Leinster Rugby

Reigning champions Leinster have been dealt a decidedly ill-timed blow with the news that ERC European Player of the Year 2012 Rob Kearney is to undergo an operation on his troublesome back and will be sidelined for around 10 weeks, and to compound this, Leinster will also be without the versatile Isa Nacewa for an estimated four to six weeks after he sustained a broken hand in their win over the Scarlets last Saturday.

Leinster in the Amlin. Has been interesting to see the reaction of the fans on the boards. Some whining but most really want Leinster to have a tilt at this especially with the Final in Dublin. I feel alot better knowing that Leinster are going in to this with an attitude that this is silverware and they want to win it.

Schmidt is a good coach and he'll know that you always aim to win any competition you're in, mess about in the Amlin and it will transfer into their Pro 12 campaign too..

I'm in Leinster and the mood is one of anger that they let the HC go at the start of the campaign (but almost pleased its gone away) and a fierce determination to make the final in RDS. If they get through Wasps, I fancy them for both Amlin & Pro12.

ill put this in under leinster rather then munster, cause it more leinsters loss then munsters gain

boy wonder is leaving them. big big shock

The Irish Times - Friday, January 25, 2013
Conway closes in on move from Leinster to Munster

GERRY THORNLEY

Andrew Conway, a standout performer for the Irish Under-20s when scoring five tries in both the 2010 and 2011 Junior World Cups, is on the verge of making one of the more intriguing moves of the professional era by leaving his native Leinster at the end of the season to join Munster.

The Dublin-born 21-year-old looked set for a rapid rise through the ranks with Leinster after a celebrated under-age career with Blackrock, Leinster and the Ireland schools and under-20 sides, but in his fourth season with Leinster has evidently become a little frustrated at playing just 30 times for the province in that timespan (scoring five tries).

Ankle and neck injuries, coupled with his back-to-back summer campaigns at Junior World Cups, prevented him from an extended pre-season until last summer, but despite his own hopes that this season would mark a breakthrough, he has been confined to just 11 appearances in which he has scored two tries.

Compounding Conway’s frustration at his lack of progress would have been the sight of Simon Zebo and Craig Gilroy overtaking him en route to their first steps in Test rugby. The pacey winger-cum-fullback with an eye for the try line like few recent underage products, Conway had also attracted interest from Connacht and France, with Leinster also keen to retain him.

Following Fionn Carr’s decision to return to Connacht, Conway’s prospective switch to Munster will heighten speculation about the future of the latter’s captain, all-time record try-scorer Doug Howlett, who was due to enter talks with Munster about his future after the completion of the Heineken Cup pool stages, but it is understood no decision has been made.

Michael Corcoran ‏@MichaelC_RTE
@leinsterrugby Jonathon Sexton move to France expected to be confirmed shortly #rterugby


Hearing strong rumours from a number of good sources @leinsterrugby Jonathon Sexton will sign a contract with a French club #rterugby


Liam Aherne ‏@laherne95
BIG rugby news to break later today i'm told... Involves a current Leinster player with Munster routes heading to France!!!! #allegedly

Sexton: he's off to Racing Metro for 2 years, at 750k a season. Nice salary, jeez!

So, given the IRFU's policy, and the fact that Sexton has blown them off, where does this leave Kidney?

I am hoping it will help speed the departure of ROG from the international side and help Madigan, Jackson and potentially Hanrahan (although he's a great 12) step up.

Leinster fans giving it the full sackcloth and ashes treatment, as Le Jonny Show-Bizz (thanks WhiffOfCordite) heads to the continent for a new challenge. The "greed" diatribes are particularly amusing given the Leinster demographic (their fan club stayed in The G when they played us this season, in case you think I'm stereotyping. Well, I am, but I'm not wrong).

It should of course be stated that what Jonny did is far worse and nothing like McCarthy leaving Connacht for Leinster.

sea_point wrote: Keatley will come into that Mix also...

What age is Keatley - 27/28? He's improved immensely over the last while.

In the Indo today Conway to Munster on a 2 year deal. No sure it's a wise decision with Carr gone and Niall Morris turning them down you'd assume he'd get more gametime but his choice.

Fitzgerald, D Kearney, McFadden, Nacewa all ahead of him. With Howlett rumoured to be retiring, he could feasibly be starting with Munster

I seen this on the Leinstertainment facebook page, nice bit of respect there.

BP AFTER 26MINS, JOG ON TREVISO

Any chance Leinster can negotiate our own TV deal, similar to what Ulster have with BBC NI? I'm sure Setanta would be up for it. I am fed up with TG4/ RTE ignoring our province. For the record, we are still ranked as the #1 team in Europe by the ERC.