Finegan joins Leinster ranks

Leinster have signed former Australia flanker Owen Finegan on a one-year deal.

The 34-year-old was released by Guinness Premiership side Newcastle at the end of last season.

A World Cup winner in 1999, Finegan earned 55 Test caps for the Wallabies and helped the ACT Brumbies win two Super 12 titles before joining the Falcons in 2005.

Leinster boast a crop of promising young back row players, including the Ireland A number eight Jamie Heaslip, and coach Michael Cheika believes Finegan’s experience will prove crucial next season.

“His leadership influence on a strong group of young back rows and locks, already at the club, will also add invaluably to Leinster’s future,” said Cheika, a former team-mate of Finegan’s.

“I know that his commitment to playing the game is second to none. Couple this with his strong Irish origins and his long-time desire to play rugby in the land of his parents, where he still has many family ties, all leads to Owen making a massive contribution at Leinster in the coming season.”

Finegan will be joining his former Wallaby team-mate Chris Whitaker after the scrum-half signed from New South Wales.