EXCLUSIVE: O'Brien set for big money move to London Irish
London Irish have not been afraid to throw the cash around this season, with the Greene King IPA Championship leaders already having secured the signings of three players for the 2019/20 season.
The Exiles, who lead the Championship by nine points from second-placed Ealing Trailfinders, have had their coffers boosted by the recent CVC Capital investment, whilst their ability to wrap up deals has been bolstered by their healthy league position, which has them as favourites to gain promotion to the Gallagher Premiership later this year.
Australian duo Nick Phipps and Curtis Rona have already agreed to deals with the club, whilst Scotland international and British and Irish Lion Allan Dell has also committed to terms.
The latest player to be linked with the club is none other than Leinster and Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien, with RugbyPass understanding that the London-based club are ready to offer O'Brien a three-year deal, with a salary of £450k, as they look to re-establish themselves in the Premiership in 2019/20.
O'Brien, 31, has had his fair share of injuries in recent years, but he brings the kind of ability as a ball-carrier and contact area specialist that Irish are keen to add, with the bottom half of the Premiership in particular more competitive than ever.
The versatile back rower has amassed 53 caps for Ireland in a 10-year international career and with the Carlow-born forward set to turn 32 later this month, he could be eyeing up a post-Rugby World Cup move away from Ireland, with the likes of Dan Leavy, Josh van der Flier and Scott Penny set to duke it out for the Irish seven jersey over the next RWC cycle.
Injuries have so far limited O'Brien to just six appearances for Leinster this season, something which could also factor into his post-RWC planning, as he looks to prepare for a life after rugby.
The Championship club have also been linked with big money moves for Steve Mafi, Adam Coleman and Waisake Naholo, with director of rugby Declan Kidney seemingly unafraid of opening the purse strings and investing heavily in the playing squad at Hazelwood.
Watch: Ireland press conference ahead of their trip to BT Murrayfield to take on Scotland
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Come on, it's an open secret in world rugby that there's a steroid problem in Sth African rugby. That infamous photo of the Syringeboks with their jerseys off says it all.
Go to commentsThat absolute BS, when did you come up with this idea?
All three were well on track to being All Blacks. They simply decided it was smarter to take the money right now rather than slog on for another 3 or 4 years waiting for their opportunity to line up.
Many AB quality players have not even got the chance to earn a cap for heavens sake, it is simply as you suggest elsewhere, better utilization of global talent to have them qualify for another nation.
The only problem is that the ABs get all the best players, mostly because they pay more, and the island nations, even the home nations, just get those that can't make it or want a bit more limelight.
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