WATCH - 'He has sold his rugby skills to Bordeaux and will honour that' - Joe Schmidt on Ian Madigan situation
Joe Schmidt was remaining coy on Ian Madigan's situation at Bordeaux when quizzed on the subject at the announcement of Ireland's team to face France at the Aviva on Saturday.
Madigan expressed an interest this week in returning home, but Schmidt insisted that the decision must rest with the player and his club, although he has maintained regular contact with the unsettled Bordeaux play-maker.
“I’ve had a number of discussions with Ian; I’ve known him for a long time and coached him for a long time,” he said.
“I respect him as a player, a competitor and as a person and he brings a lot of qualities. He adds quality to an environment.
“I suppose he’s currently contracted to Bordeaux and when you’re contracted, you’ve sold your rugby skills to a place for a given time and he’ll honour that for as long as they hold him to do it.
"Until something happens, we won't push any boundaries and that will be really led by Ian himself."
Madigan has reportedly spoken to Bordeaux Bordeaux president Laurent Marti and asked to be released from the final year of his contract at the Top 14 side.
Bordeaux are believed to be open to the request but only if they can find a replacement for the 27-year-old.
A number of Aviva Premiership sides are believed to be chasing his signature, with commentators and experts expressing their desire for the flyhalf to join Kieran Keane's new Connacht set-up next season.
Online Editors
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