In a timely reminder to Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, who had omitted the Ulster flier from his Irish Six Nations squad, Craig Gilroy scored a try of consummate class in Ulster’s victory over Scarlets last Friday evening.

Picking up the ball just inside Scarlets half, Gilroy started a virtuoso run of epic proportions-sh0wing the grace of a ballerina as he scythed through five attempted tackles- before scoring in the corner.

Score tries like that more consistently, and Joe Schmidt won’t be able to ignore Gilroy anymore.

Youtube Credit: The UAFC

Del.icio.us

Facebook

TweetThis

Digg

StumbleUpon

Youtube Credit: Pro12Rugby

Del.icio.us

Facebook

TweetThis

Digg

StumbleUpon

Youtube Credit: Pro12Rugby

Del.icio.us

Facebook

TweetThis

Digg

StumbleUpon

Youtube Credit: Pro12 Rugby

Del.icio.us

Facebook

TweetThis

Digg

StumbleUpon

After weeks of conjecture, it was today confirmed that Jonathan Sexton will return to his former club, Leinster, at the end of the current campaign.

After a year in France with Racing Metro, Sexton has decided the time was right for a return home and the news will surely delight both Michael O’Connor and Joe Schmidt, his coaches at Leinster and Ireland respectively, as well as the Irish Rugby Football Union who will be delighted that one of their most prized assets will be under their watch in the build up to the Rugby World Cup.

The news was broken by the Irish Independents Rugby correspondent, Ruaidhri O’Connor, and was soon followed by a statement from the Irishman’s current club, Racing Metro’s president, Jackie Lorenzetti.

Rumours were abound that Sexton was the subject of a mouth watering lucrative contract offer from Toulon, but, unusually, the French giants haven’t gotten their man.

Del.icio.us

Facebook

TweetThis

Digg

StumbleUpon

According to reports in this morning’s Irish Independent, Lions and Irish fly half Jonathan Sexton will return to Leinster Rugby on a four year deal from next season.

Given that Sexton has opted for a return to Leinster Blue represents a significant coup for the RDS based side, given Racing  Metro’s intent to renew his current deal and mooted interest from Toulon who were supposedly keen on offering the Irishman a €900,000 per-annum contract to replace English legend Jonny Wilkinson.

Naturally, Irish coach Joe Schmidt, who knows Sexton from their time together at Leinster and, indeed, Ireland, will be delighted at the impending return of the fly half. Sexton returning to Ireland, means he will be an IRFU employee and will be part of the Irish Player management scheme, which should see him rested and primed in advance of the 2015 World Cup.

The French Top 14 is a grueling schedule and had Sexton remained at Racing he wouldn’t be afforded the same rest and recuperation periods that Irish international players receive as part of their contracts.

Sexton signed a two year contract with the Parisians in 2013 with an option of a third year after protracted negotiations with the IRFU broke down.

Together, Schmidt and Sexton have won several trophies at both Leinster and Ireland, and both men will hope that their partnership bares even more fruit from 2015 onwards.

Article Source: Irish Independent

Del.icio.us

Facebook

TweetThis

Digg

StumbleUpon