Leinster coach Gibbes urges Heaslip and O’Brien to stay

Leinster forwards coach Jono Gibbes believes it would be a massive mistake for Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien to move to France, warning they would not be treated as well outside the IRFU’s player welfare programme.

Heaslip spent two days in France meeting clubs earlier last week following a reduced national contract offer from the IRFU, while O’Brien has been courted by several sides interested in signing the Lions flanker.

“Yeah I think Seanie and Jamie should definitely stay here,” said the New Zealander at yesterday’s Leinster press conference.