Leinster to lose two players to Connacht - report

Leinster are set to lose two players to provincial rivals Connacht - according to reports.

According to former Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman speaking to The42.ie, Ireland winger Adam Byrne and loosehead prop Peter Dooley are set to swap the blue of Leinster for the green of their Western rivals.

Byrne - the higher profile of the pair - this season battled back from a near two-year injury absence from the sport. It was only last October that Byrne made his return after a number of significant injuries, playing his first game for Leinster since December 2019 when he started against Munster.

The fleet-footed winger will be hoping for more game time and a chance to add to his sole Ireland cap which came in 2017. Such was Byrne form for Leinster that year, that Will Greenwood named him as a potential British & Irish Lions bolter.

The 6'3, 98kg winger has scored 24 tries in 63 appearances for the province.

Meanwhile, Offaly native Peter Dooley is also apparently heading west. A concerted No.8 Dooley has made 99 appearances for the province, scoring 5 tries in the process.

A provincial stalwart,  the 6', 118kg front-rower made his debut in 2014 for Leinster and has featured regularly in the United Rugby Championship for the RDS-based side.

The pair's move, should both go ahead, will have been sanctioned by IRFU performance director David Nucifora, Irish rugby head of recruitment and player resources.