RUGBY TRANSFER NEWS:FOLLOWING THE news of Felipe Contepomi's departure at the end of the season and that Leinster are again pursuing Eoin Reddan, the province's supporters will be encouraged to learn that Rocky Elsom looks set to extend his stay for another year and Irish A tight-head Mike Ross may well be joining from Harelquins.
Elsom has probably been Leinster’s player of the season, regularly putting in barnstorming displays at blindside flanker or at number eight when Jamie Heaslip has been on Test duty.
It had been feared the 26-year-old, 40-times capped Wallaby would return at the end of the season to pursue his stated ambition of regaining his place in the Australian team well in advance of the 2011 World Cup, and had looked into the possibility of playing for Australia this summer.
That is unlikely to happen, and while the negotiations are still to be finalised, Elsom is now intent on taking up the optional second year on his contract before returning to Australia.
The 29-year-old Ross, formerly with Cork Constitution and Munster, has been lined up by Leinster to bolster their scrum in what may also be a beneficial move for the tight-head vis-à-vis breaking into the Irish squad. He has won eight caps with the Irish As, playing in the last two Churchill Cups, and is highly durable, having played 78 games for Harlequins in the last three seasons, including all six of their Heineken Cup games and all but two of their 18 Premiership games this season.
