Leinster keen to land Kiwi Thorn on short-term deal

Leinster should know within a matter of days whether they have been successful in their attempt to secure the signature of former All Black and World Cup winner Brad Thorn on an emergency short-term contract.

The European champions are painfully short of personnel in the second row with captain Leo Cullen out for up to three months following surgery on his Achilles and Stephen Sykes having returned to South Africa.

Damian Browne — who is playing despite a shoulder problem — and Devin Toner will have to carry the majority of the workload in the interim with the inexperienced pair of Mark Flanagan and Ciarán Ruddock the only current backup on offer.