ALBY WANTS TO EXTEND MUNSTER STAY
AFTER living in five countries in the last two years, Munster scrum-half Alby Mathewson is eager to find a long-term home. His initial four-month contract with Munster has been extended until the end of March, but after playing a big part in Munster’s season to date, he is desperate to remain until the end of the season at least. The ex-Toulon No 9 says he has found the time away from his Australiabased family tough, and whether he signs a long-term deal in Munster, Ireland, Europe or back home in New Zealand, the former All Black has had his fill of wandering. ‘I have loved it so far. Obviously, I am here until March at the moment and when that times comes around we will see what happens. I would like to stay because I was here from the start of the season and once it gets to March there is only two months left,’ he said. ‘Long-term (staying with Munster) would be ideal. ‘It is tough on my family. My oldest son is eight, he has been to five different schools in the last two years. This is probably the toughest period, I have never been away from him for this long and obviously over Christmas it makes it even tougher. But I sort of said to him that it is not forever, just for myself and for them, a long-term (contract) is the plan.’ It was Conor Murray’s neck injury that prompted Munster to delve into the free-agent market, and at the end of August Johann van Graan managed to secure Mathewson’s signature. His late arrival meant he had no preseason to rely on and a delay in his work permit meant he didn’t debut until the end of September against Ulster, but he was well used to being ready at short notice. It is expected that Mathewson will be handed his fifth Munster start against Ulster in Belfast this weekend and he is ready to make another big impact against the northern province. A quarterback-style lineout throw 11 minutes into his debut certainly caught the eye, and he has continued to shine for Munster since. ‘Ulster have obviously improved a lot since then with two good wins over the last couple of weeks against Scarlets who are a quality team,’ added the New Zealander.