Keith Earls, named by his peers last night as Zurich’s Irish player of the year, is aiming to cap a memorable season by accounting for Leinster’s European champions and claiming a first trophy for Munster since 2011. “The team is the ultimate, but the year that’s in it, with the success in Ireland this year, it’s great to be recognised by your fellow players,” said Earls at the annual Rugby Players Ireland ceremony in Dublin last night. In my eyes, Conor, Johnny, and Tadhg are probably the three best players, genuinely, in the world in their position. However, Leinster opt against revealing the length of individual contracts and there were no timeframes again with yesterday’s disclosure. Rob Kearney and Tadhg Furlong were already secured for another period on central IRFU contracts earlier this season.

Source: Irish Examiner May 16, 2018 23:03 UTC