'I was always going to stay here' - Connacht's Tom Daly says there was no truth to Munster rumours

Connacht's Tom Daly says the rumours he was close to joining Munster next season were wide of the mark.

The centre agreed a new two-year deal to remain in Galway just before Christmas, which ended speculation that a move to Thomond Park was on the cards.

The 29-year-old has been one of the province's standout performers of the last 18 months, which led to rumours he was being targeted to bolster Munster's midfield options.

But the Carlow man says a move away from Connacht was never on the cards, adding that his deal had been signed well before the links to Munster emerged.

"Things were going so well here I was always going to stay in Connacht.

"There were rumours flying around there about all sorts and I had never heard rumours before. The deal was well done before that anyway, I was always going to stay here.

"It was lovely to get a two-year contract here and with things going so well, the team is really starting to fire this year so hopefully we can keep building this year. It's nice just to have that security for another two and a half years," he said, ahead of tomorrow's URC meeting with the Stormers (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

The former Leinster centre recently returned from a 13-week injury layoff, having hurt his knee in October's United Rugby Championship win against Ulster.

It saw him miss out on a the province's Champions Cup pool stage, as well as further Interpros and against both Munster and Leinster.

But after returning for February's defeat to Ulster, Daly played a key role in last week's vital win away to the Scarlets, with his intercept of a crossfield kick setting up Sammy Arnold to score their first try of the game.

"It's always frustrating being injured. I have been very lucky since I moved to Connacht and