MUNSTER AND IRELAND player Tadhg Bairn has signed a new three-year contract with the IRFU.
The agreement will allow him to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, guaranteeing that the 30-year-old will play rugby in Ireland at least until July 2025.
Bairn has become an important part of Andy Farrell’s Irish national team, making his debut against Australia in the 2018 summer tour and participating in every 2019 Rugby World Cup game.
He was also selected to the British and Irish Lions of 2021, participating in the first two tests of the series against Springbok.
The lock and back row went through the system in Leinster, but in 2016 joined the Welsh team Scarlets, winning the PRO12 title in 2017. In 2018, he joined Munster, making his debut for the southern province against Glasgow Warriors in September of that year. To date, Beirne has represented Munster 45 times.
“Tadhga’s path to the green jersey was not straightforward, but he supported himself and proved his quality,” said IRFU director David Nusifor.
“After his return to Ireland in 2018, he continued to improve his game and illustrate his value to both Munster and Irish rugby with the consistency and quality of his performances.”
✍️ 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐑𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐒
We are pleased to announce that Tadhg Beirne has signed an IRFU contract until the end of the 2024/25 season 🙌#Team Us | # IrishEregby
– Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 15, 2022
Tadhg Bairn commented: “I made some difficult decisions in my career, but it was easy. I am grateful to everyone who supported me on this path – my family, my partner and various coaches along the way who helped me become a better player.
“Representing Munster, Ireland and the Lions over the last few seasons has been fantastic and I look forward to contributing to the Red and Greens in the years to come.”