James Downey signs two-year deal with Munster
Northampton centre James Downey has signed a two-year deal with Munster that will see him join the province for the beginning of next season
Munster Rugby have announced the signing of Northampton Saints centre James Downey on a two-year-deal.
A Churchill Cup winner with Ireland in June 2009, Dublin-born Downey began his career in Leinster before moving to Connacht for two seasons and now returns to Munster on a two-year contract.
Downey had a previous stint with Munster in the 2006/’07 season, before joining leading English premiership side, the Northampton Saints at the start of the 2007/2008 season.
Commenting on the signing, Munster head coach, Tony McGahan said: “James Downey is a quality player who has been on our radar for some time now.
“We’ve seen at first hand, on several occasion in recent times in the Heineken Cup exactly what he has to offer and believe that his style and his attitude can only enhance our squad.”
Since he arrived at Franklin’s Gardens following spells at Calvisano, Munster, Connacht and Leinster, Downey has become a lynchpin of the Saints midfield.
A ferocious tackler, Downey is notoriously difficult to bring down himself and his charges through the middle often create the space out wide for the wingers to exploit.
His individual exploits in 2008/09 were recognised by the Irish national selectors, who chose him for the Churchill Cup squad.
This added to the European Challenge Cup winner’s medal won a few weeks earlier, and 2009/10 yielded more success when the Saints won the LV= Cup.
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