Leo Cullen signs new Leinster deal

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has signed a new deal with the IRFU, extending his stay with the club to 2027.

The former Ireland lock has guided Leinster to an unbeaten start to the United Rugby Championship this season alongside Jacques Nienaber.

Since becoming head coach in 2015, Cullen has led the province to five Champions Cup finals, winning in 2018, as well as winning four consecutive Pro14 titles. The URC title has thus far eluded him.

After losing the last three European finals, Leinster Rugby CEO Shane Nolan believes "no one feels that hurt more than Leo".

In their quest for a first URC title (under its new iteration) and the taste of European glory again, Cullen has had his squad bolstered this season with the arrival of South African RG Snyman and the imminent arrival of the All Blacks' Jordie Barrett.

"I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to continue in my role as head coach of Leinster Rugby," Cullen said to leinsterrugby.ie.

"I’d like to thank Shane Nolan and Guy Easterby of Leinster Rugby and David Humphreys of the IRFU who have all been involved throughout this process.

"We are lucky to have a fantastic group of players and staff here at Leinster who I enjoy going to work with every day. Everyone in the group is focused on working hard, maximising our potential and making our families, friends and supporters proud of what we do on the pitch. I’m really excited by what the future holds for us.

"Finally, a special thanks to my wife Dairine and my own family for their continued support and for all the sacrifices they make for me."

Nolan added: “Leinster Rugby has won five trophies under Leo’s direction, making him the club’s most successful coach. Nearly 100 players have made their debuts under him, the vast majority of whom come through our pathway.

“Yes, we have come up short in the last three years and while we are very conscious of that fact, my remit and that of the club in making a head coach appointment, is to also look beyond that.

“We are consistently competing in finals year after year, we continue to develop exciting homegrown talent from our pathways, and when we do look externally for coaching or player recruitment, we continue to attract the highest calibre of talent to our club who are excited to work with Leo."