Simon Mannix: I didn’t lure Paul O’Connell to France

Former Munster assistant coach Simon Mannix said he played no part in Paul O’Connell’s move to France and has denied he ever tried to sign the Irish captain for Pau.

Mannix, who spent two seasons with Munster under Rob Penney, has guided Pau back to the Top 14 in his first season in charge of the Pyrenees club, but has finally quashed speculation that he tried to lure O’Connell to France.

Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal said that they initially became interested in signing O’Connell when media stories emerged last December linking the former Lions captain with a move to Pau.