Munster confirm signing of Thaakir Abrahams on two-year deal

INCOMING: Thaakir Abrahams of Lyon is tackled by Shayne Bolton of Connacht during the Investec Champions Cup Pool Stages. Pic: Romain Biard, Sportsfile

Munster have officially confirmed the signing of South African wing/full-back Thaakir Abrahams from Lyon on a two-year deal.

News of the exciting 25-year-old’s capture from the French Top 14 club for next season had broken in France on Tuesday with Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast doing little to hide his admiration for the former South Africa Under-20 international.

Abrahams was a player who has earned comparisons with World Cup-winning Springboks Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe in his homeland after a making his name with the Sharks with form which earned him a move to the Top 14, including a solo try against Leinster which was nominated for the 2022-23 URC Try of the Season.

Game time has been limited for the back-three player at Lyon, who have agreed to release him just 12 months into his two-year contract, but Abraham did score five tries in four Champions Cup pool outings this season, two of them against Connacht in January, and Munster are delighted with the talent they have secured.

Munster have made no secret of their search for back-three players having seen their options reduced following the retirements of veteran wing Keith Earls and Andrew Conway, who was forced to quit due to a knee injury while Simon Zebo last week announced his intention to hang up the boots at the end of the current campaign.

The URC champions have already signed Diarmuid Kilgallen from Connacht for 2024-25 but the signature of Abrahams is sure to excite Munster supporters eager to replace the flair showcased by firm favourite Zebo.

“He’s electric, really, really good footwork. Very quick, elusive, got that X factor ability about him,” Prendergast said of Abrahams on Tuesday.

“We’d have known him from URC as well, playing with the Sharks then went on to Lyon in the Top 14 last year. He’s a wonderful player.” Abrahams joins Kilgallen, Ulster fly-half Billy Burns and Connacht centre Tom Farrell as Munster’s new signing for next season academy players Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly, Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson will be promoted to the senior squad.