Nucifora: Rob deal so close

IRFU bosses claim they are “very, very close” to agreeing a new contract with Rob Kearney, who will be a free agent after the World Cup.

Kearney’s

14-year association with Leinster appeared to be under threat after his commercial manager David Mchugh was quoted midweek as saying the IRFU’S offer ‘is well below where it needs to be... we are struggling to get it to a point where it makes sense for him’.

The 33-year-old fullback has also been linked with a move to France but IRFU performance director David Nucifora dismissed the comments.

“We’re still talking with Rob,” said Nucifora

(inset). “I see there was a little flutter of interest (in the media) but our conversations with Rob have been for quite a while, and we’d be more than happy for Rob to stay.

“I haven’t dealt with that fellow who was his agent (Mchugh).

“I’ve never had a conversation with him, so I don’t really know where he came into it. I didn’t realise he was Rob’s agent.

“The conversations I’ve had are pretty much on the same page and I’d suggest that we’re very, very close and we’re sorting out a few things at the moment.

“So we’ll see where we get to, but I’d be hopeful.

“He’s been a great contributor but we also have to look to the future as well and where does that sit, and unfortunately in this business, things have a value as well.

“You’ve got to try and make those things align and if we can all agree on what that is and what the future looks like and what the values are then we usually come to a deal.”