Ronan O’Gara is building his squad at La Rochelle, adding former Munster fly-half Ben Healy to the Top 14 roster for next season. The move comes after O’Gara’s attempts to bring Jack Crowley to the French club were unsuccessful.
Healy, 22, departed Munster two years ago for Edinburgh in pursuit of international opportunities with Scotland, a path that won’t be hindered by his move to France. He qualifies for the Scottish national team through his grandparents and has already earned ten caps, making his debut against Italy during the 2023 Six Nations.
At La Rochelle, Healy will compete for the number 10 jersey with Diego Jurd and either Antoine Hastoy or Ihaia West. O’Gara has long admired Healy’s kicking prowess, a skill set that will be valuable to the Top 14 side.
The news of Healy’s departure was confirmed by Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt on Tuesday. “Ben Healy’s contract is up at the end of the season. We also told Ben that his contract wasn’t going to be renewed. Obviously there will be interest in a guy like that with the skill set that he has,” Everitt stated. The decision not to renew Healy’s contract came after he was displaced by Ross Thompson of Glasgow Warriors and the emergence of promising Academy talent Cammy Scott.
Healy’s time at Edinburgh saw him make 18 appearances last season, though only four were as a starter. This campaign has been even more limited, with just three appearances and none in his preferred fly-half position since a loss to his former club, Munster.
Everitt acknowledged the potential fit at La Rochelle, saying, “If It’s La Rochelle, that’s fantastic. It’s a great club, and I’m sure that he would have a bond with Ronan O’Gara, who is an ex-Munster man, and that’s where Ben played.” He added, “I think Ben had a great season in his first year. He went to the World Cup and struggled with a bit of niggles and injuries, and that happens in sport. He wasn’t able to find the same form that he had in his first year.”
The move represents a return to a familiar rugby landscape for Healy, who came through the ranks at Munster before seeking opportunities elsewhere. While he enjoyed a period of success in Scotland, the chance to play under O’Gara, a Munster legend himself, appears to be a significant draw.
Meanwhile, Munster are also bolstering their squad with the addition of Irish-qualified New Zealand U20 international scrum-half Ben O’Donovan from Canterbury on an 18-month deal. The 21-year-old participated in the 2024 U20s World Championship and developed through the Linwood Rugby Club in Christchurch. His Irish qualification makes him an immediately valuable addition to the Munster setup.
Munster have also secured the services of South African hooker Marnus van der Merwe from the Scarlets on a two-year contract. Munster forwards coach Alex Codling praised van der Merwe’s qualities, stating, “I think Marnus is a quality operator. You’ve seen that obviously with the Springboks. He’s very, very good at set-piece, both around the line-out and the scrum. He’s actually the top tackler in the URC. I think he offers a multitude of threats. We’re delighted to have him on board and I think he’ll be a big positive addition to the group.”
Codling also highlighted the club’s recruitment process, emphasizing the importance of input from the coaching staff. “You have to look at it in the short, medium and long term,” he explained. “Short term in terms of his possible injuries coming up before the end of the season. We would have the opportunity to have our input. I think that’s really important, both as a coaching group, as a club, making sure we bring the right people in, both in terms of people off the field, but also what they can bring on the field.”
The signings of O’Donovan and van der Merwe demonstrate Munster’s proactive approach to strengthening their squad, while Healy’s move to La Rochelle signals a new chapter in his career, one that reunites him with a familiar face in O’Gara and offers a fresh challenge in the competitive Top 14.
