Munster shock as Keith Earls close to Saracens switch

Keith Earls looks set to leave Munster for the English Premiership and join Saracens who are poised to offer him a three-year deal. Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / Sportsfile

Ruaidhri O'Connor Twitter

January 26 2016 02:30 AM

Keith Earls looks set to turn down Munster's offer of a new contract and join Premiership champions Saracens on a three-year deal.

The province had been optimistic about their chances of retaining the 28-year-old winger who has kept his counsel on his future, but it is understood that he is close to confirming the move to Allianz Park next season.

Family issues rather than financial motives are believed to be the primary motivation for the Moyross native.

If completed, the move would put Earls' international career at risk. He started every one of Ireland's games at last year's World Cup, breaking Brian O'Driscoll's record for tries scored at the tournament with his effort against Italy.

Having joined up with the rest of the Ireland set-up at Carton House yesterday, he is firmly in the running for a place in Joe Schmidt's match-day 23 for the Six Nations opener against Wales next week.

The union don't have an official policy on overseas players, but to date Johnny Sexton is the only player Schmidt has selected from abroad. That will be tested next season, with Marty Moore, Ian Madigan and, potentially, Earls plying their trade abroad.

While the IRFU may look to put together a last-ditch move to retain the versatile back who has won 46 caps for his country, it is understood his mind appears set on moving.

That comes as a major blow for Munster coach Anthony Foley who is also at risk of losing Simon Zebo to France where Toulouse, Stade Francais and Pau have expressed an interest in the Cork winger.

Earls is steeped in Munster tradition. His father Ger played for the province and for Young Munster and he has been one of their most consistent performers during a difficult campaign to date. Since his debut against Montauban in 2008, he has represented the Reds 121 times.

The news comes hot on the heels of Wasps' confirmation that Moore will join them from Leinster next season on a three-year deal despite his attempts to pull the plug on the move. However, the player had already signed the heads of agreement on his contract and thus had to follow through with the move despite his reservations.

It was an eventful day for Moore who has been ruled out of the Six Nations with a hamstring injury and Joe Schmidt yesterday called Connacht's uncapped prop Finlay Beatham into his squad. It now appears certain that Nathan White will start against Wales, with Tadhg Furlong on the bench.

Johnny Sexton is on track to be fit in time for the Wales game as Leinster said he did not fail the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) at Wasps on Saturday. The IRFU's medical bulletin said the out-half has gone through stages one and two of the HIA process and is due to complete stage three today.

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