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Premiership giants to battle Montpellier for Leinster's Ross Byrne

Ross Byrne during a Leinster Rugby captain's run at Croke Park in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Leicester are weighing up a move for out-of-favour Ireland fly-half Ross Byrne as they continue to make plans for life without two-time Rugby World Cup winner Handre Pollard.

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The 29-year-old Byrne has slipped down the pecking order with Leo Cullen’s runaway United Rugby Championship leaders, this season coming off the bench five times in the six games that he has played since the start of the campaign.

He scored a try in his only start, the win over the Dragons in September, and is now considered the third choice for Leinster, with Ciaran Frawley starting all three of the games that he has played.

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Sam Prendergast, the 21-year-old who is tipped as a future Ireland star, has started twice for the province this season, including last time out against the Lions, while Byrne’s younger brother Harry is also pushing for his place in the squad.

It has left the Dublin-born No10, who has played 175 games for Leinster, to seriously consider his future, which has already brought him to the attention of big-spending Top 14 outfit Montpellier.

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Bernard Laporte is keen to acquire Byrne, who has won 23 Test caps but hasn’t featured for Andy Farrell’s side since the World Cup. As things stand, his prospects for a recall are looking bleak.

Tigers boss Michael Cheika has asked for a list of available players, with Pollard looking likely for a move to Japan unless he accepts a large pay cut to remain at Welford Road next season.

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The Tigers were linked in the French media with Owen Farrell, who also claimed that they were interested in signing Marcus Smith before he agreed to remain at Harlequins after rejecting a huge contract offer from Bristol Bears.

Byrne, who started last season’s Champions Cup final defeat at the hands of Toulouse, is a much more realistic target for them if he decides to leave Ireland and fancies a move a lot closer to home.

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M
Mzilikazi 4 hours ago
'Welsh regional rugby has failed conclusively and there is no way back'

Thanks for the very comprehensive response, Rob. I have held off responding till I had seen the match v the WB's, and had a better look at Sam. I was interested that you knew him at Uni, played with him.


I thought overall he had a very good game. Was especially impressed by his passing, the timing and accuracy. Very good long passer. He kicks well out of hand, and strikes the ball well off the tee. His one miss could have been costly, but I would not put too much on that.


I did feel he did not pose a running threat, did to carry into contact enough, so the WB's defence was spared that worry.


I fully agree with you that Cullen now needs to give Sam and extended run at 10 for Leinster, not necessarily starting him in every game, but making sure he always gets significant game time, week in, week out.


I'm interested in your comment "if he had a bit more pace he’d have the potential to have sextons brains and bods skills." That would be some combination !


I also had a look at his background. I knew he was a Newbridge College lad, and see he played for them in the Cup Campaign that was never finished due to Covid restrictions. I remember that year well....pity as that was an all Kildare Final, with Clongowes the opponent. The big Dublin schools for once not featuring.


Same happened up in Ulster, two schools outside Belfast in the Final...Wallace and Armagh Royal. I follow Armagh from out here in Qld, as Kenny Hooks(6 caps for Ireland) had built a small school up to being one of the best in Ulster over 40 plus years coaching there. I coached Kenny for five years...Medallion/U 15 and first XV.. at Bangor GS.


Signing off, just hope and pray Sam Prendergast remains free of any serious injury, and we see him develop over the next 10 plus years.

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