They say when it rains and pours and in Munster's case it's definitely true.
After being left with little choice but to let World Cup-winning star RG Snyman sail off to Leinster after Jean Kleyn also became South African-qualified, it now looks very possible that the province could lose yet another star to international qualification rules.
Munster centre Antoine Frisch has been called up to the France squad ahead of their final Six Nations game against England in Paris.
Frisch arrived in Munster from Bristol in 2022 and since then has become a key player for Munster, including during their URC winning season in 2022/24. Despite impressing in Limerick over the last two seasons and playing for Emerging Ireland on their 2022 tour of South Africa, Frisch has been unable to break into Andy Farrell's team.
Congratulations to Munster centre Antoine Frisch on being called up to the France squad ahead of next week’s clash against England 🇫🇷#SUAF 🔴 pic.twitter.com/6UYaHvHxqB
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) March 10, 2024
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What are the implications for Munster?
While Frisch was born in France, he has played for Emerging Ireland three times and is qualified to play for the country through his Irish-born Grandmother, a cap for France would make him non-Irish qualified (NIQ).
Aside from Frisch taking up another one of Munster's NIQ spots, another of which was rumoured would be used to sign a replacement for Joey Carberry. Munster will be hoping that Frisch whose contract runs until next year, won't be tempted by the often more attractive financial package in France, especially if he is rendered ineligible to play for Ireland and believes he has a chance to play for Les Bleus.
Speaking about the decision to call him up France manager Fabien Galthie said:
We have followed him for a long time and the opportunity is there for him to take.
Pierre-Louis Barassi has a sprain, Jonathan Danty is unavailable due to the red card...he(Frisch) has put together a series of big performances for Munster where he is the undisputed first choice.
17 December 2023; Antoine Frisch of Munster after his side's defeat in the Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 Round 2 match between Exeter Chiefs and Munster at Sandy Park in Exeter, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Prospect of losing Frisch leaves Munster fans enraged
However, after already losing the future services of RG Snyman to Leinster this season, Munster fans are less than pleased with the prospect of losing Frisch taking to social media to express their annoyance, with one claiming if he 'played for Leinster he'd have ten Ireland caps by now'.
Whether Frisch will be capped or not is yet to be seen, should he not be capped this weekend he would remain Irish eligible and for the moment save Munster a headache.
However, with the prospect of playing for France, keeping him at Munster could be a huge task for Graham Rowntree and the IRFU.
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