Leinster have secured the signature of another key figure as they look to future in a week that has already seen Michael Cheika extend his contract and Alan Gaffney commit to two years as backs coach.
The province announced this morning that Ireland wing Shane Horgan has followed in the footsteps of centres Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy and is to remain with them until the end of the 2010.
Horgan has played his entire professional career with Leinster, making his debut against Ulster in 1998. He has played 61 times for Ireland and was a member of the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
Horgan's season has been hindered by injury but the Meath man recovered his fitness and featured in three of Ireland's Six Nations games this year.
He will start on the right wing for Leinster this evening as they look to extend their lead at the top of the Magner's League table when they face Glasgow in the RDS.
"Leinster has been a happy home for me throughout my career," said Horgan today. "While I have had some incredible memories playing in the blue jersey, the desire for me to win further honours at Leinster was the deciding factor for me to agree my contract extension.
"The decision of Michael (Cheika) to remain with Leinster and the return of Alan Gaffney along with Kurt McQuilkin is an indication of how Leinster wants to continue to build for the future and I am delighted to remain a part of that."
Cheika today described Horgan as "an integral part" of his side
"His try-scoring ratio of roughly one every two and a half games tells only part of Shane's value to the squad. He has a knack of scoring important tries in key games, a point illustrated by his contribution to the victories at home to the Leicester Tigers and away to the Ospreys, Munster and more recently, Connacht.
"I am confident that his best years are ahead of him. As one of the squad leaders he embodies heart, drive and skill and today's announcement gives the entire squad a timely boost ahead of an important few weeks for Leinster in the Magners League."
Leinster also hope to bring former England flanker Neil Back on to the coaching ticket for the start of next season.
LEINSTER: R Kearney; S Horgan, C Warner, M Berne, L Fitzgerald; F Contepomi, C Whitaker; O le Roux, B Jackman, S Wright; L Cullen, M O'Kelly; S Jennings, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: C Healy/S Knoop, B Blaney, T Hogan, C Jowitt/S Keogh, C Keane, J Sexton, G Brown.
Glasgow : B Stortoni; L Fa'atau, G Morrison, D Gibson (capt), T Evans; C Gregor, S Pinder; E Kalman, D Hall, M Low; A Newman, D Turner; J Eddie, D Macfadyen, J Beattie. Replacements: E Milligan, J Va'a, O Palepoi, R Vernon, R Jackson, S Barrow, H O'Hare.
