LEINSTER ARE EXPECTED to announce the return of former star Isa Nacewa early next week.
The 32-year-old is set to re-join the province after two seasons out of the game on a one-year contract – as reported by Gerry Thornley of The Irish Times this morning.
The42 understands that both Leinster and the player have agreed terms, although the very final contracting details and sign-off from the IRFU are still to be completed.
It is hoped an official announcement will be made on Tuesday of next week.
Nacewa played a major role in Leinster’s three Heineken Cup successes in 2009, 20011 and 2012, while also winning a Pro12 title and a Challenge Cup trophy during his time in Ireland, before retiring in 2013.
The New Zealander has been working with the Blues in his native Auckland since November 2013 under the title of mental skills coach, although The42 is told his role with the Super Rugby franchise extended well beyond that remit and into more traditional practical coaching on the pitch.
Nacewa was similarly influential during his first stint with Leinster, both on the pitch as a supremely-rounded and versatile back, but also as a guiding presence around younger players.
While Nacewa has not been playing rugby since his retirement, even at a club level, The42 understands that the once-capped Fiji international has been keeping himself in fine condition by partaking in Crossfit among other activities.
Nacewa has found himself yearning to tog out again and the player himself is understood to have been a big driver in re-opening discussions with Leinster. The province’s reaction was naturally positive, given Nacewa’s standing within the organisation.
Confirmation of the re-signing of Nacewa next week will bring to five the number of ‘new’ faces at Leinster next season, with Johnny Sexton, Mick Kearney, Ian Hirst and Royce Burke-Flynn already having been announced.
The prospect of Sexton and Nacewa linking up again in 2015 is one that excites.
What a left hook
@Joe Bloggs: what a chin
I watched this live. The punch from Uzcategui was after the bell. Dirrell himself showed allot class and sportsmanship, approaching Uzcategui to say he forgave him. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for Dirrell’s corner. They started a fight at ringside and then when they eventually got in the ring Dirrell’s uncle carried out this cowardly attack on Uzcategui.
Hopefully he was arrested immediate after and charged with assault.
@SYM-Metal: UPDATE: There is an official police report filed. Mr Leon Lawson is wanted on 2 counts of assault in the 1st and 2nd degree,by the state of Maryland.
Mr Lawson was not arrested at the scene and is still at large. He faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
@SYM-Metal: The bell went when he was swinging. Fair enough it did connect after which is illegal but I don’t think it was 100% intentional.
As for Andre Dirrell, the guy has absolutely no balls whatsoever. It’s sickening how much of a quitter he is. Absolute play acting pretending he couldn’t continue as he knew he had a chance of a DQ win if he quit, it wasn’t as if he was caught with a sucker punch, they were still fighting. He was even getting up and decided to go back down. I would have given him the benefit of the doubt had he not done something similar against Arthur Abraham.
As for his uncle that was despicable, kind of funny I can’t lie, but horrible.
@SYM-Metal: I thought it was marginal if it was late. I think the refs positioning was poor in that situation with dirrell being backed in the corner and uzcategui letting his hands go with the round almost over the ref should have been right on the action,instead of a few yards away. A fighter in the mode of a combo is unlikely to just be able tot stop it when he is already in motion, talking about milliseconds in this instance.
@Seamus Cummins: you could hear Dirrell’s corner telling him to stay down
DJ Khaled should have done more to prevent that
Classy stuff.
Uncle Bam
Poor Dirrell can never catch a break.
@Leon: I think he’s the one catching the breaks and making the most of them.