Things just get bigger and better for Leinster

Heady days for Leinster. Less than 24 hours after their Heineken Cup semi-final heroics in France the European champions announced that 18 players had inked new deals with the province.

Luke Fitzgerald remains the only regular still locked in negotiations while Rhys Ruddock has resisted temptations to seek more regular exposure with a move south. Manchester isn’t the only place where the blues have stolen a march over their rivals in red — but all sport is cyclical and with the announcement of a new management team due in a matter of days, Munster are also making plans for the future.

The dominance of both the Heineken Cup and Rabo Direct Pro12 by Irish teams has reached unprecedented levels and left foreign rivals green with envy. Leinster now stand on the threshold of greatness and have earned global admiration not only for the quality of rugby they produce but for their ability to get the job done when the odds are stacked against them.