LAST UPDATE | 2 Mar 2022
ROSS BYRNE HAS signed a new contract with Leinster, the province have confirmed.
Earlier today Leinster also announced that forwards Max Deegan and Will Connors had both penned new deals, while yesterday, Leinster confirmed extensions for Tommy O’Brien, Jordan Larmour and Caelan Doris.
While Byrne has found international opportunites hard to come by, he remains a key player for the province in a competitive position, with Johnny Sexton and younger brother Harry Byrne both also vying for the 10 shirt.
Byrne has already lined out 13 times for Leinster this season, and has often been selected ahead of Sexton when the Ireland captain is fit and available, with last season’s Pro14 final win over Munster a notable recent example.
The 26-year-old is currently in his seventh season with Leinster and has now committed his future to the province, despite reports he had attracted offers from overseas. The length of his new contract has not been disclosed.
Deegan is currently in his sixth season with Leinster, having made his debut against the Dragons in December 2016.
The number eight has made 71 appearances for the club, and also has one Test cap to his name.
Deegan made his Ireland debut against Wales during the 2020 Six Nations, but his upward trajectory came to a sudden halt due to the Covid pandemic.
He then suffered a long-term ACL injury eight months later, which saw him go almost a full year without any rugby.
The 25-year-old made his return in Leinster colours last September and has made 12 appearances so far this season, scoring three tries.
Flanker Connors has represented Leinster 25 times since debuting against Edinburgh in February 2018.
Connors, 25, has had a unfortunate run of injuries over the past two seasons and is currently rehabbing a knee injury which has ruled him out for the remainder of the current campaign.
He has been capped nine times for Ireland, with his most recent cap coming in last year’s Six Nations.
Comedian Michael Fry is our special guest on this week’s episode of The Front Row, in partnership with Guinness. Joining host Seán Burke, Eimear Considine and Murray Kinsella, he chats about his family’s rugby background and his short-lived playing days, before using his musical ear to rank the anthems of each Guinness Six Nations team. Click here to subscribe or listen below:
The42 / SoundCloud
