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Summer Transfers
Summer Transfers
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Edinburgh rope in Titterrell
Edinburgh have signed 31-year-old former British and Irish Lions hooker Andy Titterrell on a one-year deal. |
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Canadian flyer Taylor Paris has signed a one-year deal with Glasgow Warriors which keeps him at the club until at least the end of May 2013.
The 19-year-old winger made his mark as a teenage sensation for his national side and has already impressed the coaching staff with his work ethic in pre-season. "I'm not the first player from Canada to play for the Warriors so the side is really well known back home and I jumped at the chance to come and play in Glasgow," said Paris. "This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I've really enjoyed the first couple of weeks of training. I know I need to keep working hard and putting in the effort to make the most of it. "It's a squad with a lot of talent so I know I have to work hard to earn my place here." |
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Leicester have announced the signings of back rower Brett Deacon and scrum-half Pat Phibbs ahead of the new Aviva Premiership season.
Deacon, who came up through the ranks at Tigers, returns to Welford Road after two years at Gloucester. The 30-year-old arrives as an injury dispensation signing following long-term injuries to Tom Croft (neck) and Craig Newby (knee) and will provide cover in the back row. Former Exeter Chiefs halfback Phibbs arrives at Welford Road following injuries to Ben Youngs (shoulder) and Academy scrum-half Scott Steele (ankle). He will provide cover for Sam Harrison and Micky Young. The 30-year-old Australian has experience of Super Rugby with the Brumbies, where he worked with Tigers head coach Matt O'Connor. "Brett has done well for Gloucester during the past couple of years and he already knows the environment well at Leicester," said Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill. "We have had some injury issues in the back row with Craig Newby and Tom Croft out, and Jordan Crane coming back from long-term injury. "Brett has played more than 100 first-class games and can come in and fit in where we need him to because he has plenty of experience. "At scrum-half, Ben Youngs is out after shoulder surgery and Scott Steele has not done any pre-season because of the injury he picked up at the end of last season. "He will not play until the end of August so we need to have a bit of an insurance policy at scrum-half. "Pat is that person and will be here for four months. "Matt O'Connor knows him well from his time at the Brumbies, and Pat knows the Aviva Premiership well because he was with the Exeter Chiefs last season." |
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Springbok wing Bryan Habana will leave the Stormers after this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby competition to join French Top 14 club, Toulon.
Die Burger was reliably informed that Habana penned the deal with the French side in the last few days. This comes after Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal confirmed last month that the Top 14 leaders were in hot pursuit of the Springbok flyer. Boudjellal said at the time the chances of Habana joining Toulon were "closer to 10 than zero." At this stage it's unsure exactly how long Habana, 29, will play in France, nor whether he will be available for the Springboks' Incoming tests against Italy and Scotland in June. The news will come as a blow to the Cape side as Habana was in top form last season, which saw him named SA Player of the Year for a third time. Habana also won the Try of the Year award at last year's IRB awards, for his outstanding solo effort against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship in Dunedin. The 2013 Super Rugby season kicks off on Friday, February 15, with the Stormers due to play their first match on Friday, February 22 against Habana's former team, the Bulls, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. |
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One of Leinster's brightest young stars, Andrew Conway, is set to join Munster at the end of the season on a two year contract
Conway first came to prominence as a member of the Blackrock College Senior Cup team and subsequently represented Ireland at Schools and Under 20 levels, scoring a hat-trick of tries against Scotland at the Junior World Cup two years ago and was again a member of the squad last summer in South Africa. He made Leinster his debut as a 19-year-old in February 2010 when he came off the bench against Scarlets and further starts came against Cardiff Blues and Connacht and another appearance off the bench against Glasgow Warriors. The following season he made eight Magners League appearances and chalked up tries against Benetton Treviso, Ospreys and a crucial second-half score in a 19-18 win over Edinburgh. This season he has made 10 appearances to date for Leinster |
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Leinster Rugby have today confirmed that Isa Nacewa will leave the province at the end of the season and retire from professional rugby due to family reasons...
Nacewa, 30, joined Leinster in the summer of 2008 and has played a pivotal role in the province's three Heineken Cup titles. Capped 116 times to date, the Aucklander has accumulated 375 points in all competitions. In 2011 Nacewa was named both the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association (IRUPA) and the Leinster Rugby Bank of Ireland Player of the Year, as well as being chosen as full-back on the 'PRO12 Dream Team' for 2011 and was shortlised for the ERC European Player of the Year. Leinster expect to announce news of a new signing in the coming weeks. Commenting on the news, Leinster coach Joe Schmidt said: "I've known Isa for a number of years. He's universally respected due to the quality of his character, his athleticism, skill and commitment. "He has been great value for us, not just on the field where he has provided a string of highlights but off the field also, where he has contributed enormously to the development of the players around him." "He's hugely popular amongst supporters and hopefully they will enjoy a few more outstanding performances from Isa in the coming weeks. Will b a massive loss for them |
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Interesting times ahead for Leinster who will be looking at a new look back line next season.
In the short term they will have a much changed backline in the Amlin 1/4 final . In their last HC game v Exeter their backline read Reddan Sexton Fitzgerald Darcy O'Driscoll Nacewa Kearney Of those only Kearney, Nacewa and possibly Bod will be available. Probably a good thing to see if the young tyros can operate at this level as starters . It will give Leinster a better idea of what they have facing into next season |
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Interesting times for Leinster alright. A lot of quality and experience will be missing from the end of the season.
Reddan, Madigan, Fitzgerald, McFadden, O'Malley, Kearney, Kearney Separate point, but did you see BOD had his testimonial dinner in the Grosvenor in London the the other day? 2,000 guests at over £600 a pop. A "substantial amount" will be donated to charity, but it's absolutely scandalous that he trousers anything in this day and age. Testimonials were introduced to give former players a send off in the days when they had to rock up to training after a day's work with their own kit bag, not to further line the pockets of multi millionaires. |
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Above is the likely backline for next season
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Dunc
I'd imagine Leinster will sign a couple of decent backs. No disrespect to the above but that backline would not keep Leinster at the forefront of European rugby. Furthermore any injuries to that backline and you are digging very deep. The same thing happened Munster a couple of seasons back when a load of forwards had either long term injuries or actually retired. Because the pack had been set in stone a few guys had to be thrown in the deep end. The tax claw back available to players who finish their careers in Ireland causes this logjam of players that ordinarily would be seeking richer pastures as in the case of English and welsh players. Munster suffered because of the sudden exodus and Leinster will have a job to avoid the same fate. For years young Munster halfbacks (including Reddan)had to wait their turn behind ROG and Strings. Second rows watched POC and DOC . In Leinster the same can be said of their young centres waiting for BOD and Darcy to pop their clogs. At least changes will be enforced for various reasoning One other observation It's a long time since Michael Bent's heroic scrum v SA. |
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I hate the whole Michael Bent thing. His first night in Ireland spent in Carton House, it's enough to make you sick! John Andress could have been called up for half the cost and wouldn't have done any worse. Even Jamie Hagan and we're now at the point where Stephen Archer is preferred to him. What a fiasco.
Leinster will have to sign somebody because you're into players fresh out of the academy after those named above. From what I've seen, only Brendan Macken looks like he might be ready to step up. Maybe Noel Reid as well, but it#s pushing it to be able to maintain any level of competitiveness by counting on those guys. I'm looking forward to seeing more of McFadden at 12, which i think might be his best position, but I'm not at all convinced that O'Malley is ready to become a top player and who knows if Luke Fitzgerald will be able to overcome his latest injury setback? I've spent the past couple of seasons wanting D'Arcy to take a step back but it wouldn't be the worst thing if he stuck around for a while now. Nacewa in particular will be a big loss because he tends to fill on the days when the rest of them are off on international duty. A player like that is practically irreplacable. Agree with what you're saying on the tax back scheme. It looks good on the face of it, but there aren't enough teams here to be giving all these lads time on the pitch and it causes huge problems as you say when a few retire at the same time. A period in the doldrums could beckon for Leinster |
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Springbok full-back Zane Kirchner will join Leinster later this year after signing a two-year contract with the club.
The 28-year-old has opted to move to Ireland rather than extend his contract with the South African Bulls franchise beyond its expiry at the end of October. It is unclear when Kirchner will join his new team, with Bulls high performance manager Xander Janse van Rensburg hinting that the player could request a release before his current deal ends. "We understand that an earlier release might be requested, but it is up to the board to approve that or not," Van Rensburg said in a media statement release by the franchise on Monday "We have been in talks with Zane and his agent since November and although it is very disappointing to lose his services, we wish him well." Kirchner joined the Bulls franchise in 2007 from Currie Cup side Griquas and was part of the squads that won the Super Rugby competition in his first year, and later in 2009 and 2010. He made his Springbok debut in 2009 and has made 24 appearances. |
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Interesting signing that. Leinster had a multi-skilled back-three player, who could do a job at 10, in Nacewa and have replaced him with someone much better in the air (possibly the best in the game), but lacking the kicking game and probably a fair bit of the intelligence. I don't think Kirchner is all that quick, relatively speaking, and the one thing Leinster's back-three currently lack is pace. With Kearney having been one of the best in the world under the high ball for years it seems odd to add another very similar player. One of them has to play on the wing, so with 2 Kearneys and a Kirchner who is going to score the tries? Leinster as a whole were far better than Wasps for example, but had all sorts of problems with the pace of Wasps wingers.
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Speaking ahead of Leinster’s Rabo Direct playoff game against Glasgow, Jonny Sexton claims he’d still be a Leinster player next year if the province had sat down and talked to him.
Next season, Irish rugby will lose one its star player as Jonny Sexton swaps the blue and white of Leinster for the blue and white of Racing Metro in a move that will see him become the highest paid player in France. However, according to the exciting out-half this all could have been avoided as he told The Irish Examiner: “Leinster still is a massive part of my life, not just my career but my personal life as well,” “A lot of my best friends are guys that I have been playing rugby with since I was 15 or 16. It was never between me and Leinster. “If me and Leinster sat down I’m sure I would be there next year but that’s not the way it works.” “That’s unfortunate but, listen, once these next three (Leinster) games are finished and the small matter of a Lions tour is over, I can start to get excited about a new challenge in my life.” “The club have been great in helping me get organised. I know a good few of the players and it’s very exciting the quality of players they have signed for next year.” “There’s a lot of English-speaking guys which will help me settle in, but I am determined to make an impression on the French guys as well.” With Sexton Paris bound Leinster’s outhalf responsibilities lie in one of Ireland’s most exciting prospect, Ian Madigan. In recent week’s he has been lining up outside Sexton, at first centre, and many are wondering could such a partnership work for the Irish team in the future rather than having both player’s fighting for one position. Sexton is among a number of backs set to leave Leinster this summer with Isa Nacewa, Andrew Conway and Fionn Carr all set to leave the RDS. |
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“If me and Leinster sat down I’m sure I would be there next year but that’s not the way it works.”
Not sure what he's trying to achieve by coming out with comments like that. He has a mouth on him, doesn't he? And an agent. I suspect being made the highest paid player in Europe had something to do it. |
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I assume he means "if me and Leinster sat down, with a huge offer on the table, etc etc".
Odd comment otherwise. Are we to believe that the club didn't even try to keep him? |
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This is really late to be added to the thread, but here goes anyway:
Kris Burton Thirty two year old Burton, born in Australia, made his debut for Italy against Uruguay in 2007. He currently has 21 caps and last played for Italy in the RBS Six Nations 2013 Tournament. A renowned game controller and tactician, Burton has been instrumental in the development of Treviso into a top quality competitive team. His experiences to date will help provide guidance to a young Dragons squad. Martin Muller Muller currently plays for the Cheetahs in the Super 15 competition. He has represented his country at a number of age-group levels, including SA Schools and SA under 21, before then making his Super rugby debut with the Stormers in 2009. The South African is known for his superb lineout skills and physical work ethic. Netani Talei The 29 year old has the ability to play at number eight or as a flanker at the highest level. He brings experience and leadership having competed in the RaboDirect Pro12 tournament and in the Heineken Cup with Edinburgh. He has also played over 50 games with Worcester Warriors between 2007-2010. Considered one of the best ball carrying forwards in last year’s Heineken Cup Competition, made him a contender for the ERC European Player of the Year. Francisco Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro Chapparro currently plays his rugby at Stade Francias in the tough scrimmaging French Pro 14. The 23 year old was a member of the Los Pampas Vodacom Cup championship winning side and has been recently capped by Argentina against France and Italy. Richie Rees is coming here too |
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Should point out that the players are moving to the Dragons.
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Munster today announced that current squad captain Doug Howlett will retire from professional rugby at the end of this season.
The decision was forced on the former All Black through injury sustained in the RaboDirect PRO12 game against Glasgow Warriors in the game played in Scotstoun at the end of March. At that stage, 34 year old Howlett was in contract extension negotiations with Munster but hasn’t been able to play since because of the shoulder injury he suffered in the course of scoring Munster’s third try. He underwent surgery in a Dublin hospital earlier this month and acting on medical advice will retire at season end. Howlett joined Munster in January 2008 and played a key role in their Heineken Cup success that season. He won his 100th cap against Leinster in the October 2012 League game and ends his Munster career as their all-time second leading try scorer with 35 tries after five and a half seasons. He became just the second overseas player and the first back to be nominated squad captain at the start of the current season. Howlett has intimated that he will remain on in Cork for the immediate future where he lives with his wife and three children. Other departures from the current squad - besides Peter Stringer who remains with Bath, Marcus Horan who announced his retirement recently, Sean Scanlon (Rotherham Titans) and Sean Henry (Connacht) - include Wian du Preez who returns to his native South Africa, Scott Deasy and Christy Condon. BJ Botha will continue on with Munster having signed a two year contract extension while Danny Barnes has not been re-contracted but is understood to have negotiated an opportunity to play abroad and news of that will be confirmed in the coming weeks. |
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TEST
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Connacht Rugby is pleased to announce the latest in our new player signings for the upcoming season.
20-year-old Jake Heenan from New Zealand has signed for the province on a three year deal. An abrasive openside flanker, Heenan captained the New Zealand Under-20’s when they finished runners-up to South Africa in the 2012 Junior World Championship last summer. The former Whangarei Boys' High School First XV captain went on to sign for Auckland and was a member of the Blues development programme. Incoming Head Coach Pat Lam spoke about the young forward he spotted at an early age: “I came across Jake when he was 17 years old. He played for the Blues Under-18 team when they won the National competition and, even then, I could see what a natural leader and genuine team player he was. “He brought those leadership skills, as well as his physicality, to the U20 World Championship last summer with the Baby Blacks. “Jake is highly regarded back in New Zealand and it is a real coup for Connacht to catch him. I’m very much looking forward to working with him when he arrives here in early July.” |
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Strange, they let Danny Barnes go who looked alright in the handful of games he played last season, but they'll keep on dirt trackers like Ivan Dineen...
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http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?30102-Transfers-2013-2014-recap
Good summary for the NH 2013/2014 transfers here. Really like the look of the Montpelier Ins and Outs - 66/1 in the Heineken cup outright market looks a nice price. 16/1 for the Top 14 Grnd Final. In the Rabo, it looks like Ulster and Glasgow have managed to retain there most important players. Likely Leinster are going to be in transition this year, Ospreys have lost the one player who was carrying them to a large extent last season, and Munster look in decline. Glasgow might be worth a pop at 6/1. Down the other end the Scarlets look like they may be primed for gloom. Like the look of the Worcester signings in the Prem. Creevey is a quality hooker and Mieres and Su'a are decent players |
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Leinster secure Tuqiri on short-term deal.. http://tinyurl.com/nlj7wuk
Leinster Rugby are pleased to announce the signing of Wallaby legend Lote Tuqiri on a short-term deal... "...Lote has an enormous wealth of experience in the game and we believe that he will play an important role in the squad over the coming weeks..." - Leinster Coach Matt O'Connor A decorated dual international, Tuqiri (33) was born in Namatakula, Fiji and is a legend of the world game. He represented the Brisbane Broncos and the Australian Kangaroos between 1999-2002. Following his switch to rugby union, he made his international debut against Ireland in Perth in June 2003 (which the home side won 45-16) and immediately made an impact, being Australia's star player at the Rugby World Cup where he scored a try in the final against England. He continued to play for the NSW Waratahs and the Australian Wallabies between 2003-08, including another World Cup in France in 2007. In all he made 67 appearances for the Wallabies, of which 4 caps came against Ireland. Lote then left Australian rugby for a season with the Leicester Tigers in England where he excelled before the West Tigers lured him back to Rugby League and he fulfilled his dream of again playing for the Kangaroos on his return. Commenting on the deal, Leinster Coach Matt O'Connor said: "We are delighted to welcome a player of Lote's calibre and his enthusiasm to make a positive impression at Leinster is exciting for both his new team-mates and supporters alike. "A consummate professional, Lote has an enormous wealth of experience in the game and we believe that he will play an important role in the squad over the coming weeks." |
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Leinster's Richardt Strauss has discovered a hole in his heart and faces long lay-off after surgery this week. Wishing him well.
Another big loss for them |
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Agreed BJG. Hope everything works out for him.
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Indeed, at least it was found b4 anything happened! Good luck to him in his recovery
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Jack McGrath. To Ulster ?
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John Afoa (Ulster) to unnamed English Premiership club
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Marty Moore (Leinster) to France
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SCRUM-half Conor Murray has signed a new two year contract with the IRFU which will see him remain at Munster until at least June 2016.
However, it has also been confirmed that Murray is set to be sidelined for up to six weeks after sustaining medial ligament damage in his right knee against Perpignan on Sunday. The news looks set to rule Limerickman Murray out of Munster’s three remaining Heineken Cup pool fixtures, starting with Sunday’s return tie with Perpignan at the Stade Aime Giral. The announcement on Murray’s new contract ends speculation that Lions star may be considering a big-money move to France next season. Murray today said he was delighted to have penned the new contract which will keep him at Munster for two more seasons at least. The news is a big boost to Munster ahead of Saturday’s crucial Heineken Cup return fixture against Perpignan at the Stade Aime Giral, although Murray is set to miss that game due to a knee injury. Commenting on his contract extension, Murray said: “I am thrilled to sign a new IRFU contract and to continue playing my rugby with Munster. In 2013 I learned a lot as a player with my club, Ireland and the Lions and I hope to continue to develop and push for honours over the coming years.” Limerickman Murray made his senior debut for Munster against Connacht in April 2010. The Munster Rugby academy graduate has made 49 appearances for Munster and has scored 6 tries. Garryowen clubman Murray made his Ireland debut against France in a World Cup warm-up in August 2011. The 24 year old has won 22 caps and has scored 2 international tries. His last appearance for Ireland was in November 2013 against New Zealand in the recent Guinness Series reverse. Murray was selected for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia and featured in seven of the Lions’ tour matches including the final two Test matches. He scored two tries for the Lions touching down against Combined NSW-QLD Country and the Melbourne Rebels. Munster Coach Rob Penney said: “We are delighted that Conor has signed a new IRFU contract which will secure him to Munster until the end of the 2016 season. “Conor has illustrated in recent months the value he brings to not only Munster but to the national team as well At 24 he is still a young guy and he has the potential to go on to become one of the best scrum-halves in the game.” IRFU, CEO, Philip Browne, added: “Conor has made a significant impact on Munster and Irish rugby since making his breakthrough in 2011. We are delighted that he has signed a new contract that will keep him at Munster until the end of the 2016 season.” |
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MUNSTER HAVE CONFIRMED the signing of Robin Copeland on a two year deal from July 2014.
The Cardiff Blues blindside flanker joined for the Welsh club from Rotherham Titans last year and has since featured prominently – playing eight times in the Heineken Cup including a man-of-the-match display in the win over current champions Toulon in October. Munster head coach Rob Penney said: “We’ve seen Robin in action first hand and we’ve always been hugely impressed by his potential. “From his experience in playing a number of positions he brings a great deal of versatility and we believe he will be a great addition to the squad. He will add value to a highly competitive area of our game.” A former Leinster academy player, 26-year-old Wexford native Copeland recently told TheScore.ie that he intended to one day return to play in Ireland. He also revealed that it is his “dream” to line for the international team, which is believed to have played a part in his decision. |
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French paper Midi Olympique reports that Bernard Laporte of Toulon was in Ireland last week to meet Heaslip and O'Brien's agents.
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LONDON IRISH's desire to land a marquee Irish player could see them enter the market for Keith Earls as the IRFU look to tie up the Munster winger's contract.
Irish missed out on Earls' Munster and Ireland team-mate Donnacha Ryan last month as he committed to the province for a further three years. The English club was taken over by Cavan businessman Mick Crossan last month and the new regime want to build the Exiles into a fifth province by signing more Irish-based players. They already have Ian Humphreys, Eamonn Sheridan, Jamie Hagan and Tomas O'Leary on their books, but the addition of Earls would give them the frontline Ireland star they crave -- the French interest in Jamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien has priced the Lions back-row duo out of the market. The Premiership strugglers could also be interested in Leinster's Dave Kearney, with the Ireland winger in negotiations over a new deal. |
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Sean O Brien has signed to stay at Leinster for another 2 years - massive for them
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The IRFU and Leinster are pleased to announce that Sean O'Brien has signed a new two year contract with the IRFU which will see him remain at Leinster until at least June 2016.
Commenting on the new contract Sean O'Brien said: "It is flattering to find yourself the subject of interest from some of the biggest rugby clubs in the world but in the end I made a decision based on the standard mix of professional and personal considerations. "It was a very difficult decision but, with a World Cup next year and the fact that I believe Leinster can continue to win trophies, I have decided to commit my immediate future to the club. "I am very excited about what Ireland can achieve under Joe Schmidt and I am confident that under Matt O'Connor, Leinster will remain the power in Europe it has been over the past 5 or 6 years. "I want to acknowledge the professionalism of all those involved, including the overseas clubs with whom I had discussions, and thank Leinster and the IRFU for their commitment to me. "Finally a word about the Leinster fans because their "voice" represents an important consideration for players like me when it comes to making big career decisions such as this." Sean made his senior debut for Leinster against Cardiff Blues in September 2008 and has since made 87 appearances for Leinster scoring 15 tries. He made his Ireland debut in the 41-6 win over Fiji at the RDS in November 2009. The 26 year old has won 30 caps for Ireland and was named ERC Player of the Year in 2011. His last appearance for Ireland was in the 22-20 loss to New Zealand in November. O'Brien toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2013 and played a pivotal role in the decisive 3rd Test at the ANZ Stadium. O'Brien has won three Heineken Cups, an Amlin Cup and a Pro12 league title with Leinster. IRFU CEO, Philip Browne, said: "Sean is one of world rugby's stand out talents. He has proven for Leinster, Ireland and the Lions that he is world class player and we are delighted that Sean has committed his future to Leinster and Ireland for the next two years." Leinster CEO Mick Dawson said: "We are delighted that Sean has signed a new IRFU contract which keeps him at Leinster up to the end of the 2016 season. "We were always hopeful that the environment we have created here at Leinster and the ambition of the club would be a strong factor in Sean's decision. He is a truly world class player and we are delighted that his future has now been put to rest." |
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Head Coach Rob Penney & Backs Coach Simon Mannix will leave Munster at end of this season,full details to follow on http://www.munsterrugby.ie
What odd timing  |
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More of a contract not being renewed that leaving actually i assume so scratch that
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Munster Rugby can today confirm that Head Coach Rob Penney and Backs Coach Simon Mannix will leave the province at the end of the current season.
Rob joined the Munster set-up at the start of the 2012/13 season and in his first year guided the squad to semi-final stage of the Heineken Cup and a sixth place finish in the RaboDirect PRO12 league. This season Munster have recorded 15 wins out of 18 games and are currently top of the RaboDirect PRO12 league and through to quarter final stage of the Heineken Cup for the fifteenth time in the competition's history. Penney, who initially negotiated a two year contract with the option for a third year, has opted to decline the extension offer. The terms and conditions of this extension had been agreed by the Munster Professional Games Committee and the IRFU but Rob has since attracted the interest of another club and there are terms on offer that are in line with Rob's long-term needs. Fellow New Zealander and Backs Coach Simon Mannix, who joined Munster at the same time as Penney, will also leave at the end of this season. Commenting on the departures Munster Rugby Chief Executive Garrett Fitzgerald said, "When we reach the end of the season Rob will leave with our thanks and best wishes for the future. "Rob has been a very positive influence on this Munster squad and management and we are disappointed to see him go as we had hoped that he would fulfil his third season. In developing the squad he has highlighted the strength and depth of the Munster panel, with the competition for places as high as ever. "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Simon for his work and commitment to the province, and we wish him all the best for the future. He has contributed to Munster's overall campaign and added great value to our coaching team. "We now need to focus on the remainder of this season and the opportunities ahead in both the Heineken Cup and the RaboDirect PRO12. We are confident both Simon and Rob will continue to strive for success and guide the squad through to the next stage." Head Coach Rob Penney said "I am disappointed to be leaving Munster as I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I have to take this opportunity presented to me and prioritise my family and personal circumstances at this time. We still have a few months to go and the goals remain the same - I want to achieve success with this great group of lads!" |
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Back to basics with Axel then.
I wonder if Leinster might try and lure Zebo. |