Munster: The final frontier

Are the days of signing top, top names now more difficult for Munster because of finances?

WHEN April turns to May and there’s no European Cup final to salivate over, thoughts and background planning turn to next season. Time to take stock if not to clean house.

The signing yesterday by Munster of Brumbie Andrew Smith underlines they are planning for life without Casey Laulala and Jimmy Downey. There’s still Ivan Dineen, Johne Murphy, Keith Earls and Cian Bohane who can fill the centre jerseys next season but the recruitment of a top, top name would aid their development. Like Trevor Halstead, or Jean de Villiers.