Rugby:Cian Healy has committed to Leinster for at least another two seasons after agreeing a new deal with the IRFU. Healy has put pen to paper on a two-year contract, ending any speculation of a potential move overseas when his existing deal expired.
Healy, along with the likes of Leinster teammates Jonathan Sexton and Jamie Heaslip, was understood to have attracted the attention of suitors from France and England with a move to Stade Francais and former coach Michael Cheika touted as one possible destination.
But the 23-year-old prop will continue to ply his trade at the RDS after completing negotiations with the IRFU on a contract that will keep him in Ireland until 2013.
“I am delighted to have my new contract signed as it means I can continue to concentrate on playing for my home province and improving my game further,” Healy said today. “It has been a good couple of weeks for us and so I just want to focus on playing well for Leinster to keep me firmly in the plans of Declan (Kidney) and the national team.”
Ireland coach Declan Kidney welcomed the news, adding: “For a young player like Cian who has progressed really well over the last 18 months this is good news as it allows him to continue to develop as a player in Ireland.”
With regards the recent speculation surrounding a number of Ireland internationals, IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said today he expects further deals to be completed soon. Despite the lure of big-money contracts in France, Browne remains committed to keeping Irish talent in Ireland where they can be managed under the player welfare programme.
“We began the process of contracting players as early as the summer and while it is something that can take time to complete, this is nothing new and we are progressing through the majority of those contracts that are coming to an end this season or early next season,” Browne said.
“With a fixture list of potentially over 40 matches per season and with even more games in overseas leagues where we would have no influence on the game time for Irish players, it is vital that we continue to work to retain players to play within Ireland in the provinces.”
