The leaking of Irish talent is threatening to become a steady flow.
Keith Earls could be the latest Ireland international to leave these shores amid reports that the Munster hero is close to agreeing a move to Saracens.
The 28-year-old winger’s current contract expires at the end the season and a story in this morning’s Irish Independent suggests that Earls is nearing a three-year deal with the English Premiership champions.
Earls has played more than 120 times for Munster since his debut in 2007, winning a Heineken Cup medal in 2008, and his experience would be sorely missed as the province looks to bounce back from a disappointing season in Europe.
The switch would also put a question mark over Earls’ international career, with head coach Joe Schmidt perhaps willing to ignore a foreign-based player given the competition for places in Ireland’s back three.
With Marty Moore confirming his move to Wasps yesterday and Ian Madigan going to Bordeaux, Earls would be the third departure of a frontline Irish talent this summer, while Conor Murray, Simon Zebo and Jordi Murphy are among those still waiting to confirm their futures.
