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Leinster confirm worst kept secret signing of Rabah Slimani

Rabah Slimani of ASM Clermont Auvergne looks on prior to the EPCR Challenge Cup Semi Final match between Hollywoodbets Sharks and ASM Clermont Auvergne at Twickenham Stoop on May 04, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

Leinster have finally announced the worst-kept secret in Irish Rugby they have signed Clermont Auvergne’s former French international tighthead Rabah Slimani ahead of next season.

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The URC giants took to X, formally Twitter, on Monday morning with a meme about keeping a secret so well that it didn’t need Sherlock Holmes to work out who they were talking about.

Slimani, 34, who won 57 test caps for France before retiring after the 2019 World Cup, becomes the first Frenchman to sign for Leinster after the club missed out on a succession of other targets.

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Andy Farrell settles No.1 debate

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    Andy Farrell settles No.1 debate

    Wallaby star Taniela Tupou was their first choice to replace Michael Ala’alatoa, who is ironically heading to France to join Clermont to replace his own replacement in an ironic twist of fate.

    But Rugby Australia insisted that he sees out the final year of his contract despite being left without a club following the demise of the Melbourne Rebels. He is likely to now join the NSW Waratahs.

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    Slimani started his career with 93 appearances for Stade Francais before moving south to Clermont in 2017. He played another 149 games before leaving when his contract ended last month.

    He becomes the first big-name signing to join Leinster this summer, with Munster’s Springbok lock RG Snyman and All Blacks ace Jordie Barrett already confirmed as moving to Ballsbridge.

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    Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen confirmed that Slimani will join the rest of his squad when they report back to UCD for the start of pre-season training next week.

    “We are delighted that Rabah has decided to join us at Leinster Rugby. He is a player we have long admired with vast experience at the highest level of TOP14, European and international rugby.

    “We believe he will be a great addition to the group, not only providing competition for the first team but also helping some of our young front-row players learn and develop,” he said.

    While Slimani admits that he jumped at the chance to join Leinster and was looking forward to playing his club rugby outside France for the first time in his career.

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    “I’d like to thank Leo and Leinster Rugby for the opportunity to come and join a club with a massive history and a proven record of competing at the very top end of URC and European rugby.

    “I am very excited to also experience a new country and a new city to live and to play my rugby and it is one that my family and I are looking forward to. We have loved our time in France and in the Top 14.

    “But this is an incredible opportunity to come and join one of the great European clubs and to hopefully help the club achieve what they want to achieve on and off the field.”

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    Comments

    2 Comments
    S
    Samuel 263 days ago

    Didn’t I read something the other day about the IRFU shutting down the signing of non Irish qualified front rowers?

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    fl 58 minutes ago
    Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

    “A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

    Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


    “The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

    I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


    “Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

    I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


    “The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

    I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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    JW 5 hours ago
    French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

    Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


    They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


    That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

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