Munster announce double contract extension headlined by star centre’s two-year deal
Munster duo Alex Nankivell and Stephen Archer sign new deals.
Munster and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) have announced that centre Alex Nankivell has inked a new deal that keeps him at the province until at least 2027.
The 28-year-old, who arrived from Super Rugby outfit the Chiefs ahead of 2023/24, has proved a successful addition to the squad and been a consistent performer in the red jersey.
A Maori All Black, he impressed in his debut campaign in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and helped the team finish top of the table a year after winning the title in 2023.
Impressive impact
Nankivell, who scored three tries in 19 appearances in 2023/24, has been superb defensively and around the ruck and stood out in that facet against the Lions over the weekend.
The tough inside centre had just returned from a hip injury but impressed alongside Tom Farrell in the midfield, with Munster now turning their focus to the Champions Cup.
Meanwhile, veteran tighthead prop Stephen Archer has also put pen to paper a six-month contract extension that will see him continue until the end of the current campaign.
URC Team of the Week: Siya Kolisi and strong Springboks contingent lead the way
Archer, the province’s record appearance-holder, made his 290th appearance for Munster against the Lions on Saturday, helping the team to a 17-10 home victory in the URC.
This is the 36-year-old front-rower’s 16th season at the Irish province having made his debut in 2009 and he continues to provide a valuable contribution on and off the field.
Archer made 21 appearances last term and has featured in six matches so far this year and was hugely impressive during the team’s famous URC title triumph in 2022/23.
European focus
With the URC now taking another break, the attention switches to the Champions Cup and Munster kick off the pool campaign with a home game against Stade Francais.
Following that fixture they will head to France to face off with Castres before returning to URC duty with a visit to Ulster ahead of a hosting Leinster on December 27.