How Leicester helped to shape Leo Cullen (and perhaps, Leinster)

Geordan Murphy reckons that Cullen and Shane Jennings developed a steelier edge to their game at Leicester than anything they had experienced at Leinster

LEICESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 19: Leo Cullen of Leinster wins the lineout ball during the Heineken Cup round six match between Leicester Tigers and Leinster at Welford Road on January 19, 2008 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

When Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings upped sticks and went to Leicester Tigers for a couple of years in the early part of this century it opened their eyes to a new rugby world.

It was while they were playing together at Welford Road that another Dubliner, Geordan Murphy, reckons that they developed a steelier edge to their game than anything they had previously encountered in their earlier days at Leinster.