Leinster add three to next season's squad
Leinster have announced the signings of Argentina prop Juan Francisco Gomez, South African international front-row forward Ollie Le-Roux and Connacht's Irish-qualified tight-head prop Stephen Knoop in their squad for next season.
Gomez, who enjoyed a spell on loan with Stade Fran ais last season, has signed a two-year deal while 54-times international capped front-rower Le-Roux has signed a one-year deal from Super 14 side the Cheetahs. Knoop joins from Connacht on a two-year deal
In addition, second row Devin Toner and back rows Kevin McLaughlin and Richie Leyden have all been rewarded with professional contracts.
Scrum-half Chris Keane joins from Connachton a two-year deal while Cillian Willis, Jonathan Sexton and Ross McCarron have also been awarded professional contracts.
All 12 of the representatives who featured on the Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winning squad have been signed up in the Leinster Academy for next season. These are Cian Healy, Richard Sweeney, Jamie Hagan, Ruaidhri Murphy, Conor McInerney, Kevin Sheahan, Sean O'Brien, Paul O'Donohoe, Ian Keatley, Shane Monahan, Felix Jones and Kyle Tonetti.
LEINSTER SQUAD 2007/'08:
BACKS: Chris Whitaker, Cillian Willis, Chris Keane*, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton, Gordon D'Arcy, Brian O'Driscoll, Christian Warner, Michael Berne, Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Rob Kearney, Gary Brown, Girvan Dempsey, Luke Fitzgerald, Ross McCarron;
FORWARDS: Ronan McCormack, Stanley Wright, Bernard Jackman, Brian Blaney, Ollie le Roux*, Stephen Knoop*, Juan Francisco Gomez*, Trevor Hogan, Leo Cullen*, Malcolm O'Kelly, Devin Toner, Des Dillon, Stephen Keogh, Cameron Jowitt, Richie Leyden, Shane Jennings*, Keith Gleeson, Kevin McLaughlin, Jamie Heaslip.
TRANSFERS OUT: Andrew Dunne, John Lyne (both Connacht), Kieran Lewis, Niall Ronan (both Munster), Owen Finegan (Leicester Tigers), Robert Sweeney, Stephen Grissing (both Rotherham), Adam Byrnes, Harry Vermaas (undisclosed), Reggie Corrigan, Guy Easterby, Will Green, Ciaran Potts (all retired).
