Leinster strengthen their squad for the next season with new signings – Rugby Union news
Leinster Rugby today has announced the signing of Damian Browne and Fionn Carr on one-year deals in efforts to strengthen their squad for next season. Leinster is currently at second place in the Irish domestic league table with 65 points. Leinster has so
far won 14 of the 21 matches they have played in the Magners League 2010/11.
Damian Browne is currently representing CA Brive in the French Top 14 and will join Leinster at lock. He started his professional rugby club career with Connacht Rugby and later on moved to Northampton Saints. Browne has also represented Ireland at the Under-21
level.
25-year-old Connacht Rugby winger, Fionn Carr, is a former Leinster Academy graduate and joined Connacht rugby in 2008. So far he has made 72 appearances for Connacht at the domestic and European level and has scored 34 tries.
Carr holds the record for the highest try scorer in Western Province’s history. He has also represented Ireland at the Schools level, at Under-19 level, at Under-21 level and played for Irish ‘A’ team.
Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt has welcomed the signing of both Browne and Carr and termed their inclusion to have a positive impact on the team’s overall performance and prospects next season. He said, “We are delighted to announce the signings of two Irish qualified
players in Damian and Fionn and we believe that both players have the potential to make an impression over the coming season.”
In other news Cheetahs and Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss has also extended his contract with the squad until 2013. Schmidt has termed Richardt as a key performer in Leinster’s front row this year and said his contract extension is a boost for the team.
Apart from Strauss, Ian Madigan, Brendan Macken and Dominic Ryan have also extended their contract with Leinster Rugby. 21-year-old Dominic Ryan has played in 22 games so far this season in the Magners League.
Halfback pair of John Cooney and Ian McKinley has also signed their first professional deals with the province. Meanwhile, Leinster will play their last match of 2010/11 season against Glasgow at Royal Dublin Society, Dublin on Friday, May 6.
Tags: