Luke McGrath's Leinster exit appears to be a done deal

Perpignan are reported to have agreed a deal to sign Leinster’s former Ireland scrum-half Luke McGrath to end their search for an international-quality scrum-half.

McGrath, 33, who was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and grew up in Ireland, won the last of his 20 caps with a seven-minute cameo in Ireland’s 2019 World Cup quarter-final defeat against the All Blacks in Tokyo.

The experienced star has become Jamison Gibson-Park’s understudy, only starting five of his 13 appearances this season, and had talks with the Blood and Golds when they were priced out of a move for Springbok Faf de Klerk.

McGrath, who has made 251 appearances for Leinster, scoring 55 tries, has now agreed terms with Perpignan for a move when his contract in the Irish capital ends this summer, according to Midi Olympique.

He will play alongside Tom Ecochard, 33, who has signed a new one-year deal, and South African James Hall, 30, who has put pen to paper on a two-year extension to his current contract.

Perpignan, who are battling against relegation from the Top 14, have been very active in the transfer market, hoping that bringing in quality signings will bolster their fortunes next season.

They have already confirmed the signing of All Blacks winger Sevu Reece and his Crusaders team-mate, outside centre Braydon Ennor, who has won nine All Blacks caps.

They travel to Stade Francais on Saturday afternoon and will almost certainly face a relegation play-off at the end of the season unless they can cut the 18-point gap between them and 12th-placed Bayonne.

Eleven points clear of bottom-of-the-table side Montauban, they have also signed Montpellier loosehead Enzo Forletta, Oyonnax inside centre Maëlan Rabut and Saracens Italian international tighthead Marco Riccioni.

McGrath, who made his Leinster senior debut in May 2012 against the Newport Gwent Dragons, is set to become their final major signing ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.