Horgan to stay on at Leinster

IRELAND international Shane Horgan has agreed a new two year contract with Leinster.

Meath native Horgan has played his entire professional career with his home province since making his debut for Leinster against Ulster in 1998.

He has won 61 international caps and was a member of the Lions squad in New Zealand three years ago.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: “We are delighted that Shane has committed his future to playing in Ireland for Leinster. The IRFU will continue with its strategy of keeping as many of our leading players within our provincial structures in Ireland.”

Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson added: “Shane has been a consistent force in the backline, be it in the blue of Leinster or indeed the green of Ireland. I am sure that I speak on behalf of the entire Leinster support when I say how delighted we are that he has followed the likes of Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy in re-signing for the province.”

Leinster Coach Michael Cheika said: “Shane has performed at a consistently high level for club and country over the years and, speaking from personal experience, he has been an integral part of the Leinster team in my time as coach. His try-scoring ratio of roughly one every two and a half games tells only part of Shane’s value to the squad. He has a knack of scoring important tries in key games, a point illustrated by his contribution to the victories at home to the Leicester Tigers and away to the Ospreys, Munster and more recently, Connacht.”

Horgan himself said: “Leinster has been a happy home for me throughout my career. While I have had some incredible memories playing in the blue jersey, the desire for me to win further honours at Leinster was the deciding factor for me to agree my contract extension.

“The decision of Michael (Cheika) to remain with Leinster and the return of Alan Gaffney along with Kurt McQuilkin is an indication of how Leinster wants to continue to build for the future and I am delighted to remain a part of that.”