Kearney attracting interest from other clubs as contract talks continue

Leinster’s Dave Kearney admits he’s keeping very open-minded about where his future lies.

His contract is out of date at the end of the season and as speculation continues to mount over Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip moving to France, it’s unclear if he too will be playing for Leinster next season.

The younger brother of Rob told the media today that his future is still up in the air and he is no closer to signing another deal with the IRFU and Leinster.

Kearney said: "I’m still trying to figure out what I’m going to do like the other two lads, it’s still ongoing (Contract negotiations) and hopefully it will be resolved soon."

With wealthy French clubs ready to throw any amount of money at any player they feel is worth it, the question was asked about whether Kearney had been approached by any of the Top 14 clubs.

Dave confirmed though he has been scouted, but not by anyone in France.

He said: "No nothing from France, I’m having a chat with a few people and I’m trying to weigh everything up and looking at all my options, I just want to have an answer quick and sort things out."

With all that attention surrounding O’Brien and Heaslip who are more high profile players, the 24-year-old Lansdowne wing has denied that he had tried to escape below the radar.

"It’s just the way things have gone, obviously Sean and Jamie are more high-profile and their contract negotiations have hit all the headlines but it’s not something I purposely tried to do."

Kearney was speaking this afternoon ahead of Leinster’s final Heineken Cup pool game against the Ospreys on Friday which will be the last European game before the start of the Six Nations.

Kearney was yesterday named in Joe Schmidt’s squad for the tournament but says there is no added pressure on him to impress the former Leinster coach.

He said: "I’m trying not to think about that too much, I’m just focusing on getting my place in Leinster, there is just as much competition here than there is in the Irish squad.

"My main aim is to perform to the best that I can even if there is the Six Nations coming up, we still have a really important game this week in the Heineken Cup that we need to win in order to advance so that’s what I’m looking to do."

All Leinster need is a point on Friday night in the RDS to book themselves a place in the quarter finals.

They hold a four-point lead over Northampton Saints in Pool 1, who would need to beat Castres and hope Leinster slip up in order to advance.