Leinster face battle to keep centre star Ben Te’o

Leinster have not yet accepted defeat in their bid to extend Kiwi centre Ben Te’o’s stay at the province beyond next summer, despite considerable reported interest in the 28-year old from clubs in England, France and Australia.

The player himself was giving little away on the matter yesterday, though he did intimate that a return to rugby league Down Under, where he won an NRL title alongside Sam Burgess at Sydney two years ago, was unlikely for now.

Te’o joined Leinster from South Sydney Rabbitohs late in 2014 and has impressed in the midfield despite early injury problems and the club’s stuttering form. He is “weighing things up” at present and is expecting to come to a decision sooner rather than later.