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Published 15:44 17 Feb 2016 GMT
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David McHugh, who looks after Madigan's affairs, told SportsJOE just how the player was left with a tough decision. He said:
"When your club recruits a world-class 10, in your position, you are naturally pushed to number two. It's the same with the national team. "Your second preferred position is 12. Rumours were, there was another world-class centre [Henshaw] coming to Leinster this year. Secondly, Ian is not a big guy. 12 is a hugely attritional position in the modern game. "Ian said 'I want to play in a club and want to be the starting 10. I want to play rugby. What opportunities are out there for me?... Money was a consideration but it was not a motivator.'"In collaboration with player agency Esportif, clubs in England and France were looked at before Bordeaux-Beglés showed a keen interest. It was merely a coincidence that Madigan's family owned a holiday home in Bordeaux. Madigan will run the gambit of impinging on international selection by playing abroad but he hopes not. At Bordeaux, he has been guaranteed a chance to bed into the 10 jersey and be the club's goal-kicker.
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