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Keatley leaving Munster and Leinster sign Connacht's Kelleher - reports

Ian Keatley, Munster. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Ian Keatley is on way out of Munster. Keatley has found game-time hard to come by this season, with Joey Carbery the first choice at 10 since his move from Leinster, while JJ Hanrahan the preferred option as back-up this season. Tyler Bleyendaal can also operate at 10, meaning Munster are well stacked in that position.

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Keatley was linked to a move to Ulster last summer when news first emerged of Carbery’s switch to Thomond Park and before Ulster had landed Billy Burns from Gloucester.

Keatley, who has 7 Ireland caps, joined Munster in 2011 from Connacht and has made 180 appearances, notching up 1247 points for the club.

The 31-year-old is headed for Italy, with the Limerick Leader stating that a switch to Benetton has been done.

Keatley would be competing with Italian internationals Tomasso Allen and Dublin-born Ian McKinley, who both may miss the start of the season if they’re included in Conor O’Shea’s squad for the World Cup in Japan.

Benetton, who are coached by New Zealander Kieran Crowley, are third in Conference B of the PRO14 with seven wins and six defeats.

Continue reading below…
Watch: Exceptional Stories – Ian McKinley

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Meanwhile, Andy Friend may be building a formidable side out in the West of Ireland but the Connacht head coach will to plan without Cian Kelleher next season.

The 24-year-old winger has elected to return to Leinster, where he came through the Academy system. Kelleher, who had an injury-disrupted first season, has proven to be a hit with 14 tries in 44 appearance, a rate of almost one in three appearances.

The Irish Times report that the desire to win international honours prompted the move back to Leinster.

Kelleher will be be vying for a place in the starting XV with the likes of Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Dave Kearney, Adam Byrne, Joe Tomane and Fergus McFadden, among others.

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J
JW 14 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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