‘YOU DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY’

PETER O’MAHONY’S IRFU central contract is up for renewal at the end of this season, but he won’t be following France-bound Simon Zebo’s lead and taking up a better money offer abroad.

‘You can never rule anything out, but Ireland and Munster are my priority at the moment, certainly,’ he said. ‘I’ve young family and you can never say never. It’s a professional game and you can’t say no to something that might happen down the line, but my passion would be in Munster and Ireland, certainly, as I’m sitting here now.’

O’Mahony, who admitted his command of the French language ‘isn’t very good’, added he wasn’t privy to negotiations which resulted in Zebo (above) spurning an offer from Munster and the IRFU for greater riches in France.

‘That’s a very personal decision for Simon, it’s not something you go around discussing with people. He’s got to weigh up his options. He’s given a huge amount to Munster. He has given most of his life up to now to the club.

‘He’s a top try scorer and he is still so young (27), but it’s a very personalised decision and one that has to be made on your own, with your family, in the dark a bit. He has made his decision.

‘It’s not ideal from a Munster point of view but that’s just professional rugby nowadays. Sometimes you’ve got to do what’s best for your family.’