Rugby digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

London-bound: O'Leary signs three-year deal with Exiles

MUNSTER AND Ireland scrumhalf Tomás O'Leary has signed a three-year contract with London Irish. The 28-year-old will join the Exiles in the summer, leaving the Irish province with whom he has won two Heineken Cups and two Magners League titles, writes John O'Sullivan.

O’Leary will replace former England scrumhalf Paul Hodgson, who will leave London Irish for Worcester at the end of this season. The Corkman was part of Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning side in 2009 and he was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa only for an ankle injury to rule him out.

He admitted: “Joining London Irish presents a new and exciting chapter in my career and one that I am really looking forward to. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Munster and the Heineken Cup triumph in 2008 will always remain a highlight. I have been lucky enough to be part of some winning teams at both Munster and Ireland and I hope to have even more success as a London Irish player.”

London Irish’s director of rugby Brian Smith said: “Tomás will be a fantastic addition to our squad. He is a proven scrumhalf who has represented his country at the highest level. He will bring with him a wealth of experience and a winning mentality. We look forward to welcoming him to the club this summer.”

Veterans on track: Cullen and O'Driscoll come through training

LEINSTER COACH Joe Schmidt can select from a full-strength squad for tomorrow's Pro12 League game against the Ospreys after Leo Cullen came through training this week, writes Gavin Cummiskey.

The 34-year-old club captain displayed no major problems on his return from last January’s Achilles operation.

Brian O’Driscoll also made it through yesterday’s contact session leaving both veterans on course to play 80 minutes against Munster in Thomond Park on Saturday week.

Meanwhile, Blackrock College RFC and Eric Miller have parted company with immediate effect.

The former Lions and Ireland backrower was only appointed head coach last summer but 14 games into their Division 1A campaign sees Blackrock second from bottom with just three victories and a -202 points differential.

When Miller was informed by the club executive that he would not be offered a contract extension he decided to step down, leaving his Australian assistant coach Ben Mannion to take over for the remaining four fixtures, starting with the away trip to St Mary’s on March 24th.

Finally, Connacht confirmed yesterday that scrumhalves Paul O’Donohoe and Dave Moore, along with another two former Leinster players, lock Dave Gannon and centre Kyle Tonetti, have all agreed new deals.

The real deal: Schools squad

THE IRELAND under-18 schools squad for the FIRA/AER European Championships in Madrid was announced yesterday.

The group contains genuine prospects like the Leinster Schools Cup-winning captain Dan Leavy from St Michael’s College, Terenure fullback Billy Dardis and centre/backrow Harrison Brewer, the son of former All Black flanker Mike Brewer. Clongowes and Roscrea number eights Peadar Timmins and Seán O’Brien also excelled in the recent cup campaign.

Ireland play a warm-up match against Scotland in Coolmine RFC on March 25th (kick-off 12pm).

IRELAND U-18 SCHOOLS SQUAD:

M Abbott (PBC Cork), B Alexander (RBAI), S Boyle (Sligo GS), H Brewer (Terenure), W Dardis (Terenure), S Delahunt (Kilkenny), D Donnellan (Clongowes), J Fullerton (CCB), B Holland (St Michael’s), DJohnston (Rockwell), C Kellerher (St Michael’s), D Leavy (St Michael’s), G Lyons (Crescent College), R Maloney (CC Roscrea), E McKeever (CBC Monkstown), C McKeon (Gonzaga), S Meunargia (Marist), R Molony (St Michael’s), S O’Brien (CC Roscrea), C O’Donnell (St Munchin’s), R O’Farrell (Blackrock), J O’Neill (Castleknock), G O’Shea (Crescent), R O’Loughlin (St Michael’s), C Slowey (CBC Cork), P Timmins (Clongowes)

Dan the man: Top award for Lydiate

WALES FLANKER Dan Lydiate has been named the Six Nations’ player of the tournament to round off a wonderful championship for Warren Gatland’s team who last Saturday secured their third grand slam in eight years.

More than 30,000 public votes were registered, almost double that of last year, as Lydiate triumphed from a 12-man shortlist that included three of his Wales team mates.

Lydiate collected more than 25 percent of the vote, while Ireland outhalf Jonathan Sexton was second with 12 percent and Italy captain Sergio Parisse third, with 11.6.

Lydiate was man of the match in the wins over Scotland and France, where his crunching tackles and huge appetite for work from the blindside position have turned him into a real crowd favourite.

“I am really surprised to be honest. I am genuinely chuffed to bits,” Lydiate said in a statement yesterday.

”It tops off an amazing competition for me and for Wales.”