Health-conscious Heaslip looking at big picture

The expanding horizons of Leinster rugby were best exemplified this week by the location to announce the five-year sponsorship deal with Bank of Ireland.

Clondalkin rugby club is about 25 minutes west of the province’s rugby heartland in Dublin 4, but in terms of tradition the distance is much greater. If Leinster’s vision is to become a reality, however, places like this will be just as important a supply line of talent.

Tomorrow, Leinster will play Ulster just up the road in Tallaght Stadium, the home of Shamrock Rovers, before the PRO12 campaign begins the following week. For Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip, this progressive ethos goes beyond just producing the next batch of rugby stars.