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EXCLUSIVE: O'Brien set for big money move to London Irish
London Irish have not been afraid to throw the cash around this season, with the Greene King IPA Championship leaders already having secured the signings of three players for the 2019/20 season.
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The Exiles, who lead the Championship by nine points from second-placed Ealing Trailfinders, have had their coffers boosted by the recent CVC Capital investment, whilst their ability to wrap up deals has been bolstered by their healthy league position, which has them as favourites to gain promotion to the Gallagher Premiership later this year.
Australian duo Nick Phipps and Curtis Rona have already agreed to deals with the club, whilst Scotland international and British and Irish Lion Allan Dell has also committed to terms.
The latest player to be linked with the club is none other than Leinster and Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien, with RugbyPass understanding that the London-based club are ready to offer O’Brien a three-year deal, with a salary of £450k, as they look to re-establish themselves in the Premiership in 2019/20.
O’Brien, 31, has had his fair share of injuries in recent years, but he brings the kind of ability as a ball-carrier and contact area specialist that Irish are keen to add, with the bottom half of the Premiership in particular more competitive than ever.
The versatile back rower has amassed 53 caps for Ireland in a 10-year international career and with the Carlow-born forward set to turn 32 later this month, he could be eyeing up a post-Rugby World Cup move away from Ireland, with the likes of Dan Leavy, Josh van der Flier and Scott Penny set to duke it out for the Irish seven jersey over the next RWC cycle.
Injuries have so far limited O’Brien to just six appearances for Leinster this season, something which could also factor into his post-RWC planning, as he looks to prepare for a life after rugby.
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The Championship club have also been linked with big money moves for Steve Mafi, Adam Coleman and Waisake Naholo, with director of rugby Declan Kidney seemingly unafraid of opening the purse strings and investing heavily in the playing squad at Hazelwood.
Watch: Ireland press conference ahead of their trip to BT Murrayfield to take on Scotland
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments