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Leinster's Cian Kelleher signs for Ealing Trailfinders

Cian Kelleher /PA

Promising Irish winger Cian Kelleher has signed for up-and-coming English Championship side Ealing Trailfinders.

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A former Ireland U20s star, Kelleher returned to Leinster from Connacht in 2019 and notched up 18 appearances for the Irish province. The 26-year-old brother of Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher scored 10 tries in his most recent stint with Leinster, although issues with his hamstrings limited his availability for the European giants and he failed to regularly make the first-team as a result.

“I’d like to thank Leinster Rugby for my time with the club. It’s been enjoyable and particularly getting to play with my brother and best friends once again. They’re memories I’ll cherish,” said Kelleher. “The last year has been strange to say the least and it would have been great to have played in front of the supporters in the RDS Arena one more time, but it’s not meant to be. I would like to thank them all for their support of me during the highs and the lows of my time here and the welcome afforded to me on my return.

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“I’m really excited by the challenge in Ealing Trailfinders and it’s one I’m relishing over in the UK.

“I’m looking forward to linking up with Ben Ward and with Kieran Campbell joining next season as well, it’s a club with really exciting ambitions that I’m thrilled to be a part of.

“I want to finish my time with Leinster in the right manner and then I’ll look to start a new chapter with Ealing which I can’t wait to get started.”

Ealing, who have beaten Saracens twice this season already, having been on a canny recruitment drive in recent seasons. Kelleher will join former Harlequins flyer Charlie Walker and former Ireland U20s and Ulster star Angus Kernahan in what is a potentially lethal Ealing backline.

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Ealing Trailfinders Director of Rugby, Ben Ward, said: “Cian is a very exciting signing for the club, and he will bring a wealth of experience of playing top-level rugby. He has great footwork and the ability to beat defenders which will be exciting to watch especially on our pitch. He had a very successful spell at Connacht before returning to Leinster and I’m delighted that he has brought into the vision and ongoing project at Ealing Trailfinders to sign with us.”

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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