BACK ROW DUO Jack Conan and Dan Leavy are among 13 Leinster players to have signed contract renewals ahead of next season.
As has become their modus operandi, the eastern province have announced their list of contract extensions all at once, despite some of these deals having been signed many weeks or even months ago.
Leinster have also opted against announcing the duration of the new contracts again this season.
Joining Leavy and Conan in agreeing to remain at Leinster are fellow Ireland internationals Luke McGrath, Jordi Murphy, Richardt Strauss and Noel Reid.
The IRFU had previously confirmed new central union contracts for Jamie Heaslip and Devin Toner, who will continue to play for Leinster beyond the summer.
Signing new provincial deals with Leinster are Adam Byrne, Ian Nagle, Mick Kearney, Tom Daly, Barry Daly, Bryan Byrne and his twin brother, Ed.
The new contracts are hugely positive for Leinster as they look to build on their strong progress on the pitch during the current campaign.
Contract extensions:
Jack Conan
Dan Leavy
Luke McGrath
Adam Byrne
Jordi Murphy
Richardt Strauss
Jamie Heaslip [IRFU]
Devin Toner [IRFU]
Ian Nagle
Mick Kearney
Noel Reid
Barry Daly
Ed Byrne
Tom Daly
Bryan Byrne
Number eight Conan has been particularly impressive and The42 understands that the Old Belvedere man had an option to move to Ulster next season. However, the 24-year-old has opted to remain with his native province.
Similarly, it’s understood that Munster chased Leavy’s signature ahead of next season, but he too decided to stay put at Leinster and continue to compete with the likes of Sean O’Brien, Josh van der Flier, Conan, Murphy and more of the province’s back row talent.
Luke McGrath and Adam Byrne have featured prominently for Leinster this season and are rewarded with new contracts, while the likes of Ed and Bryan Byrne, Tom Daly and Barry Daly have shown their promise.
Not on Leinster’s list of renewals are 37-year-old prop Mike Ross, back row Dominic Ryan and Billy Dardis, all of whom are expected to leave this summer.
“Only a few weeks ago we were able to confirm the promotion of seven players from within our own academy to the senior squad,” said head coach Leo Cullen.
“The news today of the retention of a further 13 players to the Leinster roster is a huge boost as we look to build towards next season. You need to have a strong squad capable of challenging on two fronts.
“We have used 51 players so far this season in the Guinness Pro12 and the Champions Cup and with 14 players capped during Ireland’s Six Nations campaign it is vitally important that we have that level of competition and experience across the squad at all times to try to maintain consistency in both competitions.”
Leinster have also previously confirmed the signing of Wallabies international Scott Fardy and Chiefs wing James Lowe for next season, meaning there is much excitement about the future.
“We are trying to play a brand of rugby that excites people and we want to give those supporters in the RDS or in the Aviva Stadium something to really get behind,” said Cullen.
“The signings of Scott and James as well as the other lads that we have promoted to the senior ranks and that we have retained is, I hope, a sign of where we want to bring Leinster next season and into the future.”
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Hope so tipp are the only county that have no fear off kk.
If Tipp had no fear of Kilkenny I honestly think that they would have beating them more over the last few years,in 09 they panicked and got a red card,10 everything went right for them,11 they just didn’t turn up,12 they catastrophic collapse in the 2nd half,13 they somehow lost against a badly patched up KK team that was missing half and the other half were playing with injuries and then in 2014 they just couldn’t win even though it was probably the best 1-15 team performance of modern times.They all played UNREAL that day! And then this year it was like a false dawn for them.I’m a Kilkenny fan and Im not being biast but I really question that attitude.I have seen all their shortcomings in the last few years,I think that when push comes to shove that they lack something…….. I don’t know what,but Iv seen enough to have a hunch that I would question them rather than saying Kilkenny are just a great team.And this is coming from a Kilkenny man!
Absolute spot on analysis from you Ionatan with a fada ,Tipp do have the leaders in the team when it counts.
Do not not not not
I realise his commitments mean he is a busy but personally I’d love to Eamon O Shea appointed to a Director of Hurling type roll within the game, whatever your view on his successes or failure’s with, any true hurling person will have to agree that his brand of hurling and philosophy on the game is exactly where the sport should be moving. How many of the genuine hurling classics over last 6 years are down to his attacking free flowing style of hurling. Would love to see it implemented across the hurling landscape…
Hurling has always been attacking and free flowing! there was very few classics last year but overall its always been a fast paced game you cant attribute that to oshea
If they have as much success in the next 10 years as they did with O’Shea as manager it won’t be a good legacy will it!!!
@ OneDay
Does your anus ever get jealous of the sh!+ that flows from your mouth
Another article another negative comment
Negative but true. One Munster title in 3 years for a top team like Tipp is pathetic.
Brian Cody has left a legacy, forget the rest. Winning All Ireland’s is the only stat that counts. Fanning and Tipp may forget the talk of legacys and past managers as currently Tipp’s time is passing them by.
Spot on! One All Ireland from the team that was going to do a 5 in a row! Truly dreadful.
But it’s 5 titles in 8 yrs, it depends what slant you put on it OneDay, it’s your negative comments towards any other county bar Kilkenny that is pathetic
It’s one Munster title in 3 years with O’Shea as manager. There is no other slant to put on it.
All other hurling teams are rubbish. Kilkenny are the only team who are enjoyable to watch.
So OneDay I’ll ask you once again, are you a liar or just someone who jumps on the bandwagon, as you have already said you neither come from or live in kilkenny. Simple question asked, simple answer required.
No
Hon the mines, we have a shit record , 5 al Ireland’s in the last 45 years , jasus even Clare have won 3 and lads are talking about legacies , tipp hurling is a joke , all the talk after 2010 senior and 21 wins , ya tipp will be around for a long time , take a look at what has happened since = jack shit
Let’s be honest at the start of summer it’s an all ireland the big teams want not a provincial championship
“One day Frank from killkenny” is still telling porkies, poor chap has such bitterness and is so far up his own hole he is lost in in his own shite.
Some legacy lost lost lost !!
Where did ya get that from gary?
10 years of failure
Scholars full a scutter like the auld lad.
I see you don’t have the balls to show your face either , great lad hiding behind this site , a coward
Mike Meara from Toom won a lot for tipp didn’t he declan.
A lot more that you did you piece of shit
Hon the mines , I wonder who is in there let have a guess, Sean Q is that you?