Talks to open over Sam Prendergast's future at Leinster

Leinster are poised to open talks with their Ireland fly-half, Sam Prendergast, who entered the final year of his contract with the back-to-back United Rugby Championship champions at the start of July.

Prendergast, who signed his first senior contract with the province three years ago, will have seen his stock skyrocket since signing his last contract in March 2025, after battling to become first-choice playmaker for club and country.

Although his name has circulated around the world as being out of contract in 2027, there is little prospect of him leaving Leinster, who will be bidding for a hat-trick of URC titles when they kick off their campaign against the Lions at Ellis Park.

Earlier this year, a dip in form prompted former Wales star Dan Biggar to suggest that he could benefit from a spell away from Leinster, much as Harry Byrne did when he joined Bristol Bears to escape the public eye.

He is contracted directly to Leinster and does not have a central IRFU contract, which, when it emerged, raised more than a few eyebrows among the Dublin side’s fan base, many of whom found it outrageous.

Prendergast, 23, was superb in their URC Grand Final victory over the Bulls at Croke Park at the end of last season, being named Man of the Match before helping Andy Farrell’s side to victory in their Nations Championship clash with Australia in Sydney.

He will be hoping that his efforts in the summer will be enough to edge him ahead of Munster’s Jack Crowley, who missed the trip Down Under with a rare blood vessel issue in the back of his leg, in Farrell’s plans.

Leinster are well stocked at fly-half, with Byrne his main competition to start, and Ciarán Frawley, who started against Japan in the summer, also available to Leo Cullen, who can also call upon Charlie Tector and Austrian Casper Gabriel.