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Rugby

02nd Sep 2015

Munster to lose other half of their greatest ever second row

On the brink

Patrick McCarry

Another experienced head takes his leave.

Munster Rugby are set to lose the services of their most capped player.

Donncha O’Callaghan will not add to his 263 Munster caps after it emerged, this morning, that he is heading overseas.

Various outlets report that the 36-year-old will move on after spending 17 seasons with the province.

O’Callaghan, who is currently on an aid mission in Sudan with Unicef, played two of Munster’s pre-season matches but he had fallen down Anthony Foley’s pecking order for second row slots.

He was a regular starter up until 2012/13 but found himself overlooked for the province’s bigger games over the past two years.

Over the past two seasons, he started 25 games and came off the bench in another 21. He also played a number of games with Munster ‘A’.

O’Callaghan made his Munster debut in September 1998.

Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan 18/3/2014

He began to held down a starting lock role in 2002 and quickly formed a formidable unit with Paul O’Connell.

The pair started the 2006 and 2008 Heineken Cup wins and transformed their form to the international stage, winning the Grand Slam in 2009.

SportsJOE contacted Munster Rugby for a comment this morning.

They replied, ‘We have nothing further to add and do not comment on speculation regarding player movement, either to or from the club.’

[Hat-tips: Irish Examiner & Red FM]

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