Jamie and Sean going nowhere, says O’Connor

Leinster coach Matt O’Connor is confident Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien will not follow in Jonathan Sexton’s footsteps and swap their home province for the Top 14.

One French newspaper reported last week that ASM Clermont Auvergne are considering moves for the two Irish forwards and, though Leinster have yet to begin contract talks with either, their head coach spoke reassuringly of their futures yesterday.

“We would back the environment [at Leinster] to make it very, very difficult to leave, like we did with Jonny,” he said. “Ultimately, it is their decision to make, but I’m sure off the back of what Leinster provides and what Dublin provides and what they have achieved in this environment we would be confident they’ll stay here.”