Healy signs new two-year deal to keep him in Ireland

Cian Healy has signed a new international contract with the IRFU that will seem him continue to play in Ireland for another two seasons up to 2013.

The IRFU are currently in the process of contracting Ireland based players and Healy’s new contract comes on the back of those recently awarded to Donncha O’Callaghan and Ronan O’Gara with Munster.

Healy said: "It has been a good couple of weeks for Leinster and so I just want to focus on playing well for Leinster to keep me firmly in the plans of Declan and the national team."

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne said: "With a fixture list of potentially over 40 matches per season and with even more games in overseas leagues where we would have no influence on the game time for Irish players, it is vital that we continue to work to retain players to play within Ireland in the provinces."

Declan Kidney said: "For a young player like Cian who has progressed really well over the last 18 months this is good news as it allows him to continue to develop as a player in Ireland. He has approached every challenge with the same hard working attitude and if he continues to do this he can become an even better player."

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt said: "Cian is a strong and dynamic ball-carrying loosehead and it was great to see his efforts rewarded with two tries in the recent Heineken Cup win over ASM Clermont Auvergne. Cian has been impressive progressing through the Leinster Academy, into the Leinster Senior Team and onto the Ireland International side. At just 23, there is obviously still plenty of scope for further development which promises real benefit for both Leinster and Irish rugby.”