Munster Announce New Two-Year Deal For Keatley
Munster Rugby and the IRFU have today confirmed that Ian Keatley and the up-and-coming trio of Cian Bohane, Shane Buckley and Jack O’Donoghue have all signed contracts with the province.
Ian Keatley has signed a two-year contract that will see him stay with the province until at least June 2017, while development players Shane Buckley and Cian Bohane and Greencore Academy player Jack O’Donoghue have all committed their immediate futures to the province.
Keatley joined Munster at the start of the 2011/12 season after three seasons with Connacht. The Dublin-born out-half has gone on to make 89 appearances for the province, scoring 703 points since making his debut against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park in September 2011.
The 27-year-old is one of three players to score over 1000 points in the league, achieving the milestone in November’s PRO12 game against Ulster at Thomond Park.
At European level Keatley made his debut against Castres Olympique in Limerick in January 2012, and last October he kicked a sensational last-minute drop goal against Sale in round one of the competition to secure victory for the province.
On the international front he has represented Ireland on three occasions, making his debut against Canada in May 2009. He waited four years before making his third appearance, coming on against Georgia in the GUINNESS Series in November.
He has also represented Ireland ‘A’ 10 times and featured for Emerging Ireland in the Tbilisi Cup and Nations Cup tournaments.
Meanwhile, Shane Buckley (pictured below) has signed a one-year contract extension that will see him remain with the province until at least June 2016. The 22-year-old back rower was voted Academy Player of the Year last season and after progressing to the senior squad, he made his PRO12 debut in September against Edinburgh at Thomond Park.
The Corkman has played in every Munster ‘A’ game in the British & Irish Cup for the last two seasons and represented the Ireland Under-20s in two Junior World Championships.
Fellow Cork native and development player Cian Bohane has also signed a one-year extension for the 2015/16 season, and will progress to a full contract at the start of the 2016/17 season.
A product of the Munster Rugby Academy, the 23-year-old centre is currently rehabbing a long-term injury after sustaining ligament damage against London Irish in the SEAT Challenge game last August. He made his PRO12 debut against Zebre in May 2013 and has two Munster caps.
Third year Greencore Academy player Jack O’Donoghue has penned a three-year deal which will see him advance to development status for the 2015/16 season and full contract status from 2016/17.
The Waterford youngster is this season’s Munster ‘A’ squad captain and as an Academy player he made his PRO12 debut against Zebre at Thomond Park in September. The 20-year-old back rower has featured for the Ireland U-20s in two Junior World Championships, captaining the squad in the 2014 campaign in New Zealand.
In addition to the above, hooker Kevin O’Byrne, who joined the province at the start of the summer on a training contact, will remain with the province until the end of the season on a development contract.
The 23-year-old Corkman has proved to be a valuable addition to the squad with ongoing injuries limiting player availability at hooker, and the former Connacht Academy player has already made eight appearances in his first year of professional rugby.
On confirming the latest contract news, Munster head coach Anthony Foley said: “We are extremely pleased that this group of players have committed their talents to the province. Ian is into his fourth season with us and continues to grow, and impress.
“He leads by example with his commitment and attitude and we are fortunate to have him in our side. He showed great composure last week to kick in difficult conditions and like great tens before him he can certainly kick a drop goal when needed!
“It is always rewarding when securing up and coming homegrown talent such as Bohane, Buckley, O’Byrne and O’Donoghue, and is a testament to what we have to offer here in Munster.
“We have guys that are highly sought-after in a competitive environment and it’s great for our squad to know that these guys want to contribute to their home province and compete for the jersey. We have only seen glimpses of what these young players can do and we look forward to guiding their development.”