Paul O’Connell signs on as Jamie Heaslip decision comes closer

On a day when the IRFU announced that Munster, Ireland and Lions secondrow Paul O’Connell had agreed a two year contract extension that will allow him to maintain his current playing allegiance until June 2016, the conjecture regarding Jamie Heaslip’s future is nudging closer to the end game. A decision on his future is likely by the weekend.

Toulon are believed to have improved upon their original offer, a decision partially attributable to their failure to land Seán O’Brien, who instead opted to sign a two year contract with the union.

The IRFU is due to table a final offer to persuade the 30 -year-old Heaslip to remain in Ireland. There would be only one winner in a financial tug-of-love; the number eight would be heading for the Mediterranean city. His decision will be based on broader, previously documented considerations, on and off the pitch.

French newspaper Midi Olympique who initially suggested that Heaslip would sign for Toulon, yesterday ran a story that the player would remain in Ireland. Suffice to say that by the end of the week it will come down to simple arithmetic: two offers, one decision.

Coincidentally – those who believe he’s destined to stay will point to the timing – Heaslip is to address the issue on an in-house IRFU interview, to be released to the media today.

The 34-year-old O’Connell’s contractual commitment of a further two years represents the cherry on top of an excellent weekend for Munster and Irish rugby and a decision that was universally welcomed. .

O’Connell said: “I am delighted to sign a new IRFU contract and to continue playing with Munster for the next two seasons. Over the years I have been privileged to play in many fantastic Munster sides and as we build for the future I am excited by the prospect of playing my part in achieving success with Munster and Ireland in the coming seasons.”

Extended squad

The Ireland squad trained at Carton House under the direction of coach Joe Schmidt yesterday and will do so again today before enjoying a day off and return for further field sessions on Thursday and Friday. The extended squad includes those who will play for the Ireland Wolfhounds against the England Saxons at Kingsholm on Saturday.

The Wolfhounds team, who are being coached by Munster’s Anthony Foley and Ulster’s Neil Doak will be announced on Thursday. Schmidt, speaking on IRFU TV, offered an insight into his thinking. He explained that Rory Best and Cian Healy were pencilled in to play to give them game time but following their speedy recovery from their respective injuries that would no longer be the case.

He did suggest that Fergus McFadden would play in his first outing following injury. Munster’s Simon Zebo and Ulster’s Craig Gilroy were called into camp following the withdrawal of Keith Earls, who suffered a knee injury in Munster’s victory over Edinburgh at Thomond Park on Sunday.

Earls had a scan on the joint yesterday, the results of which are expected to be confirmed today. In pursuing Schmidt’s line of thinking Zebo, who has come off the bench in Munster’s last two games, might be handed a start and the prospect of more match sharpness against the Saxons.

On the upcoming Six Nations Schmidt admitted: “I am looking forward to it and I’m pretty nervous. Everyone is on tenterhooks because at the start of any big competition there is a degree of anticipation and expectation. We want to try and beat the expectations that we have and that the public have of us.

“The only thing I’ll say is that the autumn series is a notoriously bad indicator of Six Nations performance. Last year England had a big win over the All Blacks and didn’t quite manage to get there (win the Six Nations).

“France were favourites for the Six Nations last year after an unbeaten autumn and ended up at the tail end (of the table). Whatever has been achieved in the autumn and whatever momentum managed, we have got to work really hard this week to re-establish that momentum.”

He is expected to reduce the squad to 32 players next week.