Thursday Round-Up

Hanrahan to leave for Saints

Northampton Saints have announced the signing of Munster Flyhalf JJ Hanrahan who will join Jim Mallinder’s side for the start of next season. Rumours of the move had started in December and they slowly died down with Hanrahan thought to be staying put. However his departure has now been confirmed after making 51 appearances for the province since making his debut back in 2012. Hanrahan was offered a three-year contract but he has rejected the offer to start a new chapter in his career at Franklin Gardens. Hanrahan now joins the reigning Aviva Premiership champions where he will battle it out for the number 10 jersey with Stephen Myler. Myler has been a regular start at 10 for the last few seasons and now Hanrahan will keep him on his toes and fight for a starting place. Munster fans will be disappointed to see Hanrahan leave but will be delighted to see other players sign new contracts in particular Ian Keatley who has signed a contract that will keep at Thomond Park until 2017. Ireland Under 20 captain Jack O’Donoghue will also be staying on for a further three years with Development players Cian Bohane and Shane Buckley getting their contracts extended by a further year.

Gopperth off to Wasps

It has been confirmed that Jimmy Gopperth will be leaving Leinster and returning to the Aviva Premiership to join Dai Young’s Wasps side. With Andy Goode still not been given a new contract yet  it looks likely that Gopperth will be Wasps first choice 10 for next season. With Johnny Sexton returning to Leinster after his two-year stint for Racing Metro it would of put Gopperth further down the pecking order as the third choice Flyhalf which has made the New Zealander decide to end his stay at Leinster to return to England for the start of next season. The former Newcastle Falcons player leaves Leinster having won the Pro12 last year and will look to leave Matt O’Connor’s side on a high and make a huge impact in the final few months of the season in the Pro12 and the European Champions Cup.