Nick McCarthy move south puts cloud over Munster nines

Nick McCarthy’s move south from Leinster to Munster for next season has thrown into doubt the futures of current scrum-halves James Hart and Duncan Williams beyond the current campaign.

After a season so far blighted by injuries to senior number nines, not least first-choice Conor Murray whose neck injury has prevented him from playing so far this term, Munster yesterday moved to bolster their stocks for next season by signing McCarthy, 23, on a two-year deal.