Carbery Signs Munster Contract Extension Until 2022
Ireland international Joey Carbery starred during the Heineken Champions Cup pool stages for Munster with a tournament-leading haul of 68 points ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Munster Rugby and the IRFU have confirmed that Joey Carbery has signed a two-year contract extension which will see him remain with the province until June 2022.
The 23-year-old out-half joined Munster on a two-year deal last summer and, after settling in from the off, he now puts pen to paper for a further two years with the province.
Carbery told Munster Rugby TV: “I’m absolutely delighted. I’m happy to be staying down here, and I’m more than privileged to be accepted in this province and to be part of this province. Being able to train and throw on the jersey each weekend is pretty special. I feel like I’m properly fitted in now and know the lads really well.
“They made it easy, my transition coming down (from Leinster), having known a few lads from the Irish set-up. We’re in a really good spot this season and we’ve an exciting few weeks coming up. (Thomond Park) is an atmosphere you can’t really experience anywhere else, the fans are second to none. They’ll come up to you in the street and ask, ‘hi, how are you and how are you getting on?’
“We’ve built all season coming up to these few weeks (with the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Edinburgh and the closing rounds of the GUINNESS PRO14). We’re in a good spot but the work’s not done yet. So it’s about working hard, putting the head down and hopefully this week will go well.”
Scoring 143 points in 13 appearances, the young play-maker is the Champions Cup top points scorer so far this season with 68 points during the pool stages, and he also leads the way in the GUINNESS PRO14’s Golden Boot standings with an 87% success rate off the tee.
On the international front, Carbery has made six appearances for Ireland this season to bring his international tally to 18 caps. Coming back from a hamstring injury, he is reportedly on track to play in Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Edinburgh. “We’ll see how it goes but I’m confident he’ll be ready for Saturday,” said Johann van Graan.
A further positive sees Munster head coach van Graan boost his scrum half options ahead of the Rugby World Cup period, with New Zealander Alby Mathewson remaining with the province until the end of November.