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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.

Continue reading below…
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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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JW 16 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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