'We've had some conversations': Leo Cullen confirms Leinster talks with Joey Carbery

There was also a pointed rebuke for the powers-that-be when Carbery made the decision to join Munster. 

RECRUITMENT: Head coach Leo Cullen. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Leo Cullen has confirmed that Leinster have held talks with Joey Carbery about bringing the former Ireland international back to his native province from France.

The Leinster head coach also aimed strong words in the direction of former IRFU performance director and national team coach Joe Schmidt for their part in Carbery’s leaving the province in the first place in 2018.

“Yeah, we've had some conversations with Joey,” said Cullen of Carbery who is also a target for Ulster as his time with Bordeaux Begles approaches an end point this summer. “Yeah, that’ll play out over the next little while.

“It's this time of year, isn't it? Speculation's going on, isn't it?” 

That last line was delivered with a trademark smile but there was a pointed rebuke for the powers-that-be seven years ago when Carbery made the decision to take his leave of Leinster and try his hand down the motorway with Munster.

“Well, he’s a Leinster person first and foremost, come through the pathways,” said Cullen on what makes Carbery an attractive recruit all these years later.

“Listen, I don’t think it’s a great secret I wasn’t a big fan of how that played out at the time, and I wouldn’t have blamed Joey in any sense, but some of the people who were involved there I don’t think covered themselves in glory, did they?

“But you’ll have to do a bit of digging there yourselves to find out what I mean by that,” he laughed again. “What do you think I mean?" 

Leinster and the IRFU haven’t always seen eye to eye when it comes to the question of their players moving to other provinces. Cullen himself half-joked that there were more Leinster than Limerick men on the Munster squad after beating them in Thomond Park last month.

Ciaran Frawley will clear out his locker with the Skerries man making the switch to Connacht at the end of the current season, but Cullen is clearly enthused by the idea of having a versatile player of Carbery’s talents back and in to replace him.

“Listen, we move forward, a lot of things have happened since then, but if you think of Joey’s last season with us, Leinster won the double so he was obviously doing something alright that season anyway. It’s a long time ago now.

“The experience he has comes into play. We’ll see how it plays out, nothing to be confirmed yet anyway.” 

Carbery would provide competition for Sam Prendergast and Harry Byrne at No.10 with the latter expected to extend his time with the club beyond the end of a current contract that finishes this summer.

But the 30-year old Athy man would also be an option at full-back where he played much of his rugby during his first stint with Leinster. The question is where Cullen and the Leinster brains trust see him fitting in best and most.

“Well, with Ciarán going to Connacht, everyone is asking that same question. So when you’re in a squad, sometimes you need to have that flexibility and do what’s right for the time.

“Ciarán is playing 15 for us this weekend and making the trip west next season. But the here and now is what interests me in terms of that conversation, it is all speculation.” 

The Leinster boss also confirmed that injuries have kept Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe out of the squad for Saturday’s Champions Cup visit of La Rochelle to Dublin. Porter’s issue flared up late this week.

Hugo Keenan, out with a hip issue since the British and Irish Lions tour, is back playing some rugby in training this week. Garry Ringrose and RG Snyman are also approaching full fitness again after recent injuries.