Leinster flanker Seán O’Brien is expected to join London Irish after the autumn’s World Cup. O’Brien would risk his Ireland future with a move abroad, with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) adopting a policy of only selecting overseas-based players in extreme circumstances. O’Brien has struggled with a string of injuries across a standout Leinster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions career, but still boasts 53 caps for his country. Ireland and Leinster would not want to lose O’Brien, but the hugely-admired flanker would not be begrudged a new challenge at this stage of his career. Former Ireland boss Declan Kidney and ex-Ireland defence coach Les Kiss have partnered up at London Irish, and that link-up has proved central to O’Brien’s expected move.

Source: The Irish Times February 08, 2019 14:03 UTC