Healy deal boosts Leinster as Munster suffer Flannery blow

A NEW contract for Cian Healy and another spell on the sidelines for Jerry Flannery provided mixed news from Ireland’s front-row department yesterday, a month out from the start of the 2011 RBS Six Nations.

Amid speculation linking a number of Declan Kidney’s frontline players with moves away from Ireland, Irish Rugby Football Union chief executive Philip Browne sounded a defiant note last night as Leinster’s emerging star at loose-head prop signed a new international contract that will keep him in the jurisdiction for another two seasons up to 2013.

Healy’s new deal follows those concluded before Christmas with experienced Munster duo Donncha O’Callaghan and Ronan O’Gara. Yet, with fly-half Jonathan Sexton attracting serious interest from Stade Francais and Munster back Keith Earls and Leinster No.8 Jamie Heaslip among the other young guns on the radar of French Top 14 scouts, wrapping up 23-year-old Healy’s services for the time being represents a significant feather in the IRFU’s cap.