Rumour Mill

[cormac]

New 3-year deal for Seanie

[jezzer]

This would have been really big news back when he played games for us.

[COYBIB]

Sweet! Can't wait for him train with us between team Ireland games!

[cormac]

This would have been really big news back when he played games for us.

His agent is clearly very good at his job.

[Golf Man]

Just out of interest how is this viewed by Leinster fans => is this too much of a commitment to a guy with his injury profile and relative drop in form (relative to his heyday). Bound to be on big money so will have an impact elsewhere

[Logorrhea]

Great news. Quality player, needs to get himself fixed.

[The Doc]

Just out of interest how is this viewed by Leinster fans => is this too much of a commitment to a guy with his injury profile and relative drop in form (relative to his heyday). Bound to be on big money so will have an impact elsewhere

Not unlike many of the returned World Cup squad, he looks jaded - injuries as well. SOB along with a number of them look like they have peaked a few months ago. I would think we see some of the younger guys playin - not just to give some players a rest but becasue the younger guys look in better form right now. Don't think it's just Leinster btw - but we obviously had a chunk of players affected.

But I don't think you make a long term call based on short term "form". I assume they have the medical information when offering a 3 year deal. Though I guess there is also some consideration given to the fact that he could be in worse shape if he was playing outside Ireland

[riocard911]

Great news. Quality player, needs to get himself fixed.

Agree totally. Marquee signing. We're lucky to have him. Plus he's one of our own!!!!!

[goreyguy]

Just out of interest how is this viewed by Leinster fans => is this too much of a commitment to a guy with his injury profile and relative drop in form (relative to his heyday). Bound to be on big money so will have an impact elsewhere

central contract so the irfu are paying up, so don't care how much they are paying him. glad he is sticking around.

[Peg Leg]

New 3-year deal for Seanie

Coach or player?

[Golf Man]

Would be naïve to think that because he is on a central contract that that won't have an affect on other Leinster options/budgets, contract negotiations etc

Quick check - SOB has played 27 times for |Leinster in the last 3 .5 years - Heaslip, Murphy, Ruddock, Ryan, McLaughlin, Jennings have all played substantially more than him - Conan actually has more appearances in the last 3.5 years

Tough one to argue but p[layers have been held onto too long before

[jezzer]

Just out of interest how is this viewed by Leinster fans => is this too much of a commitment to a guy with his injury profile and relative drop in form (relative to his heyday). Bound to be on big money so will have an impact elsewhere

?? It's not our money - it's the IRFU's.

[All Blacks nil]

Surprised by the negative reaction to this news. COYBIB, Jezzer, Cormac - Why would anyone have any qualms about Sean O'Brien signing on for another three years?
You can send him down here if you are fed up with him.
Bizarre.

[simonokeeffe]

He was never going to leave this time and IRFU were never going to let him go

He needs the summer off or failing that a match winning try in Thomond or Twickenham to restart his mojo

[fourthirtythree]

Just out of interest how is this viewed by Leinster fans => is this too much of a commitment to a guy with his injury profile and relative drop in form (relative to his heyday). Bound to be on big money so will have an impact elsewhere

?? It's not our money - it's the IRFU's.

He's an Ireland player, pure and simple, he gets let play for Leinster to keep him fit. Sometimes. Like BODs last year, any play for Leinster was a bonus if it happened. They didn't really care

Happened with OConnell at Munster too...

[COYBIB]

Just out of interest how is this viewed by Leinster fans => is this too much of a commitment to a guy with his injury profile and relative drop in form (relative to his heyday). Bound to be on big money so will have an impact elsewhere

?? It's not our money - it's the IRFU's.

It doesn't work like that. I think if 75% of central contract money is tied up in your province, you get signings like Triggs whilst others get Saili and Pienaar. The wage bill isn't taken in separation, like having players on Irish contract are players off your books, if anything it cripples your spending power - as the IRFU control everything and justify no signings by keeping your players.

[maps]

Sweet! Can't wait for him train with us between team Ireland games!

This is exactly the point. If the IRFU are going to prevent us from signing players that we need then they could at least let the centrally contracted players actually play for us more than a handful of times a year

[Peg Leg]

Come on lads change the tune, it's the PRL's fault not the IRFU.

[neiliog93]

If he can stay fit (big 'if'), we'll still have him for all the most important games of the season and by staying in Ireland he'll be well-rested, boosting his short-term performances for both Leinster and Ireland and his career longevity. Much less fussing around than before his last renewal, I think his age and injury profile meant he knew he couldn't dick the IRFU around and there might have been less interest from France.

[hugonaut]

This would have been really big news back when he played games for us.

Haha! Pretty much exactly what I was thinking.