Munster Set To Dip Into The Transfer Market Following Donnacha Ryan Departure

Munster Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has admitted he will look to bolster his squad next season should Donnacha Ryan’s move to Racing 92 go through.

The 33 year-old lock forward has not been offered a national contract by the IRFU, with the southern province unable to match the offer on the table by French giants Racing 92. Munster are believed to have offered Ryan a contract in the region of €300,000 per season.

Racing however had made him an offer reportedly in excess of €400,000 per season, and with this likely to be Ryan’s last big contract, you cannot blame him turning down Munster’s offer.

“I guess if we had more money then we could have kept him,” said Erasmus yesterday.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of Donnacha chasing money. I think it’s a tough situation for a guy like him, he is 33-years-old.

“I don’t want to speak on behalf of him, but I’m sure he will say the same when you get to chat him – he has probably got one big contract left in him. Rugby players just have a short-ish lifespan, earning enough money.

“We gave him an offer of two years and obviously a team like Racing has got more money, and I think he had to make a career decision, which has not been confirmed yet.

“Obviously, when he loses his national contract the whole cost comes back to Munster which unfortunately we can’t afford to try and match that. He knows we wanted to keep him and we really tried our best.

“I guess it is one of those things where you must be happy for him. If that’s what he wants to do, he served this club well, he has done great things for this club. Guys move on, you have to respect that and wish them all the best.”

The South African has admitted that Munster will look to sign a lock with the southern province down to their bare boned in the second-row department.

“We will be thin at second row and we will have to make a few plans there,” said Erasmus. “If you just think, Mark Chisholm hasn’t played for a while and his contract comes up at the end of June. Dave Foley has moved on [to Pau].

“Jean Kleyn is going through a serious neck injury, he will be out for a few months. Billy will always be there, Billy is fit, he’s always available.

“Then there’s some young guys coming through like Darren O’Shea, but we’ll have to bolster the squad for next year, that’s definitely one of the positions we’re a bit thinner.”