Joey Carbery wants to leave for 'fresh start' on a high with Munster

Joey Carbery says it was an "extremely tough" decision to leave Munster, but admits his future move to France is an opportunity he couldn't let pass.

The out-half will end his six years at the province this summer, with Bordeaux-Begles believed to be his destination.

Carbery, who has won 37 caps for Ireland, has seen his time at Munster blighted by injury, which has limited him to just 61 appearances in five-and-a-half seasons.

The 28-year-old had long been seen as a potential successor to Johnny Sexton with Ireland, but after seeing himself drop out of head coach Andy Farrell's plans last year, before Jack Crowley overtook him as Munster's first choice 10, he admits he needed a fresh start in his career.

"I didn't necessarily want to leave the Irish system," Carbery says.

"But I suppose off the back of the last two Six Nations and the World Cup, not being involved, it was not nice to be sitting on the sides. I think the opportunity came around and it was a fresh start.

"Extremely tough decision. I suppose it was a great opportunity that I couldn't really pass by, and the way things have gone over the last years for me, a few people I've chatted to said a fresh start can do the world of good for some people. I’ve taken it for that reason."

Having joined the province in a high-profile switch from Leinster in 2018, Carbery's time at Munster has been chequered, in large part due to injury.

The most significant layoff came in 2020 when a wrist injury doubled up with surgery on a long-term ankle issue, which ultimately kept him sidelined for more than a year.

The New Zealand-born out-half (above) continued to be a regular for Ireland upon his return, and earned 15 more caps from the summer of 2021, up until the Autumn Nations Series