Joey Carbery (28 years old) will officially join UBB next season. The Irish international fly-half (38 caps) confirmed this in an interview with RTE. The Munster player spoke at length and gave the reasons for his departure: “I didn’t necessarily want to leave the Irish system. But after not being selected for the World Cup and the 6 Nations Tournament, it was not pleasant to be put in the side. I saw this opportunity as a new beginning, I couldn’t pass it up.”
Before adding: “There was a time last year when I really wasn’t enjoying rugby and so I think this departure is exactly what I need. “It’s a hard place to leave, but it’s also such an exciting opportunity.” Carbery - often in Sexton's shadow in the national team - is the 6th UBB recruit after Enzo Reybier (Oyonnax), Jonny Gray (Exeter), Lachlan Swinton (Waratahs), Mathis Perchaud (Bayonne) and Rohan Janse Van Rensburg (Sharks). This season, the Irish fly-half has only played six matches in all competitions.