Leinster run will boost my Irish chances, says Jack Conan

Jack Conan believes he is better placed to stake a claim for an Ireland shirt by starting in Guinness PRO12 action with Leinster rather than being an international benchwarmer.

The 24-year-old lined out at No 8 as Leinster returned to league action with a 26-point away win over Benetton Treviso last weekend, having been a part of Joe Schmidt’s original 40-man Six Nations squad before being released back to his province.

While the Old Belvedere clubman admits he is aiming for a more proactive role in green — he has failed to feature since his Test debut against Scotland in 2015 — Conan claims fringe internationals are better off keeping busy with provinces than twiddling their thumbs in international squads.