Stringer expected back at Munster next year

PETER STRINGER’S move to Saracens for three months is not expected to lead to a new deal with a club outside Ireland.

The Cork-born scrum half is moving to the English side on a three-month loan deal but finishing his career with a foreign club would cost him an estimated €150,000.

Rugby players can currently claim a tax rebate when they retire for the last 10 years they paid tax in the Republic of Ireland. But a player is only eligible for the rebate if contracted in Ireland for the final year of his career.

In general, after 10 years as a professional, it represents a rebate of approximately 18 months’ salary. For Stringer, who is estimated to earn in excess of €100,000 per year, that would represent a potential loss of 150,000 or more.

It presents Stringer, who turns 34 on December 13, with a massive risk. Should he sign for a club outside Ireland, where he would likely retire, he would need to continue playing for at least two more years to guarantee recouping the €150,000 he would get from the Revenue Commissioners.

And with Tony McGahan looking undecided about the diminutive number nine’s future with Munster, it could force him into early retirement.

“It would be good to see more moves like this but it depends on the individual and the situation.

“It keeps him ticking over. We’ve been trying to cater in opportunities for him to play,” McGahan said.

“He’s been a wonderful servant to Munster. We will have to wait and see how things pan out but if we suffered injuries at scrum-half, the idea is that we call him back.

“We have a large squad and we’re trying to manage the whole group through the Irish international rugby programme. You never know when you have to call players in but we’ve been in a situation this year where we’ve had four fit half-backs.

“Joining Saracens presents Peter with a great opportunity to keep playing at a high level and he was very keen for the move.”