LEINSTER HAVE CONFIRMED that 21 players have renewed their IRFU contracts to stay at the province for next season and beyond.
One new recruit, former Ireland underage international Sean McCarthy, will join Matt O’Connor’s squad.
Leinster did not release any additional details about the length of each player’s contract.
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A number of other players, including Irish international full-back Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald, are already contracted until the end of the 2014/2015 season.
There was no white smoke either as far as big-name arrivals were concerned, following a Sunday Times report which linked Australian international second-row Kane Douglas with an imminent move.
“There are one or two other players that we have identified as recruitment targets and we hope to announce them in due course,” O’Connor said, “but we have a big game this weekend against Edinburgh and the small matter of a PRO12 semi-final thereafter so all our focus will be on those two games.”
23-year-old prop McCarthy represented Ireland at U18 level and played for Jersey RFC this season where he caught the eye with his performances in the RFU Championship and the B&I Cup.
“Sean McCarthy is a player that we have been keeping an eye on for a while now,” O’Connor said. “He is a young and dynamic prop and we need to have quality players in this highly attritional position.”
He added: “It’s important for us as we continue to build that we have a group of players that are committed to the club and that share our vision for the future.
“While getting 22 contracts over the line is a huge undertaking the enthusiasm of the players was evident and we are very happy with where we are with our retention and recruitment drive.”
These 21 players have renewed their Leinster contracts
LEINSTER HAVE CONFIRMED that 21 players have renewed their IRFU contracts to stay at the province for next season and beyond.
One new recruit, former Ireland underage international Sean McCarthy, will join Matt O’Connor’s squad.
Leinster did not release any additional details about the length of each player’s contract.
A number of other players, including Irish international full-back Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald, are already contracted until the end of the 2014/2015 season.
There was no white smoke either as far as big-name arrivals were concerned, following a Sunday Times report which linked Australian international second-row Kane Douglas with an imminent move.
“There are one or two other players that we have identified as recruitment targets and we hope to announce them in due course,” O’Connor said, “but we have a big game this weekend against Edinburgh and the small matter of a PRO12 semi-final thereafter so all our focus will be on those two games.”
23-year-old prop McCarthy represented Ireland at U18 level and played for Jersey RFC this season where he caught the eye with his performances in the RFU Championship and the B&I Cup.
“Sean McCarthy is a player that we have been keeping an eye on for a while now,” O’Connor said. “He is a young and dynamic prop and we need to have quality players in this highly attritional position.”
He added: “It’s important for us as we continue to build that we have a group of players that are committed to the club and that share our vision for the future.
“While getting 22 contracts over the line is a huge undertaking the enthusiasm of the players was evident and we are very happy with where we are with our retention and recruitment drive.”
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boys in blue kane douglas Leinster matt o'connor Sean McCarthy