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The 30-year-old was reportedly called up on stage to receive a watch
An Irish rugby player found out he was leaving his club after being called up on stage to receive a watch at an end-of-season event earlier this month.
Munster prop Conor Bartley was reportedly still waiting on a decision from the Irish province when he was called upon stage at a player-organised function on June 12 in Limerick. According to reports in Ireland, Bartley was left stunned when his name was read out from a list of departing players by a team-mate.
According to the Irish Independent, the 30-year-old left the event shortly after.
Bartley was reported to still be in discussions with Munster at the time – with the Irish province saying that no decision had been made at the time of the function.
They added that the club did not communicate his impending departure to anyone organising the event – despite Bartley’s name being read out as a leaver.
Munster had held an official event the week prior to honour departing players – but Bartley was not mentioned as his exit had not been confirmed at that point.
Since then, he has reportedly been told by the Irish province that he will not be kept on – although the club are yet to announce that publicly.
Bartley signed a senior contract with Munster for the first time last season, at the age of 29 – having plied his trade in the All-Ireland League for a decade.
Having been brought in during an injury crisis, the Young Munster tighthead stayed around for this season – making six appearances off the bench.
One of those was a Champions Cup debut against Gloucester, earning the praise of his coaches.
With Munster’s prop situation uncertain following the retirements of Oli Jager and John Ryan, the club have clearly taken their time to consider whether to offer Bartley a new deal.
This isn’t the first disruption to Munster’s plans for next season.
They had initially hired Roger Randle as their new attack coach. However, that move was called off after a backlash over historic rape allegations which the former All Black denies.
In the end, having cancelled that move, the Irish province have hired former Ireland centre Jared Payne from the Scarlets.
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