Carbery To Leave Munster, Kleyn Sidelined For Rest Of Season

Joey Carbery has made the decision to leave Munster Rugby for a new playing opportunity outside of Ireland at the end of the current campaign.

Now in his sixth year at the province, Carbery helped Munster to win the BKT United Rugby Championship title in 2022/23 and ended the season as their top points scorer with 124 points in 17 appearances.

The out-half is due to return to action shortly having sustained a wrist injury against Benetton Rugby in October.

Carbery hit the ground running after joining from Leinster in 2018 and scored six tries in his first 15 appearances, earning a nomination for the 2018/19 Munster Rugby Player of the Year award.

He has gone on to make 56 Munster appearances and score 477 points to date. A 37-cap Ireland international, Carbery has earned 25 of those international caps since joining the province.

In a statement issued today, he said:

I want to say a massive thank you to Munster Rugby and the Munster fans for the last six seasons. I’ve loved every minute, through the good and bad days.

“Thomond Park and Musgrave Park will always be special places for me. I’m excited for a fresh start next season but motivated to give my best and end this season on a high.”

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree commented: “Joey has contributed a huge amount to Munster Rugby on and off the pitch since joining six years ago.

A fantastic professional, he has been a pleasure to coach and is a hugely popular member of the squad. We will wish him and his family all the best when the time comes, but there is still plenty of rugby to be played this season.”

Meanwhile, Rugby World Cup winner Jean Kleyn has added to Munster’s injury woes with the news that he will miss the rest of the province’s 2023/24 URC and Investec Champions Cup matches.

With his eye issue slow to recover and set to keep him out of action for the coming months, the South African second row has undergone surgery on an ongoing knee issue and will not return to play this season.

Ahead of Saturday’s Champions Cup trip to Toulon, the availability of Oli Jager, Fineen Wycherley, Alex Nankivell, Niall Scannell, Peter O’Mahony, Carbery, and Patrick Campbell will be determined later in the week.

Wycherley and O’Mahony, who are both coming back from shoulder injuries, are increasing their training exposure this week. Eoghan Clarke has complete the return-to-play protocols.

Nankivell (ankle), Scannell (groin), Carbery (wrist), and Campbell (shoulder) all returned to training this week. Jager is continuing the return-to-play protocols.

Jack O’Donoghue’s need for surgery on a knee injury will be determined following a surgical consultation this week.

There is good news for Mike Haley (hip) and Cian Hurley (ankle/Achilles) as they will return to training in the coming weeks. RG Snyman (chest/shoulder) is continuing to rehab and is due a return to action in March.