Gleeson to retire at the end of the season

NEWS: ON A DAY when the Leinster coach Michael Cheika spoke about the future - his own and that of his new management team, which will include Alan Gaffney and Kurt McQuilkin - he also paid tribute to Keith Gleeson, who has announced his retirement from rugby at the end of the season.

Gleeson's decision constitutes something of a surprise as the player has made a rich contribution to Leinster's current season.

The 31- year-old will return to Australia later this year with his wife, Fiona, to work in the family financial-planning business.

Born in Ireland, he left for Australia as a seven-year-old and represented the Wallabies at under-19 and under-21 before returning to Dublin and making his senior debut for Leinster in 2001. He has played 115 times (12 tries) for the province and 27 times (five tries) for Ireland.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Leinster Rugby and am honoured to have played for both my province and country. My decision to retire is largely inspired by my desire to explore new avenues and opportunities and I feel now is the time to do that," he said.

Cheika said: "Keith Gleeson has been an incredible ambassador for Leinster and Irish rugby. He is the embodiment of professionalism, and his work ethic and skills set and the pride with which he plays and prepares for games are second to none. I know how tough he is. I've played against him and coached him and every time he plays the game he tries to play his best match. That takes courage. I agree (it is a premature end).

"When he spoke to me about it I was very surprised. The guy is in outstanding form. He's gone toe to toe with (Shane) Jennings since he came back and he's matched it and lifted his game to another level. If he ever changes his mind all he has to do is pick up the telephone and I'd have him back in a minute."

Cheika meanwhile has signed a two-year extension to his contract, while confirming the input that the returning Alan Gaffney will have in taking over from David Knox, who heads to Australia at the end of the season.

Cheika pointed out: "I'm very happy to stay on. . . I felt that if I can still add value to the team - if I made a few more changes and kept it moving forward and developing - five years over the whole thing wouldn't be too long.

"I still feel like I can contribute a lot and there's an awful lot of work to improve on," he added before addressing Knox's contribution.

"David's influence on the attacking style of the whole team, not just the back line, has been really strong. His commitment to that style, under pressure, even when things haven't been going our way, has been integral to giving the players the confidence to play that way all the time.

"Alan's (Gaffney) situation with Saracens was something that we had to deal with. He really wanted to come back here and by his own admission, by the experience he has had, he will have improved from the last time he was here.

"He would have learned a lot as head coach at Munster, then with Australia and now with Saracens. He has a huge amount of knowledge to bring, not just to the backs, but the coaching that he will bring to the whole squad and also to help develop our own coaches here coming through the system."

Cheika expects Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy to be available for selection within the next couple of weeks.

Jonathan Sexton and Leo Cullen are fit again and included in an extended squad ahead of tomorrow night's game against Glasgow at the RDS.

Leinster squad: C Healy, O le Roux, B Blaney, B Jackman, S Knoop, S Wright, L Cullen, T Hogan, M O'Kelly, C Jowitt, S Keogh, K Gleeson, S Jennings, J Heaslip, C Keane, C Whitaker, F Contepomi, J Sexton, L Fitzgerald, M Berne, C Warner, G Brown, S Horgan, R Kearney.