A Munster player found out he was departing the club after his name was read out during a player-organised end-of-season event.

Conor Bartley has been with the province since the 2024/25 season after impressing in the AIL for Young Munster, and while his contract was always set to expire this summer, Bartley’s representatives were still in talks with the club at the time of the event.

According to Ruaidhrí O’Connor of the Irish Independent, Bartley’s name was read out during the event, and he was given a commemorative watch to mark his departure from the club.

The player was reportedly left stunned at the event, which took place in Adare, County Limerick. He left shortly after receiving the gift and thanked for his contributions.

Munster said that at the time of the event, no final decision was made on Bartley’s contract. They also say they had no involvement in the unofficial event and communicated to no one organising that Bartley was one of those leaving the province.

During an official team event a week before, Bartley’s name was left off the list of departures when they were read out.

Nonetheless, the 31-year-old was told a week after the player’s event that he was not going to be kept on by Head Coach Clayton McMillan and General Manager Ian Costello.

The lateness of Bartley’s contract decision comes as the club were uncertain about their depth at tighthead prop, with Michael Ala’alatoa departing after his short-term deal and Oli Jager retiring on medical grounds.

However, Roman Salanoa, who hasn’t played a game since the 2023 URC Final, is being given a last opportunity to prove his fitness this summer, while Irish-qualified Kieran Brookes is set to join Munster from Perpignan in the coming weeks.

Bartley played six times for Munster this past season, all off the bench. He featured during Munster’s historic win over Gloucester in the Champions Cup at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork.