Joey Carbery has officially returned to Irish rugby

Leinster have confirmed one of their worst-kept secrets in Irish rugby: former Ireland international Joey Carbery is returning to Dublin this summer after spending the last two seasons in France with Union Bordeaux Bègles.

Carbery, 30, a product of the Leinster academy, scored 101 points in 37 appearances for the province, where in 2017 he won Leinster’s Young Player of the Year as well as the PRO12 Young Player of the Season.

The Auckland, New Zealand-born fly-half, who has won 37 Ireland caps, left for Munster after helping Leinster win the PRO14 and Champions Cup double in 2018, where he made another 66 appearances, winning a BKT United Rugby Championship title in 2023.

Carbery, who has just helped the French side win back-to-back Investec Champions Cup titles, rejoins Leinster to fill the gap left by Ciaran Frawley’s departure to URC rivals Connacht, which became official when his contract ended earlier this week.

“I am delighted to be returning home to Leinster. I am thrilled to be joining in with Leo and the lads. There are some familiar faces and loads of new ones to get to know.

“I am working hard now to get myself fit and ready and contribute to the team as soon as possible,” said Carbery, who won his last Ireland cap in the win over Fiji in November 2022.

Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen added: “We are delighted to welcome Joey back to Leinster Rugby. Joey and his family have been huge contributors to the Province over many years, and it certainly feels like a homecoming for Joey.

“He has gained plenty of valuable experience over the last number of years, and we are all keen to learn from each other over the coming months as we look to compete in a new season.”