Johann van Graan hopeful Peter O’Mahony will stay with Munster

New Munster coach Johann van Graan is hopeful that his captain Peter O'Mahony will remain in Ireland on a national contract.

O'Mahony has rejected the initial contract from IRFU performance director David Nucifora, citing substantially higher offers from French and English clubs.

“I haven’t spoken to Pete one on one yet, he’s currently contracted to the IRFU until the end of the season,” said van Graan. “He’s been offered a contract extension with some added benefits and I believe it’s in the interest of Munster Rugby and of the IRFU to keep him at Munster and in Ireland.

“Luckily, that’s hopefully not a done deal [that he’s leaving]. He stands for so much more, he’s a Munster man through and through and I’m looking forward to having that discussion with him.

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“All the clubs in the world are concerned about losing players to England and France. Special players win big games, win trophies. He’s our club captain and if I could in anyway help to keep him with Munster and within Ireland until the World Cup and then after that I’ll do everything in my power.

"I'm in my first week, there are communication lines in place. I'm in contact with Garrett Fitzgerald and David Nucifora, I'm speaking to Joe Schmidt a lot."

Van Graan has also inherited an injury crisis. Particularly at centre with Jaco Taute and Dan Goggin out for the season while Chris Farrell's knee injury playing for Ireland against Argentina on Saturday is expected to take six to eight weeks to recover.

“The centre underwent a scan which confirmed a medial ligament sprain and returns to the province to follow his rehabilitation programme,” read a Munster statement.

Keith Earls is also out of action for the foreseeable future due to a hamstring tear.

It's unclear when Tyler Bleyendaal's neck injury will heal but Simon Zebo knee injury at the weekend is not deemed serious, although he is to undergo a scan.

Niall Scannell, Tommy O'Donnell, Gerbrandt Grobler and Conor Oliver are also unavailable.

With Rassie Erasmus also taking defence coach Jacque Nienbar back to South Africa, Andy Farrell has been working with the Munster squad this week.