DEALS FOR TONER AND LEAVY
HEAD coach Leo Cullen hailed the importance of Leinster’s contract activity after Devin Toner and Dan Leavy rounded off a busy week by committing to the Pro14 champions for next season. The Dubliners have dished out 17 new deals recently, with Jack Conan, Hugo Keenan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath and Sean Cronin among them. The number also includes three players promoted from the academy. Prop Michael Alaalatoa has additionally been signed from Crusaders, while scrum-half Nick McCarthy will return to the RDS Arena after two years with Munster. Veteran second-row Toner, who this season surpassed Gordon D’Arcy’s Leinster appearance record, joined Ronan Kelleher, Dan Leavy and Jimmy O’Brien in becoming the latest players to sign up to Cullen’s squad for next term on Friday, while Johnny Sexton and Cian Healy extended their IRFU contracts last month. Reflecting on the week, Cullen told the province’s official website: ‘We look forward to welcoming Michael and Nick in the coming months and to have retained 17 players, 16 of whom came through our academy system, is a huge boost for everyone as we look forward to next season and hopefully supporters being back at the RDS Arena. ‘That 16 players came through the Leinster Rugby player pathway is a testament to the hard work that underpins our identity as a club and I’d like to acknowledge the role of our clubs and our schools in the players’ development. ‘We have much to do still this season but announcements like these are important as we plan for the future.’