Anthony Foley and Munster in talks to extend contact until June 2017
In a strong show of support during a difficult period in Foley’s second season in charge since succeeding Rob Penney, Munster are understood to have agreed in principle to trigger an option of a third year at the helm.
Former Heineken Cup-winning captain and Ireland No.8 Foley took the reins from Penney in summer 2014.
Foley will have no such qualms about adding a third season at the helm having served his native province throughout his professional career, with 201 senior Munster caps before cutting his coaching teeth in a number of roles after retiring as a player in July 2008.
He served as forwards coach under Penney before his promotion at the age of 40 but has had a difficult start to life at the top, failing to qualify from the toughest of pools in the inaugural Champions Cup campaign last season. Munster nearly made amends by reaching the Pro12 final but an injury-hit side were well beaten by Glasgow in last May’s Belfast final.
Despite the departure of key figures Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan during the summer and long-term injuries to captain Peter O’Mahony and blindside flanker Tommy O’Donnell, Foley’s second season began strongly but his squad has suffered three defeats in a row and a home defeat to Leicester in Europe last Saturday means Foley may preside over a second successive Champions Cup exit at the pool stage if Munster do not win this Sunday’s return fixture.
Nevertheless, Munster are convinced Foley is the man to continue taking a new generation of local talent on to a higher level and an official last night confirmed talks had got under way, telling the Irish Examiner: “The process has started.”
There was a different start for O’Connell, meanwhile, over in France yesterday. Another season, another squad photograph but there was no front row centre position for the Ireland legend as he took his place as just another Galactico for his first Toulon photocall yesterday.
The former Munster, Ireland and Lions captain, 36, was finally unveiled as a Toulon player having had his arrival delayed by the serious hamstring injury he suffered during the World Cup pool victory over France.
And he brought glad tidings of a possible return to action in January or February, despite having his hamstring torn from the bone at the Millennium Stadium on October 11.
O’Connell pulled on the red jersey of Toulon and lined up in the middle row between fellow forwards Samu Manoa of the United States and South Africa’s Juan Smith for the annual squad photograph before his official welcome press conference at which he spoke of his nervousness and excitement at embarking on a new chapter in his career after 14 seasons with Munster.
A two-year contract worth a reported €1.2 million and agreed last April was an offer not many could have refused, particularly when the destination was the shores of the Mediterranean and with his hamstring reattached during a successful surgery O’Connell can finally look forward to his Toulon debut with the three-time and defending European champions.
With club manager Tom Whitford by his side, the Limerickman said of his injury: “It’s good, it’s on the mend.
“I’ve been doing physio back in Ireland, so I feel very good doing every day things.
“I haven’t started running yet.
“Hopefully, I’ll be back January or February, I’m not fully sure yet.”
O’Connell will complete his rehabilitation in France when he moves to the Toulon area with wife Emily and young children Paddy and baby Lola but he already appears to have enjoyed his new surroundings and an initial meeting with new team-mates between their preparations for a Champions Cup return fixture with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
