Sean O'Brien signs 2 year central contract

              

For our non Irish posters. It's wall to wall here on the radio etc.

Street parties planned all over the country


16 JANUARY 2014

THE IRFU have won the battle for Sean O’Brien’s signature after a protracted series of negotiations ended this morning in the Tullow native signing a new deal.

Despite strong interest from several French clubs including Toulon, the 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a contract that Independent.ie understands will keep him with Leinster until 2016.

O’Brien visited the European champions last weekend, taking in their game against Cardiff Blues in Nice but a fresh offer from the union made yesterday has persuaded him to remain in Ireland.

The agreement represents a significant coup for the IRFU who are still in negotiations with Jamie Heaslip, Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls.

Heaslip has also spoken to Toulon about a move and it remains to be seen what impact the O’Brien deal has on his future with the mega-rich French club targeting an international class back-row forward for next season.

O’Brien is currently recuperating from shoulder surgery and will miss this year’s Six Nations, but the 26-year-old’s decision to stay is a major boost to Joe Schmidt’s long-term hopes while it will also come as a major relief to Leinster fans who feared he would follow Jonathan Sexton to France.

Ruaidhri O’Connor

http://www.independent.ie/sport/sean-ob ... 22138.html

Must have failed the medical.....

rodders wrote:Must have failed the medical.....

  

That's 2 extra dunts on Ulster players from him in April.

Only messing Jen - great news.... for me O'Brien is one of best back rowers in world rugby and the best player in Ireland in any position. He needs to be managed well though or he'll end up like Ferris or Leamy.

He's too physical for his own good and the Top14 would be a bad move for him in the long term I think.

After a sh1te day yesterday, the spirits lifted this morning when I hears the tank would be staying in Tullow and foresaking comic book guy's Toulon. I'm sure that Boujellal offered more money than the IRFU have agreed with SOB but always felt he was much less likely than Heaslip to move abroad - for a load of reasons - workload, farming, links with Tullow. Hope that gives our boys a further lift ahead of the hairsprays tomorrow night and give the Carlow GAA team a lift now that their assistant trainer is staying on.
 

After a sh1te day yesterday, the spirits lifted this morning when I hears the tank would be staying in Tullow and foresaking comic book guy's Toulon. I'm sure that Boujellal offered more money than the IRFU have agreed with SOB but always felt he was much less likely than Heaslip to move abroad - for a load of reasons - workload, farming, links with Tullow. Hope that gives our boys a further lift ahead of the hairsprays tomorrow night and give the Carlow GAA team a lift now that their assistant trainer is staying on.
 

That seems to be the consensus Rodders. Also he gets lonely away from Tullow. Only about 75k (That's 45 miles for you old fashioned folk) away from the RDS.

Excellent news for Ireland and for the sport.

Great news (though I never actually thought he would go). Just couldn't see him playing and living in France just now. Maybe if he had a wife and kids.

ROG is a gas man - he has no problem telling people to stay at home (Sean and Conor Murray) - that must go down well with Racing! In contrast, Jackman was saying that he'd be grand over there.

I think Heaslip should go though - nice for him to get some of that TV cash for a big nest egg and he wouldn't be missed so much by Leinster as Sean.

Delighted is not even the word! Watching SOB in 2011 is one of the reasons I started following Leinster week in week out. I really thought he was gone!

Sin é wrote:Great news (though I never actually thought he would go). Just couldn't see him playing and living in France just now. Maybe if he had a wife and kids.

ROG is a gas man - he has no problem telling people to stay at home (Sean and Conor Murray) - that must go down well with Racing! In contrast, Jackman was saying that he'd be grand over there.

I think Heaslip should go though - nice for him to get some of that TV cash for a big nest egg and he wouldn't be missed so much by Leinster as Sean.

There's a focking shocker    Call the daily mail now!

 

Is Heaslip the only other player with on going negotiations?

This was so important for Leinster - who would have replaced him?
26-29 will be his best years - whatever they paid for him, it was worth it.

Nice to see the Jellybaby not getting everything he wants, all of the time.

Golden wrote: 

Is Heaslip the only other player with on going negotiations?

I think Earls and POC have yet to sign
No one yet to sign at Ulster

Wonder does this make SOB the highest paid Irish player. Presume even if Heaslip stays hell be taking a pay cut.

Is Cullen off at the end of the season? Or has he decided yet?

Great news for Ireland and Leinster.  There is going to be a great atmosphere at the game tomorrow with this news buzzing around the stands.

Golden wrote:Is Cullen off at the end of the season? Or has he decided yet?

Yes. He is forwards coach next year. I have seen nothing to confirm or deny that he would not tog out in a crisis, but I think retirement is the plan.

Heaslip is the only other centrally contracted Leinster player not to announce re signing.

Dave Kearney. Rhys Ruddock. Martin Moore. Are a few young and important players whose contracts are up.

Shane Jennings. Gordon D'Arcy. Isaac Boss. Eoin Reddan. Are the important over 30s who need to be resigned. Jennings probably the only one who would get longer than 1 year. The other 3 will probably want to go on until the world cup.

Several of these could already be signed but not announced. Leinster like to do them all at once.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Golden wrote:Is Cullen off at the end of the season? Or has he decided yet?

Yes. He is forwards coach next year. I have seen nothing to confirm or deny that he would not tog out in a crisis, but I think retirement is the plan.

Heaslip is the only other centrally contracted Leinster player not to announce re signing.

Dave Kearney. Rhys Ruddock. Martin Moore. Are a few young and important players whose contracts are up.

Shane Jennings. Gordon D'Arcy. Isaac Boss. Eoin Reddan. Are the important over 30s who need to be resigned. Jennings probably the only one who would get longer than 1 year. The other 3 will probably want to go on until the world cup.

Several of these could already be signed but not announced. Leinster like to do them all at once.

Jack McGrath is another who is out of contract but both he and Moore have announced that they are staying although not officially confirmed yet.

Jack McGrath is already signed until 2015. (2 year deal last year) The reason he spoke out was because there were rumours he was going to replace Tom Court in Ulster.
As I said. Several of the names have (allegedly) already signed. Not just Moore.

fantastic news! was worried all the money and foxy french chicks might turn seans head!

Well done Leinster/IRFU, glad the greedy b@stards didn't get him.

Great player and glad he is staying in the pro 12   

Will have to dust off the cheezy Sean O'Brien songs for tomorrow night.

Rumour* has it they gave him a set of keys to a pimped out ride as part of the deal, his very own lamborghini mach vrt!



*this is a baseless rumour - like many read on v2

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Rumour* has it they gave him a set of keys to a pimped out ride as part of the deal, his very own lamborghini mach vrt!



*this is a baseless rumour - like many read on v2

Spoiler:

 

Mickado wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Rumour* has it they gave him a set of keys to a pimped out ride as part of the deal, his very own lamborghini mach vrt!



*this is a baseless rumour - like many read on v2

Spoiler:

 

That thing must be rolling on 24" alloys. The ride, the handling, the power! Absolutely epic.