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Munster confirm Keatley departure

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

Munster outhalf Ian Keatley is leaving the club at the end of the season, his club have confirmed.

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Keatley joined Munster ahead of the 2011/12 campaign and has been an integral member of the squad over the past eight years.

Having scored 1,247 points in his 180 Munster appearances to date, Keatley is second on the list of Munster’s all-time top points scorers.

Capped seven times by Ireland, Keatley is third on the list of all-time top points scorers in Guinness PRO14 (1,428 points) and fifth on the list of most games played (196 matches).

He’s signed for Italian side Benetton Rugby.

“I am very happy to start a new chapter of my career at Benetton Rugby. This is a fantastic opportunity for my wife and my daughter to experience something very different,” Keatley said.

“At this time, the Benetton is one of the clubs at the top to achieve something special and I want to be part of this exciting journey. I also feel that with the excellent work done by the staff and my new teammates together we can help you achieve many successes. I cannot wait to debut at the Stadio Comunale Monigo.” said the new purchase-and-whites.

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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.

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.

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Benetton Rugby sports director, Antonio Pavanello, added: “Right from the start with Ian there was agreement on the sharing of the project and the objectives, and as happened with Duvenage has espoused the idea of being a constant support for our younger players so as to help them in their growth.

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“In a particular season as the next, given the busy schedules of the National Major Italian players and that we thus lose, we are sure Keatley will bring experience and solidity in the multiple roles of the back line; reasoning similar to that done for the leaders of the touche.

“Not least, the choice fell on him because we are talking about a player who is well aware of our competition and the European Rugby ”

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AM 41 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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