Damian de Allende has confirmed that he won't be joining Munster supremo Johann van Graan at Bath next season, but he will be leaving the Reds.
The world-class Springbok centre has added high quality to the province's backline over the three seasons he has been at the club, having joined from Saitama Wild Knights after winning the World Cup with South Africa in 2019.
It is a blow to Munster that he is leaving but a move has been on the cards for several months.
"I'm not staying, but it hasn't been confirmed where I'm going," said de Allende, who is expected to either return to Japan - and probably a second spell with the Wild Knights - or go back home to South Africa.
"I'm definitely not going to Bath. I haven't spoken to anyone at Bath.
"I will not be staying in Europe as of the end of the season, which is unfortunate, but I'm looking forward to ending the season on a high.
"But I really want to leave Munster with great memories I've made already, but some silverware as well.
De Allende, 30, is hoping to leave on a high as the Reds strive to win a trophy for the first time in over a decade.
Asked if the province's attack is more potent now than they were when he arrived, de Allende replied: "I don't know.
"I don't know if we've scored more tries or got more linebreaks, or offloads. I don't look at the stats, I just try and play rugby, and obviously stick to our structures.
"At the moment what we're trying to achieve on the field, and have achieved on the field, has been awesome. I know the last couple of weeks in South Africa we just fell short, we were disappointed because we felt we gave a lot in those games.
"When you come up just short in a game like that, especially away from home, it's just quite sad after the game.
"We know that we maybe could have been a bit better, our execution at the end of the games could have been a bit better, but we're on the right path and I think everyone at the club is enjoying their rugby."
Next up for Munster is a tasty URC clash with Leinster at Thomond Park on Saturday, ahead of the Reds' Champions Cup last 16 encounters with Exeter Chiefs.
Approximately 18,000 tickets have been sold so far for the clash in Limerick and Munster expect to have some of their Ireland big-hitters back, including Joey Carbery and Peter O'Mahony, although Andrew Conway is definitely out with a knee issue, Jean Kleyn is awaiting scan results on a leg strain and Tadhg Beirne is a doubt with a low-grade thigh injury.
"Yeah, looking forward to it, we want to see a big sea of red," said de Allende. "But I'm also excited to see the blue in the stadium as well.
"I haven't experienced a full Thomond Park yet so I'm hoping it'll be close to sold-out.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the red and blue, I've seen it on TV a few times back home in my younger days, the atmosphere looked incredible. I know a lot of us play rugby because we love the sport, but I think for us players, the atmosphere also.
"It's quite tough, it's quite challenging because it almost feels like a Test match. They have quite a few internationals and experience in the team.
"What they bring to the match, the intensity is higher, the physicality is similar as well, but it's one game as a player you want to challenge yourself against.
"They are one of the best teams in Europe in the past few years. Like I say all the time, you want to test yourself against the best players and the majority of the team are some of the best players in Ireland, that's why they represent Ireland, and did quite well in the Six Nations.
"A lot of the guys are looking forward to the challenge, and we're excited to have the fans back at Thomond Park, and it'll be an incredible atmosphere on Saturday."
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