Leinster will boost their squad considerably after today’s news that Australian scrumhalf Chris Whitaker has signed a two-year deal with the province and will join up with his new team-mates in the summer.
The 31-year-old is a veteran of two World Cups, captaining his country against Namibia in the 2003 campaign. To date he has won 31 test caps and scored two tries in a Wallabies jersey.
Whitaker has also been the New South Wales Waratahs captain since 2004 and led them to the Super 12 final last year.
Coach Michael Cheika was all too aware how such a high profile player attracted attention from other clubs and is glad to have won the race to sign such an experienced player.
"We are delighted that Chris has decided to come and play his rugby with Leinster," said Cheika today. "Several top European teams were keen to sign him but after visiting our set up he was extremely enthusiastic in continuing his career in Ireland and in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup.
"Chris is a high quality player and will fit in perfectly with the atmosphere we are building at Leinster. He has a wealth of international experience and is a natural leader having led the Waratahs to a Super 12 final last year and again in the inaugural Super 14 competition this year."
He also has an English passport which allows Leinster to field two foreign players in the Heineken Cup.
Cheika also named a 28-man squad for Saturday's Celtic League clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.
Denis Hickie, Girvan Dempsey and Reggie Corrigan are all included after being involved with the Ireland squad last weekend.
Meanwhile, Kieran Lewis, Jamie Heaslip, Ronan McCormack and Brian Blaney are also named after earning ‘A’ caps for their country against their French counterparts at the weekend, while Ciaran Potts returns from injury.
Kick-off is at 5.30pm and the squad is expected to be reduced later in the week.
Michael Bradley has named a 26-man squad ahead of their encounter with Llanelli at the Sportsground on Saturday (2.30pm).
"We are looking forward to the challenge," said Bradley. "The game will give a lot of our squad members the opportunity to perform and put themselves in the picture for the European Challenge Cup quarter final against Newcastle next month."
Leinster squad:
Forwards (15): Reggie Corrigan, Brian Blaney, Will Green, Bryce Williams, Adam Byrnes, Eric Miller, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip, Ronan McCormack, David Blaney, Ben Gissing, Niall Ronan, Emmett Byrne, Ciaran Potts, Devin Toner
Backs (13): Guy Easterby, Felipe Contepomi, Gary Brown, John Hepworth, Kieran Lewis, Rob Kearney, Denis Hickie, Brian O'Riordan, Jonathan Sexton, Eoghan Hickey, Brendan Burke, Brian O'Meara, Girvan Dempsey
Connacht squad:
Forwards (14): Ray Hogan, Stephen Knoop, Dan McFarland, Adrian Clarke, John Fogarty, Joe Merrigan, David Gannon, Christian Short, Andrew Farley, Michael Swift, Matt Lacey, John Muldoon, Colm Rigney, Brendan O'Connor
Backs (12): Tom Tierney, Chris Keane, David Slemen, Paul Warwick, Conor McPhillips, Darren Yapp, Andrew Mailei, Keith Matthews, Gavin Williams, John Hearty, Matt Mostyn, Mark McHugh
