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Released Leinster forward is set for an Italian job
By Online Editors
Leinster’s Mick Kearney has become the latest seasoned signing by Michael Bradley’s Zebre. The second row is due in Parma on June 10 to begin life in Italy following a career in Ireland where he also lined out for Connacht.
Kearney featured in 16 of Leinster’s 21 regular season PRO14 games before the club moved onto the play-offs and annexed the title with last Saturday’s Celtic Park win over Glasgow.
He will become the second lock released by Leinster to sign for Zebre as Bradley last week captured Ian Nagle, the second row who spent most of last term on loan at Ulster before his contract in Dublin elapsed.
“I'm thrilled to be part of Zebre and I will try to do my best to help the club achieve its goals on and off the field for the future. In recent years, Zebre have played a very attractive and purposeful brand of rugby. I hope I can give my contribution to better develop this game plan.”
Zebre team boss Andrea de Rossi said: "We welcome a ball carrier with great experience and leadership. We have been facilitated in recruiting him thanks to the direct knowledge of our head coach Michael Bradley. Kearney is a second row very similar to David Sisi and that will give important alternatives.
"Kearney is the last of the five experienced foreigners we have announced in the 2019/20 squad. The objectives of our market strategy were three-fold.
“First, to increase the competitiveness of the squad in the quality of the training sessions and in the results on the field in this season with the World Cup.
“Second, to lower the period of the most used athletes last season, guaranteeing everyone a better recovery to maximise their performances.
“Finally, inserting many young people in a positive and structured context. We have always operated in the market while respecting our budget: we are all confident that we have built a balanced and quality squad.”
WATCH: The RugbyPass behind the scenes documentary on Zebre's preparations for the 2018/19 season
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Latest Comments
Steve Borthwick appointment was misguided based on two flawed premises.
1. An overblown sense of the quality of the premiership rugby. The gap between the Premiership and Test rugby is enormous
2. England needed an English coach who understood English Rugby and it's traditional strengths.
SB won the premiership and was an England forward and did a great job with the Japanese forwards but neither of those qualify you as a tier 1 test manager.
Maybe Felix Jones and Aled Walter's departures are down to the fact that SB is a details man, which work at club level but at test level you need the manager to manage and let the coaches get on and do what they are employed for.
SB criticism of players is straight out of Eddie Jones playbook but his loyalty to keeping out of form players borne out of his perceived sense of betrayal as a player.
In all it doesn't stack up as the qualities needed to be a modern Test coach /Manager
Go to commentsBut still Australians. Only Australia can help itself seems to be the key message.
Blaming Kiwis is deflecting from the actual problem.
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