IRFU to encourage Ian Madigan towards Munster move – report

This could make Ian Madigan's decision that little bit tougher.

The Ireland out-half is currently picking through a number of potential suitors ahead of the end of his current Leinster contract next summer, with clubs in both England and France offering lucrative packages to lure him away from his home province. With Madigan unlikely to sign on for several more years as understudy to Jonathan Sexton, the Irish Times has reported that the IRFU are hoping to keep the 26-year-old on these shores by sending him to provincial rivals Munster, where he could finally be given the run at number 10 he has craved. They will still need to come close enough to matching the reported £500,000 annual wage on the table from Aviva Premiership hopefuls Bristol to sway Madigan towards remaining in Ireland for the benefit of his international career. Harlequins and French sides Begles-Bordeaux and Montpellier are also rumoured to be interested and can presumably bring similarly weighty proposals to the negotiating table.