The IRFU have confirmed that Keith Earls and Denis Leamy have both agreed new contracts that will see them continue playing with Munster for a further two years. The pair have both agreed extensions to their central contracts, which will see them continue playing for their native province until 2014. Leamy is currently recovering from a hip injury, but Earls returned to training with the Ireland squad this afternoon after he missed Sunday’s defeat to Wales. Earls made his international debut against Canada in Thomond Park in 2008, scoring a try to mark the occasion. He has represented his home province on 66 occasions, scoring 21 tries and was one of 14 Irish players originally selected in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa in 2009, playing five times during the tour. He was selected in the 30 man Ireland squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, playing a part in all five games and scoring five tries in the tournament. Denis Leamy has been a stalwart of both Munster and Ireland for a number of seasons, bursting onto the scene as a 20-year-old when making his debut for Munster in 2002. He continued his rise through the representative ranks with Munster and Ireland, before making his full debut against the USA in Lansdowne Road in 2004. He was a member of both Munster Heineken Cup winning teams in 2006 and 2008 and was also part of the Ireland grand slam winning team as well as taking part in both the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup tournaments. Leamy, who is currently recovering from surgery on a hip injury said: “I’m delighted that my contract has been sorted and that I can concentrate on getting back on the field as soon as possible. I’ve achieved a lot in my career, winning the six nations as well as Heineken and Magners league titles, but there is always the desire to try to continue that and achieve even more. It also makes it more pleasing to do that with Munster and to remain here in Ireland with my home province.” Earls added: “I’m excited about getting back in with the Ireland squad this week and hopefully getting the chance to play against France this weekend in the tournament (Six Nations). I’m really happy to get my contract completed as well. Munster has been my only home as a player and growing up only a few hundred yards from Thomond Park, it was always a dream to play for them and to represent Ireland, so I’m delighted to remain a Munster player.”
Keith Earls celebrated his return to the Ireland set-up by signing his new contract ©INPHO
