Leinster to lose Holwell after season

News round-upLeinster have confirmed that outhalf David Holwell will return to New Zealand at the end of the season. Holwell arrived in Ireland last October from the Wellington Hurricanes and has made a huge impression on the province's fortunes, particularly in the European Cup.

His decision is based on personal rather than footballing reasons, having expressed his desire to return to Northland, the family home.

His performances for Leinster meant that there were a substantial number of inquiries from Britain, and there would have been no shortage of offers, quite apart from Leinster's desire to retain him.

"This first came to light at Christmas and David has been consistent on the subject," said Leinster team manager Paul McNaughton. "He liked playing for Leinster, but for personal reasons wants to return home to Northland. He's been away from home for six or sevens years now. We fully accept his decision while recognising that he will be a huge loss both as a person and a player.

"We will be disappointed to lose him at the end of the season, but hopefully he's still got some important games to play for us."

In that respect, Leinster have selected the additional players that they are permitted to register for the European Cup ahead of yesterday's deadline.

The province has nominated Ireland international Keith Gleeson, 24-year-old Fijian international lock forward Ifereimi Rawaqa from the World Corporation club in Japan, and Blackrock College prop Niall Treston to join their in their European plans.

Rawaqa (pronounced "Rawanda") signs on a short-term contract for the remainder of the season and will join his team-mates after competing for Fiji for the Hong Kong Sevens, which begins next week.

Rawaqa was originally selected in the second row for last weekend's North v South game in aid of the tsunami appeal, but had to withdraw.

He is a highly regarded athlete, and apart from playing for Fiji also lined out for the composite Pacific Islands team in Tests against New Zealand and Australia last year.

"We are looking at him on a short-term contract to see how he does," McNaughton added. "We do not have a lot of cover in the secondrow, especially with Leo Cullen getting injured."

Rawaqa is unlikely to play in the quarter-final against Leicester but will get game time in the Celtic League.

Gleeson returned to the Leinster jersey in last weekend's Celtic League defeat to the Neath/Swansea Ospreys, having recovered from a broken leg. He played 20 minutes, coming on as a second-half replacement.

Treston replaces Anton O'Donnell in the squad (the change is permitted under ERC regulations), as the Blackrock College tighthead prop has recovered from an horrendously broken leg that required six operations. He has played several matches for Blackrock in the AIB League Division One, and simply recovering from the injury indicates his strength of character.

Meanwhile, French coach Bernard Laporte has called up Benoit Baby as replacement for centre Ludovic Valbon, who was injured in training. Better news for Laporte is that reserve hooker William Servat and fellow replacement Frederic Michalak have recovered from knocks sustained in training.

Both will travel to Ireland with the French squad, which is due to arrive today ahead of tomorrow's Six Nations Championship match at Lansdowne Road.

David Marty of Perpignan will take Baby's place on the bench.