The Leinster squad is so stacked right now that they could head into 2018/19 without bringing in outside replacements for Isa Nacewa, Jordi Murphy, Richardt Strauss and Jamie Heaslip and still do well.
The Leinster production line has spewed out some serious gems over the past few seasons and many of them have taken steps into Test rugby without the merest of flinches.
Heaslip has already announced his retirement but the end of the season will see Nacewa, Strauss and Murphy depart, as well as Cathal Marsh and Peadar Timmins.
Nacewa will be missed when he departs the province for the second and final time, this summer, but Leinster can still boast some serious backline talent. Aside from their half backs, they have:
- Joey Carbery
- Tom Daly
- Robbie Henshaw
- Rory O’Loughlin
- Noel Reid
- Garry Ringrose
- Adam Byrne
- Barry Daly
- David Kearney
- James Lowe
- Fergus McFadden
- Rob Kearney
- Jordan Larmour
The recent IRFU intervention may yet see Joey Carbery or Ross Byrne head to Ulster. Leinster’s other issue is that eight of those players listed above regularly get called up for Ireland duty. Given that the PRO14 rumbles on in November, February and March, Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster would surely not be averse to a versatile back that does not have to deal with Test call-ups.
Step forward Joe Tomane.
The 28-year-old made his name as a flying winger for Brumbies and Australia before heading up to Montpellier in 2016. Tomane has been with the French outfit for two seasons and came up against Leinster twice in this season’s Champions Cup pool stages.
Tomane can also play in midfield so he would be a handy addition to the Blues, especially if the likes of Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw and Fergus McFadden are called up for Ireland duty.
SportsJOE understands the Kiwi-born star was being shopped around and that Leinster are top of his list should he move on. He would be taking a step down with his salary in comparison to Top 14 rates but that is not said to be a major stumbling block.
When contacted, a spokesperson for Leinster says the province are not actively seeking to bring in a foreign replacement for the retiring Nacewa.
The province are set to announce their contract renewals before the end of the season and most of their senior contracts are set to go to advanced academy players, such as Josh Murphy and Ciaran Frawley.
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