Fitzgerald agrees new Leinster deal

Posted on Mar 26, 2013 in Leinster

Leinster Rugby have announced that Luke Fitzgerald has agreed a new two-year deal with the province.

Fitzgerald, 25, has played 108 times for the province to date (scoring 26 tries) and was a key member of Leinster’s Magners League (2007/08) and three Heineken Cup successes (in 2009, 2011 and 2012).

He made his debut for Leinster at the age of 19 and the versatile former Blackrock College back featured in Ireland’s recent Six Nations campaign and was selected for the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. To date he has made 26 international appearances.

Commenting on the news of his contract extension Luke Fitzgerald said: “I’m delighted to commit my future here. It is hugely frustrating to miss the run-in to the campaign but I’m looking forward to beginning my rehab over the coming weeks and getting back in a blue shirt next season.”

Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt added: “We are delighted that a player of Luke’s ability has committed his future to the province. At just 25, his best years are ahead of him and hopefully he’ll be back better than ever early next season.”

Pienaar, Henderson, Henry and Wilson named in Ulster squad to face Leinster

Posted on Mar 26, 2013 in Ulster

Ulster scrum-half, Ruan Pienaar, and backrow forwards Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Roger Wilson have recovered from injury and are included in the extended Ulster squad to face Leinster at the RDS on Saturday evening (Kick Off 18.15).

Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, can also call upon Ireland internationals Rory Best and Craig Gilroy who return to the Provincial set-up following the RBS 6 Nations.

The game will see Ulster take on the new leaders of the RaboDirect PRO12.

Ulster are third in the table, level on points with second placed Glasgow and a point behind top-side, Leinster.

Extended Ulster squad to face Leinster in the RaboDirect PRO12, Saturday 30th March, RDS, 18.15;

Forwards (15)

Neil McComb, Callum Black, Rory Best, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Johann Muller, Nick Williams, Rob Herring, Kyle McCall, Ricky Lutton, Tom Court, Iain Henderson, Roger Wilson;

Backs (10)

Ruan Pienaar, Jared Payne, Craig Gilroy, Paul Marshall, Peter Nelson, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble.

London Irish Sign Star Prop Forward from Leinster

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 in London Irish

London Irish have announced the signing of Jamie Hagan from Irish province, Leinster, on a three year deal.

The 25-year old tighthead prop forward joined Leinster from school before moving across to Galway where he spent two years with Connacht, making 50 appearances. He moved back to Leinster in the summer of 2011.

Jamie was drafted into the Leinster Academy as an 18-year-old in 2005 and was capped, provincially and nationally, through the age grades. In 2007, he was a member of the Ireland team that captured the Under-20 Grand Slam.

Leinster followed his progress at Connacht and in June 2011 signed him back to the Irish capital. He played 18 times during 2011/12 and scored his first try for Leinster in a 42-13 win over Ulster.

London Irish Director of Rugby, Brian Smith said: “Jamie Hagan is a future Irish Test player, he’s cut his teeth in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 and is more than ready to launch his Aviva Premiership career. He’s a tough, uncompromising prop coming into his prime and he’ll add more steel to our tight five. Jamie’s rugby talent and Irish heritage make him a perfect fit for the club. I’m genuinely delighted that he’s committed to London Irish for the next three seasons.”

The prop forward, who has made two appearances for the Irish Wolfhounds, said: "I’m looking forward to moving across to England and joining London Irish. They are a team with a rich heritage and proud Irish traditions which will really suit me. I would like to thank Leinster for all they have done for me and wish them well for the future. I look forward to joining London Irish next season and getting stuck in to Premiership rugby."

Glasgow Warriors team news: Townsend makes six changes for Leinster

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Glasgow

Gregor Townsend has made six personnel changes and one positional switch to the team that defeated Cardiff Blues earlier this month, as the Warriors prepare to travel to Dublin to face Leinster at the RDS on Saturday night.

The RaboDirect PRO12 returns after a three-week break and the Warriors are looking for their eighth league win in a row, which has seen them move to the top of the PRO12 on points difference ahead of Ulster.

Tommy Seymour, Rob Harley, Tom Ryder, Ed Kalman, Dougie Hall and Moray Low all come into the starting XV, while Jon Welsh, Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid and Ryan Wilson drop to the bench. Byron McGuigan and Tim Swinson are not included in the 23-man squad.

Glasgow Warriors and Leinster are currently the form teams in the league, with the Warriors having dropped just one possible league point and Leinster only two in their last six games.

Warriors Head coach, Gregor Townsend said: “We have been on a fantastic run of form lately, but Leinster will provide an extremely tough challenge for us and we’ll need to be at our best if we’re to come away with a positive result.

“It’s been good to have our full squad back together again after the Six Nations and training has been very competitive and sharp this week. We travel to Dublin having put ourselves in a good position in the league, but nothing is won until May and we still have a lot of work to do.”

Matawalu keeps the number nine jersey and Weir is given the nod at fly-half ahead of Ruaridh Jackson, after starting the last two of Scotland’s games against Ireland and France.

Exciting youngsters Peter Horne and Alex Dunbar continue their centre partnership, with Peter Murchie once again deployed at full-back.

Canadian winger DTH van der Merwe starts on the left wing, with Seymour replacing McGuigan on the opposite side.

Low and Kalman make up the front row, with the experienced Hall coming in at hooker and captain Al Kellock starting alongside Ryder in the second row.

Josh Strauss moves from flanker to number eight, in place of substitute Wilson, while John Barclay continues at openside and Harley comes in at blindside.

It is a strong bench with Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid, Jon Welsh, James Eddie, Ryan Wilson, Henry Pyrgos, Ruaridh Jackson and Sean Lamont all included.

It is an experienced Warriors squad to face Leinster, with 279 Scotland caps in the matchday 23.

Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland both miss the game after picking up knocks with Scotland, but are expected to return within the next week or two. Chris Cusiter has had an injury setback and may require an operation on his shoulder and Finlay Gillies requires neck surgery, with them both expected to be out of action for a number of months.

Gregor Townsend said: “Leinster are the only team to still have a 100 percent home winning record in the league and that shows just how difficult our task will be this weekend. For the past few seasons they have been the best in Europe at playing with pace, ambition and aggression.

“We have picked a team which we believe is capable of winning the game but we have a number of players who are unlucky not to be involved. Those selected must grab the opportunity to play in such an important fixture with both hands. They have to make it very difficult for me to leave them out next week.

“We are disappointed that both Chris (Cusiter) and Finlay (Gillies) will be out beyond the end of the season. It’s been a really frustrating time for both players and we wish them a speedy recovery.

“The game on Saturday represents a marker of where we are this season and we are fully aware of the significance of getting a result in Dublin. We will give everything we have to secure a win.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Leinster in Round 18 of the RaboDirect PRO12, RDS, Saturday 23 March (kick-off, 7.45pm):

15 Peter Murchie

14 Tommy Seymour

13 Alex Dunbar

12 Peter Horne

11 DTH Van der Merwe

10 Duncan Weir

9 Niko Matawalu

1 Moray Low

2 Dougie Hall

3 Ed Kalman

4 Tom Ryder

5 Al Kellock (Captain)

6 Rob Harley

7 John Barclay

8 Josh Strauss

16 Pat MacArthur

17 Gordon Reid

18 Jon Welsh

19 James Eddie

20 Ryan Wilson

21 Henry Pyrgos

22 Ruaridh Jackson

23 Sean Lamont

Not available for selection through injury:

M Cusack (shoulder), C Fusaro (groin), F Gillies (neck), S Hogg (knee), S Maitland (leg injury), R Lamont (ankle), C Cusiter (shoulder)

Leinster announce Nacewa departure

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Leinster

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 shortlisted 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."