ALL SYSTEMS LOWE
Blues ace James is ‘delighted’ to sign a contract extension
JAMES LOWE has signed a new deal with Leinster that will keep him there up to the next World Cup in 2023.
Kiwi Lowe was one of 28 players announced by the province last week as having agreed fresh deals for 2020/21.
“Excited to be staying in Dublin for another three years”, he tweeted from New Zealand yesterday.
The former Maori All Black will be eligible to play for Ireland in early November as one of the last players to qualify under the three-year esidency rule that has now been changed to five years.
The exciting winger joined the province in 2017 and has scored 28 tries in 43 starts.
Leinster have not yet confirmed when he is due to return but he won’t be a long-term absentee from their UCD base.
The 27-year-old will have to quarantine for two weeks when he returns to Ireland ahead of Leinster’s return to action against Munster in the Guinness PRO14 on August 22.
Lowe played an important part in Leinster’s Champions Cup triumph in 2018 and the Blues hugely benefited from his availability during Test windows over the past three years.
The province will lose that now as Andy Farrell is certain to promote him straight into his Ireland plans.
But, speaking in April, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen insisted Lowe’s move to the Test arena won’t damage the province.
“It’s kind of like you gain an international player when they come back, that would be the hope,” said Cullen. “Plus, then you gain the opportunity for someone else to represent Leinster. That’s another chance to grow competition and depth.
“If James becomes qualified and was selected it would be a fantastic honour for him. But it would also be a fantastic honour for all at the club.”
Leinster wll face Saracens in the Champions Cup quarter-finals on September 5 at the Aviva Stadium and the defending champs are boosted by the availability of club skipper Brad Barritt for the clash.
The experienced centre has agreed a short-term contract extension until the end of the season.
Barritt’s England colleagues Owen
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Farrell, Maro Itoje, Mako and Billy Vunipola, Elliot Daly and Jamie George had already committed to staying after the club’s relegation due to salary cap breaches.
Last week veteran No.9 Richard Wigglesworth also agreed to stay until the end of the season.
Director of Rugby Mark Mccall is hopeful that Japanbound Alex Goode and George Kruis will be available as their moves to the Far East may be delayed until after the Champions Cup.
However, he has lost a number of top players ahead of the last eight tie with Liam Williams, Will Skelton, Matt Gallagher (to Munster), Ben Spencer and Titi Lamositele all departing the club on a permanent basis.