Munster confirm JJ Hanrahan return for third stint

Munster have confirmed that JJ Hanrahan will return for a third stint at the club at the start of next season.

Currently at Connacht, the 32-year-old began his career at Munster where he made his senior debut in 2012 and was the province's young player of the year in 2014.

The Kerry native switched to Northampton Saints in 2015 for two seasons before returning for a three-year period at the Limerick-based club.

In 2021 he played in Clermont and spent the following season at Dragons before returning to Ireland where he has spent the last two seasons with Pete Wilkins' side.

Hanrahan has already played 141 times for Munster, scoring 745 points and

He won the Pro14 Golden Boot for the second time in the 2019/20 season having landed 50/55 kicks in the regular season.

Speaking to reporters last weekend, Wilkins said he respected Hanrahan’s decision.

"We would have loved him to stay but he’s made a decision that he feels is right for his family at this stage and we respect that," said the Connacht head coach.

Hanrahan is the fourth new signing for 2025/26 along with centre Dan Kelly, prop Michael Milne and hooker Lee Barron.

Five academy players, Fionn Gibbons, Shay McCarthy, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhán Quinn and Kieran Ryan, will move up to the senior squad next season.