Munster have ended speculation that Christian Cullen was about to return home to New Zealand with the confirmation that the former All Black has penned a new one-year contract.
…Former All Black Christian Cullen…
Munster have ended speculation that Christian Cullen was about to return home to New Zealand with the confirmation that the former All Black has penned a new one-year contract.
The 30-year-old full-back, who is still New Zealand’s top try scorer with 46 tries in 58 Tests, is sticking with the Heineken Cup champions despite the lure of lucrative offers from his native country and France.
Cullen’s career with the province has been dogged by a series of injuries – he was signed by Alan Gaffney in 2003 but his first season in red was curtailed by a shoulder problem.
The 2004/05 campaign saw him display some of the form which has earned him the nickname of ‘the Paekakariki Express’ – he delighted Thomond Park fans with eight tries in 15 Celtic League outings. But shoulder, hamstring, calf and ankle injuries followed meaning Cullen sat out the majority of last season.
He played only twice in the Celtic League last year – he cruelly damaged his ankle in the second game against the Ospreys and missed out on a prized appearance in the Heineken Cup final against Biarritz.
With his initial three-year deal up, Cullen, who is based in Cork with his Kiwi partner Mandy Fawcett, had been a target for a number of clubs, including his former employers Wellington.
French outfit Toulon, who have signed Cullen’s Munster team mate Rob Henderson and former New Zealand skipper Tana Umaga in recent weeks, were also reportedly interested.
However, Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald has confirmed Cullen’s re-signing, saying: “Christian will be staying with Munster having agreed terms for a one-year contract.”
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