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Furlong signs long-term deal just months after 1-year offer agreed

(Photo by PA)

The contracting pandemic appears to be officially over at the IRFU as they have convinced Tadhg Furlong, the world-class Ireland and Leinster tighthead, to sign a three-year contract extension through to summer 2025 just months after he curiously agreed to just a one-year deal for the 2021/22 season.  

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It was just six months ago, on May 10 to be precise, that the IRFU finally announced they had agreed that one-year extension with Furlong, ending fears that the lack of post-pandemic cash could have resulted in one of their greatest talents of the modern era quitting Leinster and switching to an overseas club to properly cash in on his market value.  

Furlong had been sidelined for quite a long time with an injury before making his return for the 2021 Six Nations. He has since gone on to be the starting Lions tighthead for their three-game series versus the Springboks and is just fresh from helping Ireland to a successful Autumn Nations Series where they defeated Japan, the All Blacks and Argentina. 

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      “November was a really positive block for the Ireland squad and it was great to have supporters back in the stadium,” said Furlong in a quote via an IRFU media statement where the prop bizarrely made no reference at all to his new deal. “Ireland and Leinster have started the season well and both squads will be aiming for silverware again this season.”

      IRFU performance director David Nucifora did add: “Tadhg has again illustrated his pedigree as one of the best tightheads in world rugby. His performances for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions in the past year have been top drawer and we are delighted that he has extended his contract to the end of the 2024/25 season.”

      Furlong’s appearance versus the Japanese was the 29-year-old 50th cap for Ireland having made a debut in the lead-up to the 2015 World Cup. He has also played 116 times for Leinster. When Furlong signed his long-delayed one-year extension in May, Nucifora said at the time: “Tadhg was a long time out of the game.

      “But he showed upon his return what a positive influence he can be for both Ireland and Leinster. He has grown as a senior voice in the Ireland squad and his recent performances reminded everyone why he is rated as one of the best tightheads in world rugby.”

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      C
      CO 1 hour ago
      Whose ship has sailed before the first All Blacks squad?

      Based on last weekend there should be no Hurricanes loose forwards in the mix, they all seemed poor with the Brumbies once again fantastic at playing and executing as a team. The Hurricanes were also poor in the halves with the ten invisible and Cam Roigard trying to play up tempo, Helter skelter rugby which is what the Brumbies wanted.


      Roigards passing was telegraphic with his running game and sniping non existent, Ratima also appears to be getting metronomic, devoid of flair and his ten went invisible as well.


      If you can't step up at finals then you need to be punished, yes the blues were poor at times this season but they were right on either the last two games when it really matters.


      CWL is a bit larger but both him and Lakai are down on size for an eight and aren't freaks like Savea. Sotutu has to be in the mix and Dalton, but only if they front this Friday night.


      However six is an ongoing issue, Josh Beehre could be an answer to the lack of height in the loose forwards at Allblacks level, his driving try to ice the contest through a decent Chiefs pack was raw determination even with support.


      As for the previous try being ruled out on the flimsiest of technicalities that highlighted everything wrong with the TMO, it wasn't ‘rabbiting’, his knees dropped one after the other and he then brought his shoulders forward to extend and score, big guys can do that, that's why Sotutu has to be in the mix.


      Sititi looked short of a gallop and the Chiefs might be acting a bit too cute with their bench, the coach is saying all the right things but he's in the departure lounge and the signs are there that the Chiefs expected to be the best team in finals simply because they had the best bench.


      They're now under the pump and the winner of this year's super final will almost certainly be whoever wins this Friday in Christchurch.

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