Horua may be solution to Leinster's backrow search

Leinster's worldwide search for a ball-carrying backrow forward appears to have alighted upon Brumbies flanker Tamaiti Horua. The province lost three of their backrow during the summer - Aidan McCullen (Toulouse), Shane Jennings (Leicester) and Victor Costello (retired) - and needed to recruit a player who could fulfil a frontline remit.

New coach Michael Cheika was particularly keen to secure a big, ball-carrying forward to replicate the role Costello filled with such distinction and is believed to be in talks with Horua in a bid to secure an early release from his contract.

His club, Canberra Vikings, are amenable, as are the Brumbies, but Leinster will still have to secure the permission of the Australian rugby union. The 24-year-old has won 33 Super 12 caps for the Australian Capital Territories franchise (ACT), the Brumbies. In the Super 12 series earlier this year, Horua started two games and came off the bench six times.

He is highly regarded by the Brumbies and at one stage was spoken of as a future captain, having already performed that duty at club level. He has played for Australia A and, at 6ft 2in (187cm) and almost 17 and a half stone, is a powerful ball carrier.

Negotiations are ongoing and nothing as yet has been finalised but Leinster hope they would be in a position to confirm his arrival by the end of the month. The province boasts one other available contract and is scouring the rugby world for an Irish-qualified back.

Their search is prompted by the injury suffered by Brian O'Driscoll while leading the Lions against New Zealand.

The prognosis for the Ireland and Lions captain is that he will be out of action until the end of December at the earliest. Leinster are believed to be in discussion with an English-born player with Irish qualifications.

Michael Roberts, a 23-year-old wing in whom Munster were interested last season, was the leading try scorer in the Zurich A League last season while playing for Wasps seconds. He has an Irish grandparent but recently moved to the Glasgow franchise.

A former clubmate of Roberts, Rob Hoadley - he previously played for London Irish - who plays in the centre also boasts the requisite Irish pedigree.

No definitive decision on Leinster's move to the RDS has yet been taken but negotiations are continuing and there appear to be few stumbling blocks provided the pitch is deemed suitable.

Leinster are not alone among the Irish provinces in seeking to fill contracts as Munster, Ulster and Connacht are also in that position. Munster were looking at Springbok Breyton Paulse but the IRFU wasn't enamoured with that choice and the province, who are looking for a back, may fill from within Ireland unless a player of the highest credentials becomes available.

Munster face Northampton on Friday week at Thomond Park, and the English club have confirmed that the All Black Carlos Spencer will be in their squad along with Bruce Reihana (another New Zealander), Ben Cohen, Sean Lamont and the Irish-born players David Quinlan, Damien Browne and Séamus Mallon.

Ulster, currently training at St Andrews in Scotland and looking to sign a backrow forward, will be buoyed by the fact that openside flanker Neil McMillan is back in full training following 12 months on the sidelines with a cruciate knee-ligament injury.

Meanwhile London Irish's busy summer recruitment continued with the announcement that the powerful Australian rugby league centre Paul Franze will join the club in September.

The 23-year-old centre admitted: "I wanted to play top-class rugby union and decided to join London Irish because I was excited by the club's ambition."

Franze, who has signed a two-year contract, was a Junior Kangaroo and one of the brightest young rugby league prospects in Australia.

He has played over 60 NRL games for the Cronulla Sharks and the Penrith Panthers, a massive achievement for a player of his age. He played both rugby league and union as a schoolboy and has Italian ancestry.

Brian Smith, director of rugby at London Irish said: "Paul is a dynamic ball runner and a lethal defender. He will fit in with our other powerful backs Scott Staniforth, Dominic Feau'nati, Rodd Penney and James Storey."