Foley plays down talk of Hanrahan move
Munster coach Anthony Foley played down reports yesterday that JJ Hanrahan could be moving to Northampton at the end of the season.
The player is currently in contract negotiations with Munster and Northampton have reportedly made the player a financial offer that is more than he could expect to receive from the Irish province.
Hanrahan has had limited game time this season under Foley and did not feature in last weekend’s European Champions Cup defeat by Clermont.
But Foley spoke to the Irish Examiner yesterday and insisted the out-half still had a place in the side.
The Munster coach was asked if the player was a part of the province's future plans.
“Totally. He is a young player that we have a lot of time for,” he answered. "We’ve looked after him very well in his preparation.”
Foley said his limited role this season, with just four starts so far, was down to a long-standing groin injury.
“We have made sure that an injury he has been carrying for a couple of seasons we have got rid of this year so he can become a better player in terms of the load he can take during the week and the extra kicking and the extra preparation he can do around his game,” Foley explained.
The consequence of doing that meant he started the season a month behind everyone else and he is playing a small bit of catch-up now.”
He also said that offers such as the Northampton one were to be expected when it was public knowledge that a player was negotiating a new contract.
“You don’t want it out in the public that fellas are up for negotiations,” said Foley. “With quality players like JJ, teams come around and want him, so it’s important for Munster to keep our own players coming through.”
