Shane Jennings is to re-join Leinster from the Leicester Tigers on a three-year deal this summer.
The versatile backrow forward made his debut for Leinster in 2001 away to Swansea. He was educated in St. Mary's College in Rathmines and will link up with his home province next summer after a successful two-year spell with the Leicester Tigers.
"He's a player of real quality and he has shown that at a club like Leicester who have given him a good education and schooling in forward play," said Leinster coach Michael Cheika.
"He has evolved the form that he had with Leinster before he left and his arrival will give us a better balance and greater combinations in our team.
Jennings made 43 appearances for Leinster over four seasons (including 10 in the Heineken Cup) before moving to England in the summer of 2005 and to date has made 35 appearances in all competitions (eight in the Heineken Cup) for the Tigers, while scoring nine tries.
He has also represented Ireland at schools, under-19, under-21 and at 'A' levels and captained the Ireland 'A' side on the 2006 Churchill Cup competition in North America.
"I think that he can play in different roles in the backrow," added Cheika. "I like to mix and match the variations between either playing a staggered (tall, medium or fast) combination or a flat back three.
"Shane has gained great experience playing over there and it would have been a hard decision for him to make to move home because he's a very loyal person. But I suppose people always want to return home eventually. Put it this way, I don't think he came home because of me!"
Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson is delighted Jennings is returning to the province.
"Shane is an accomplished forward who will add greater competition to the Leinster backrow," he said. ""He has shown outstanding leadership qualities throughout his career and we look forward to welcoming him home to Dublin next summer."
Chieka has included Christian Warner and Stanley Wright in his squad ahead of the Magners League clash against the Ospreys at Donnybrook this Saturday.
Ronan McCormack misses out through injury.
Leinster squad:
Forwards: Stanley Wright, Will Green, Reggie Corrigan, Harry Vermaas, Bernard Jackman, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Owen Finegan, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip
Backs: Chris Whitaker, Guy Easterby, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton, Christian Warner, Gordon D'Arcy, Brian O'Driscoll CAPTAIN, Kieran Lewis, Denis Hickie, Shane Horgan, Rob Kearney, Ross McCarron
