O’Mahony ends speculation with new Munster deal

Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony has ended speculation over his future by signing a new one-year contract with Munster.

The 34-year-old has been locked in negotiations over recent months but he is set to play on next season.

O’Mahony had been expected to lose his IRFU central contract, but him agreeing a fresh deal with Munster will come as a major relief to the province, with the talismanic back-row still a vital leader for club and country.

The Cork man gave up the Munst er captaincy last year, with Tadhg Beirne expected to take over, but he was then appointed Ireland skipper by Andy Farrell and recently led his country to the Six Nations title.

O’Mahony’s decision to extend his playing career means he remains available for selection for this summer’s Ireland tour to South Africa.

To date, the Cork Con man has made 291 professional rugby appearances which includes 182 for Munster ,105 for Ireland and four for the Lions, the latter of which saw O’Mahony receive a cap when he led the side in the first Test against the All Blacks in June 2017.

O’Mahony has won two league titles with Munster and five Six Nations titles with Ireland, captaining Munster and Ireland to URC and Six Nations successes in the past 12 months.

A former PBC student, O’Mahony joined the Munster academy in 2008 and made his debut away to Ulster as a 21-year-old in 2010.

He won his first league title with Munster in 2011 and in 2012 made his Ireland debut along with winning Munster’s Young Player of the Year award.

O’Mahony was named club captain in 2013 and was his home province’s longest-serving skipper in the professional era, stepping down after over 10 years in the role.

Meanwhile, Toulon have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Antoine Frisch as the Munster centre edges closer to the exit door

Despite being under contract next season, it looks increasingly likely that Frisch will leave Munster this summer, having recently publicly stated his intention to represent France, the country of his birth, rather than Ireland.