Munster's recent signing of New Zealand star Christian Cullen has been described by coach Alan Gaffney as arguably the biggest in European rugby history.
Full-back Cullen, 27, has been overlooked by All Blacks' coach John Mitchell for the 2003 World Cup campaign. His rejection from the international set-up comes amid a formidable scoring record comprising 48 tries in 58 Tests, for the Kiwis.
However, the All Blacks' loss is Munster's gain, and he is expected to join his new team-mates in mid-October, once his National Provincial Championship commitments with Wellington are completed.
Gaffney is relishing Cullen's arrival, hailing him as "probably the most important and biggest signing ever made by any team in European rugbyhistory".
Cullen will miss Munster's early Celtic League programme, but should be ready for action by early December, when the 2003/04 Heineken Cup kicks off.
"His signing is just a fantastic thing not just for Munster, but for all rugby supporters in the northern hemisphere," Gaffney said. "Quite simply, heis an icon of the world game.
"He will bring so many things to Munster - a world-class individual game, hewill enable us to expand our overall game and will certainly give us additionaloptions.
"I am also positive that the games of players like Jeremy [Staunton] andMossie [Lawlor] will develop even more with him around," Gaffney said.
"The interest his signing has generated has been phenomenal, and I just hopethe grounds we play at can accommodate everyone who seems to want to come andsee him play. We are really looking forward to his arrival".
Munster are the reigning Celtic League champions but, with next season's tournament running through the World Cup and 2004 RBS 6 Nations Championship,squad strength will be fully tested.
"The Celtic League is a major competition, and we would love to win the title again," Gaffney added. "But it is going to be much harder this time, with more games and those heavy international commitments. We used 37 players last season, and I guess it will be much the same this time, but I am confident in the strength of our squad.
"All the teams will be affected in varying degrees by the World Cup and 6Nations, and it means that both ourselves and Leinster will be sadly depletedwhen we meet in Dublin in the first round next month.
"That said, it will be a real contest, and I believe it is a great way toopen up the tournament with the 2002 champions meeting the 2003 champions," Gaffney said.
