test window when fit.
Carbery and his father, who handles much of his business, were left to mull on the next move. Ulster, perhaps sensing hesitation, continued to look out for an answer of their own, following the sacking of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.
Munster raised their heads to express their interest and that piqued Carbery Jr. and Sr. The 22-year-old met with Munster head coach Johann van Graan and, on Thursday afternoon, it was confirmed that Carbery would be moving to Thomond Park on a two-year deal.
Schmidt addressed the Carbery move during a press briefing at Carton House, Ireland’s base before they fly out to Australia for a three-Test tour.
“It’s a very new situation to me,” Schmidt began.
“The initial conversation with Leo, myself and David Nucifora wasn’t best timing for any of us – not where I wanted to be – but I had a job to do and all we asked was whether there was any interest.
“Ulster were looking at a foreign option.”
Ulster’s first choice was reportedly South Africa’s Elton Jantjes but that move has been rejected.
The search goes on but at least there will be one happy set of provincial fans today – Munster.
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