This caught a lot of people by surprise.
Donnacha Ryan is on the way to France, according to a report from The Irish Examiner. The report states that the Munster and Ireland second row is to leave Thomond Park at the end of the season to join Racing 92 on a two-year deal.
The move would marked the end of Ryan’s 13-year spell at Munster, and could affect his international career considering Joe Schmidt’s policy on calling up players who aren’t based in Ireland.
The 33-year-old second row has been one of the better performing players for bot province and country this season. He was a pivotal character in the Six Nations campaign, having played in every game bar one and is credited with being one of the key men in that famous victory over New Zealand in Soldier Field last November.
Unsurprisingly, the reaction to the reports hasn’t been positive from the Munster faithful. They have made it clear that they want their province to do anything and everything to keep Ryan on the books.
PLEASE @Munsterrugby PLEASE make it IMPOSSIBLE for Donnacha Ryan to leave. Ignoring how much we love him, he's a COLOSSUS for us! #SUAF
— Niamh ☕️ (@NiamhoNiamh) March 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/ConorCahill21/status/845601214884696064
@DonnachaRyan dont leave us alone like this, racing 92 are taking the piss, wont you stay another year? #SUAF #dontgoboy
— Ciaran Clancy (@Macfhlannacha) March 25, 2017
What the hell? I just read that the @irishexaminer are saying Donnacha Ryan is off to Racing Metro. What a huge blow that would be 😩😭
— Seán O'Sullivan (@sean_osull00) March 25, 2017
Please say it isn't true @DonnachaRyan @Munsterrugby @MRSC16
— Eoin M N 🇮🇪🇪🇺🇵🇸 (@MacL0ve) March 25, 2017
Well that was a bit of a shock this morning. @DonnachaRyan going to Racing 92? He will be sorely missed. pic.twitter.com/xj6b5kGEiN
— Deirdre 🇵🇸 (@DeirdreOCall) March 25, 2017
