Larmour, Slimani & Gunne Sign New Contracts With Leinster

Leinster Rugby has made three more player contract announcements today, on the back of confirming new deals for Ireland international Jimmy O’Brien, John McKee, and Academy talent Hugh Cooney on Monday.

Leinster centurion Jordan Larmour has signed a contract extension to continue playing with his home province. He is closing in on 50 tries having touched down in four of his five appearances so far this season.

Scoring against Edinburgh, the Dragons, Ulster, and Bristol Bears, he has been in and out of the Leinster selection in a season hampered by injury. A hamstring issue has kept him sidelined since December’s derby win away to Munster.

Larmour is one of the province’s most experienced current backs, having played 113 times since making his debut against the Dragons in September 2017. He has scored 47 tries to date, including a hat-trick against the Ospreys last May.

Predominantly a right winger, the 27-year-old Dubliner can also play at full-back and centre. Indeed, his most recent two appearances for Ireland were as a replacement outside centre and starting full-back during the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations title-winning run.

Capped 32 times for his country and with seven tries in total, the 2018 Grand Slam winner was part of the touring squad for Ireland’s drawn series with South Africa last summer.

A nominee for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year and Investec Champions Cup Player of the Year awards in 2018 and 2020 respectively, he has two Six Nations winner’s medals, and has helped Leinster to win four league titles and one Champions Cup.

Meanwhile, Leinster’s first ever French player, Rabah Slimani, is staying on with the province for a second season having had a significant impact since his arrival from Clermont Auvergne last summer.

Slimani initially signed a one-year deal to replace Michael Ala’alatoa who went in the opposite direction to Stade Marcel Michelin. He has agreed an extension with Leinster for 2025/26.

The 35-year-old tighthead has made 14 appearances and scored one try so far this season, fitting in well with Leo Cullen’s side and using his expertise as a 57-times capped French international to help with the progression of the younger props, including Ireland newcomers Thomas Clarkson and Jack Boyle.

IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys spoke before the start of the Six Nations about the development of front row forwards being a ‘huge priority’ for the Union, and that there is a need for flexibility around NIQ (non-Irish qualified) signings.

“From an IRFU point of view, it’s about making sure that the NIQ players who come in are adding real value in terms of what they can do on the pitch, and also the influence and impact they can have on some of the younger players coming through,” said Humphreys.

“We are very much committed to developing our own front row forwards, but as the system evolves and players develop, there’s definitely ongoing conversations. At this stage there’s no set restrictions on who they (the provinces) can and can’t sign.”

Slimani’s form at Leinster earned him a recall to the France squad nearly five-and-a-half years after his last Test match. He could prove a key figure up front at the business end of the province’s season.

Completing today’s trio of contract announcements, Academy scrum half Fintan Gunne has signed his first senior contract with his home province.

The highly-rated young half-back (21) was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland Under-20s in 2023, joining the Leinster Academy that summer before making his senior debut against the Scarlets the following November.

Gunne has taken his tally of Leinster appearances to ten in the current campaign, having appeared seven times as a replacement in 2024/25. That includes his Champions Cup debut at home to Clermont Auvergne before Christmas.

He has also gained valuable experience and game-time with Terenure College in the Energia All-Ireland League, and recently furthered his international ambitions with an Ireland ‘A’ bow off the bench against England ‘A’.