French connection won’t distract Simon Zebo

Simon Zebo admits he would have little difficulty in settling into a new life as a rugby player in France, but the Munster and Ireland wing is postponing all thoughts on his club future until after the upcoming World Cup.

The Cork wing has one more year left on his current deal and he will be one of the first high-profile Irish players to conduct negotiations with the IRFU on the back of Paul O’Connell’s switch to Toulon, which may yet reopen continental eyes to possible Irish recruits.

Zebo’s father Arthur was born in the French overseas region of Martinique and, with family in both Paris and Toulouse, there would be few of the cultural difficulties involved which many English-speaking players routinely encounter when making for the continent.