Leinster confirm new contracts for 13 players including Jack Conan, Dan Leavy and Luke McGrath
Wednesday 5 April 2017 18:39, UK
Adam Byrne, Jack Conan, Dan Leavy and Luke McGrath are among 13 Leinster players to sign new IRFU contracts.
All four started in Leinster's comprehensive 32-17 victory over Wasps on Saturday in the last eight of the European Rugby Champions Cup.
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Leinster have also reached agreements with Irish internationals Richardt Strauss, Jordi Murphy and Noel Reid, as well as Bryan Byrne, Ed Byrne, Barry Daly, Tom Daly, Mick Kearney and Ian Nagle.
Head coach Leo Cullen is delighted to have secured the signatures of so many players he views as key to Leinster's future.
"Only a few weeks ago we were able to confirm the promotion of seven players from within our own academy to the senior squad," Cullen told the club's official website.
"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."
The signings come on the heels of the central contracts which were recently announced for Ireland internationals Jamie Heaslip and Devin Toner.
With Australian international Scott Fardy and Maori All Blacks winger James Lowe also signed for next season, the future looks bright for Leinster.
"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," Cullen said.
"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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