Bok star on Leinster list
Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:48
Magners League champions Leinster have revealed a double scoop on Thursday when they added the name of World Cup-winning Springbok prop CJ van der Linde to that of Wallaby flank Rocky Elsom as their new recruits.
Leinster coach Michael Cheika on Thursday revealed his senior squad for the coming season and confirmed that they had signed two of world rugby's outstanding stars - Van der Linde and Elsom.
Both have agreed deals with the Irish province that will see them join up with the squad upon the completion of their international commitments.
Confirmation of Van der Linde's name on the Leinster list of new signings follows the stir that the burly prop caused in the Springbok camp on the eve of the Test against Italy, at Newlands last Saturday - when he approached the South African team's management with the lucrative offer he had received from the Irish outfit.
The burly front row forward, who played in his 50th Test at the weekend, had been told that any "negotiations" must be put on ice till next month.
However, Leinster said he had already signed a three-year deal.
Other new signings for Leinster include Ireland 'A' hooker John Fogarty, who joins from Connacht, and versatile scrumhalf/wing Simon Keogh, who also returns to the province of his birth after a five-year spell with the Harlequins.
Both have signed two-year deals.
An obviously delighted Leinster coach, Cheika, said he was "pleased" with the recruitment process that has been put in place over the last few months.
"That players of the calibre of CJ [van der Linde], Rocky [Elsom] and Isa Nacewa have decided to move is good news for our team and they will add to the competitiveness of our squad," Cheika said.
"All three are young, hungry and gifted internationals who are determined to succeed.
"In John Fogarty and Simon Keogh we have recruited players of outstanding experience who
are familiar with Irish rugby and I am sure that they will also be relishing the opportunity of a new and exciting challenge. I am delighted to welcome all our new players and wish them well for the new campaign. As a squad, we are all determined to push on and become more consistent in our ambitions in both the Magners League and the Heineken Cup."
In addition to the arrivals, rising Academy stars Eoin O'Malley and Sean O'Brien have also signed professional contracts to join another, Fergus McFadden, who made the senior breakthrough last year.
They will hope to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney, Jonathan Sexton, Jamie Heaslip, Devin Toner and Cian Healy who have all made the step up to the senior squad in recent years.
Meanwhile, Leinster also confirmed their pre-season schedule ahead of the start of the Magners League and Heineken Cup campaigns - which includes fixtures away to Padova (August 20) and Benetton
Treviso (August 23) as part of a week long Italian training camp.
Leinster will then play a home game in Donnybrook against Super 14 outfit the Reds (either on August 29 or 30).
The Magners League champions also expect to fill the forwards coaching vacancy within the next fortnight.
Leinster squad:
Backs: Girvan Dempsey, Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Isa Nacewa (from the Blues), Shane Horgan, Gary Brown, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Eoin O'Malley, Fergus McFadden, Jonathan Sexton, Felipe Contepomi, Simon Keogh (Harlequins), Chris Whitaker, Chris Keane.
Forwards: Stan Wright, Stephen Knoop, Ronan McCormack, CJ Van Der Linde (Cheetahs/South Africa), Cian Healy, Bernard Jackman, John Fogarty (Connacht), Brian Blaney, Malcolm O'Kelly, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Trevor Hogan, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, Kevin McLaughlin, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien, Shane Jennings,
Rocky Elsom (Waratahs/Australia).
