Henshaw move to Leinster looks remote

Any lingering prospect of Robbie Henshaw moving from Connacht to Leinster has dwindled even further with the latter’s team manager Guy Easterby highlighting the importance of provincial loyalties to the professional game.

Rumours that Henshaw would make the switch eastwards had grown in recent weeks and increased further when IRFU president Pat Fitzgerald said last week that the player would have to move if told to by national coach Joe Schmidt.

News that Connacht had signed centre Bundee Aki from New Zealand ratcheted matters up even further, but coach Pat Lam subsequently confirmed he was a direct replacement for the departing Eoin Griffin and retiring Kyle Tonetti.