Leinster sign seven Academy players to professional contracts

All eight Leinster Academy graduates will take up professional rugby contracts in the coming season, seven of those with the province.

Carlow brothers Bryan and Ed Byrne – who play at hooker and tighthead prop – have both received professional contracts after making their senior debuts last season. Bryan made eight appearances, scoring his first senior try away to Benetton Treviso in November 2014, while Ed made four appearances, although his run in the team was cut short due to an injury picked up in the home win over Edinburgh last October.

Two other senior team debutants from last season have also been handed professional contracts. Number eight Dan Leavy, who featured in three games last season, and flanker Josh van der Flier, who appeared in six senior games, will both be a part of the senior squad.

Leinster 'A' players Gavin Thornbury (secondrow), Cathal Marsh (outhalf) also take up pro contracts, while Lansdowne secondrow Tadhg Beirne has also been offered a short-term professional contract.

Jordan Coghlan, who can play at backrow or at centre, has joined Munster on a professional contract.

All six of the first-year arrivals in the Academy played in the recent World Rugby U20 Championships.

Commenting on the announcement of the panel for 2015/16, Leinster Academy manager Girvan Dempsey, said: "It is great to be welcoming such a talented group of year one recruits into the Academy for the new season. That each player was a part of the Ireland under-20 set up during the World Rugby Championship shows that they are among the most promising young players in Ireland.

“I would like to congratulate the players leaving the Academy on securing professional contracts. I’m sure that each of them will relish being a part of the senior squad and will be eager to impress and play their part this season. We would also like to wish Jordan Coghlan the best of luck with his move to Munster.”

Leaving Academy - To Leinster professional contracts: Tadhg Beirne, Bryan Byrne, Ed Byrne, Dan Leavy, Cathal Marsh, Gavin Thornbury, Josh Van Der Flier. To Munster professional contract: Jordan Coghlan.

Year Three (7): Adam Byrne, Steve Crosbie, Tom Daly, Billy Dardis, Peter Dooley, Tom Farrell, Ross Molony.

Year Two (8): Harrison Brewer, Ross Byrne, Ian Fitzpatrick, Cian Kelleher, Nick McCarthy, Rory O'Loughlin, Garry Ringrose, Peadar Timmins.

Year One (6): Joey Carbery, Oisin Heffernan, Jeremy Loughman, Sean McNulty, Josh Murphy, David O'Connor.