Mike Ross: Ireland tighthead offered new one-year contract

The IRFU have offered Mike Ross a one year contract extension. The only tighthead prop under national contract, Ross recently stated his desire to sign for two more years, taking him up to July 2017, when he would be 37.

This, The Irish Times has learned, is not the current deal on the table. Ross's representatives have sought that the second season be picked up by Leinster but that is also not on offer at present.

Negotiations have not yet reached a stalemate with the Cork man's agent, Ryan Constable of Esportif International, awaiting further communication from IRFU high performance director David Nucifora before formally approaching any foreign clubs.

“I wouldn’t mind two more years,” said Ross last month. “You’re dealing with one person now, it seems to be, David Nucifora is the main man, he handles that sort of thing so that simplifies matters a bit. I’m probably talking earlier than I would have been in previous seasons.

The option of him leaving has not been ruled out.

"I would never rule anything out but I'm happy here and we just won a Six Nations and we've a World Cup to look forward to."

Fellow prop Marty Moore, who should return from injury by January, is in negotiations with Leinster, and not Ireland, for a new contract.