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Furious Leinster fans take to Twitter as province confirm Carbery's Munster move
By Ian Cameron
As first revealed this morning on RugbyPass, Leinster have confirmed that Joey Carbery is to switch the provincial rivals Munster.
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The official confirmation was largely greeted with dismay and anger from Leinster fans on Twitter.
Many Leinster fans wanted the talented flyhalf to stay at the province despite mostly appearing for the European Champions from the bench throughout the season. However, the IRFU were clear that they wanted to push through the move to allow Carbery to get regular starting game time at a big club side.
For weeks any move was meant to be north to Ulster, but it appears that the IRFU have found a secondary path that will see Carbery instead travel south to Leinster’s traditional rivals Munster.
RugbyPass reported last month that the IRFU wanted to work a switch deal that would see a Munster player travel to Ulster to fill the vacant gap at 10 keft by Paddy Jackson’s exit – a role that Carbery appeared reluctant to fill.
Despite the obvious advantages to Irish Rugby, many Leinster fans are angry that they the province were effectively forced to give up a player that wanted to stay in Dublin. Leinster also publically stated the same in recent weeks.
CONFIRMED: @JoeyCarbery to move to Munster. Thanks for everything in blue Joey. #ThanksJoey pic.twitter.com/VCLRdUa8Dc
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 31, 2018
One fan put it: “Seriously annoyed that the IRFU feel this is an acceptable way to treat a player and a team. First they brought in the “if you leave the country you won’t be selected” rule and now we have the “if you don’t play where we say you won’t be selected” rule
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“Dangerous times ahead.”
Seriously annoyed that the IRFU feel this is an acceptable way to treat a player and a team.
First they brought in the “if you leave the country you won’t be selected” rule and now we have the “if you don’t play where we say you won’t be selected” rule
Dangerous times ahead.
— Miriam Collins (@MiriamCol) May 31, 2018
What an absolute farce, can only presume it's a quick 1 or 2 year loan deal with an immediate return till Munster get their own house in order.
— Michael Smith (@Smith0102Smith) May 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/rob_chadwick/status/1002183071460941825
Well done irfu….well done.
(Dopes). pic.twitter.com/PIejzuwKrq— Ralph Uhlemann (@ralphuhlemann) May 31, 2018
1) Thanks Joey and I wish you all the best
2) This is a fucking disgrace from IRFU— AMcDermott – WhatStrategy / TheRecognizedAuthority (@AMcDermott) May 31, 2018
Why does the IRFU hate Ulster so much ?
— Gav (@Gavlar_99) May 31, 2018
News. @JoeyCarbery to join @Munsterrugby next season. pic.twitter.com/wRFNC9pNQm
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) May 31, 2018
The switch deal that had been mooted might yet see Keatley move to Ulster.
Such a deal could be enough to satisfy both parties, with Ulster getting an experienced 10 in Ian Keatley, while Carbery gets to play at a province that more closely matches Leinster’s ability to make the closing stages of competitions.
Keatley could potentially act as a better mentor to promising Ulster 10 Jonny McPhilips than Carbery could.
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Carbery made his break-through for Leinster at the start of the 2016/17, when selected to start in the home game against Zebre.
In October 2016, he was selected on the Ireland national squad to play against New Zealand at Soldier Field, Chicago, in the opening game of the November test series where Ireland won 40-29, brought on as a substitute in the 59th minute earning his first Ireland cap in the historic victory.
