Scotland lock Nathan Hines is looking forward to adding more silverware to the Leinster trophy cabinet after signing a two-year contract with the European champions. The 32-year-old joined from Perpignan and is no stranger to facing Michael Cheika’s side having also been a key member of Leinster’s bogey-team Edinburgh until 2005.
Now, though, he is happy to now be on the inside looking out.
"I'm really excited about the opportunity to join a Leinster side that are coming off the back of a successful past few seasons,” said the Australian-born forward for a Leinster this morning.
“When I was with Edinburgh I knew how good a side Leinster were. The games were always hugely competitive and those tussles certainly left a mark.
"Leinster were always a good side but the Magners League and Heineken Cup successes in recent years have bred a new culture and I am determined to work hard and try and become a part of this successful team.
“There's a real determination in the squad to push on in both competitions and I'm looking forward to improving my game. I see this new challenge as a dream move and my family are looking forward to starting our new life in Ireland."
Hines is one of five new recruits in Cheika’s squad ahead of the new season.
Ireland scrumhalf Eoin Reddan was signed from Wasps on a three-year deal earlier in the season, while prop Mike Ross from Harlequins and Australian back Shaun Berne, previously of Bath, have signed two-year contracts.
Berne (30), the brother of former Leinster player Michael, has represented Australia under-21 and the Barbarians, while he has Super 12 experience with the New South Wales Waratahs.
His arrival as Leinster is reunion with Cheika who coached him at Sydney club Randwick.
"Having been at Bath for the last three years I felt that now was the right time for a new start and a fresh challenge and I'm delighted to join Leinster.
“Michael was my coach at Randwick and I'm looking forward to working with him again, but even before the Heineken Cup success in May I was sold on his ambition for the club.
"Obviously now that Leinster are the European champions, it has increased my desire to be a part of a successful team. My brother Michael speaks very highly of Leinster from his time here and he told me that it was a club that was going places.”
The experience of the new arrivals – Ross is 29 and Reddan 28 – is juxtaposed by the addition of 23-year-old hooker Richardt Strauss from the Cheetahs and the promotion of scrumhalf Paul O'Donohoe and hooker Jason Harris-Wright from the Academy.
Leinster squad
Backs: *Shaun Berne, Gordon D'Arcy, Girvan Dempsey, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, Chris Keane, Rob Kearney, Simon Keogh, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, *Paul O'Donohoe, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin O'Malley, *Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton
Forwards: Leo Cullen, John Fogarty, *Jason Harris-Wright, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, *Nathan Hines, Trevor Hogan, Bernard Jackman, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Ronan McCormack, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Malcolm O'Kelly, *Mike Ross, *Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright
Leinster Academy 2009/10:*Andrew Conway, *Mark Flanagan, David Kearney, *Michael Keating, *Brendan Macken, Ian Madigan, *Stewart Maguire, Jack McGrath, Ian McKinley, Shane Monahan, David Moore, Niall Morris, *Ciaran Ruddock, *Rhys Ruddock, *Dominic Ryan, Paul Ryan, Tom Sexton, Eamonn Sheridan, Eoin Sheriff, Kyle Tonetti
* New additions
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