Payne delighted to be with Gaffney

SHAUN Payne will be glad to put his final year at Swansea behind him when he pulls a Munster jersey on for the first time at the start of next season.

The 31-year-old South African-raised Irish passport holder has seen at first hand how Welsh rugby has imploded over the last two years.

The 31-year-old winger said he jumped at the chance of joining Munster when the offer came his way.

The former Natal Shark was trying on the new Munster jersey for size in Limerick on Tuesday night as he was unveiled as one of Alan Gaffney’s new boys for the 2003-2004 season and he said:“With the situation at Swansea, it wasn’t a difficult choice.

“About a week after getting the news that the club was going into administration I was approached by Munster.

To be honest, Swansea weren’t playing that well lately and to me it wasn’t that much of a choice to make.

"The decision for me was between the new regional side and Munster. I didn’t approach any other club, my agent didn’t put my CV out to any other club.

"I was in a situation where I was already in negotiations to stay at Swansea and then this came up. It will be an honour to play for Munster.

“To say the last year and a half has been disappointing is maybe an understatement. I had been there for four years and I had some really good times but the last year was very disappointing, results-wise especially.

"I particularly enjoyed playing in Swansea and the whole way it ended was quite sour.”

In Payne’s four seasons at St Helens after joining the Welsh side from Natal Sharks, he recalls two matches in opposition to his new province.

“I think I’ve played against Munster twice in the Celtic League and they’re a very good side. They’re well organised, tough up front and they have great desire, always.

"They never give up and you always know they are going to play well. They’re definitely not an on-off team, they’ll always be on top of their game. Obviously their results speak for themselves.”

Gaffney is eager to reciprocate the praise.

“I first remember Shaun Payne playing for Natal in the Super 12,” the Munster coach said. “He was an exciting player then and he played Super 12 for a number of years before going to Swansea.

"He’s been a prolific try scorer for Swansea, he has a lot of pace and when they came to Musgrave Park last year we won quite handsomely but Shaun played very well in that game.

"I’ve followed him through the last part of his career and he’s an exciting player. He can play 12, 13, 11, 14, even 15 so he’s a utility player.”

Payne is happy with the utility tag adding: “I have no preference where I play. I’m fairly comfortable at full-back and outside centre as well.

"I quite enjoy the variety and I don’t mind swapping wings, even during a game; at Swansea we tended to swap it up quite a bit.”

Another attribute he brings to Munster is his eligibility for Ireland. Payne qualifies on his father’s side with connections in Sligo and he is an Irish passport holder, although he admitted:

“I’ve never lived in Ireland. I’ve been over plenty of times on holiday and obviously with the rugby, so I know Ireland quite well already. Now it’s nice to be coming and living here.”