Leinster Announce New Deals For O’Brien, McKee & Cooney
Kildare native Jimmy O'Brien makes a break during Leinster's home win over the Dragons earlier in the season ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Ireland Men’s Six Nations squad member Jimmy O’Brien has put pen to paper on a contract extension with Leinster Rugby, the province has confirmed.
Ahead of Leinster’s two-match BKT United Rugby Championship trip to South Africa, new deals have been announced for O’Brien, John McKee, and Academy centre Hugh Cooney, who has signed his first senior contract.
O’Brien (28) continues to be a versatile option for both Leinster and Ireland, playing eleven times so far this season for Leo Cullen’s men with starts at full-back and on either wing.
He has been training with Ireland during the current Guinness Men’s Six Nations, but his appearance off the bench against New Zealand in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final marked his eighth and most recent cap for his country.
The Eadestown man, who signed his last contract in April 2023, recovered from a neck injury which ruined his 2023/24 season, and played in all four of Leinster’s Investec Champions Cup pool matches, starting three of them on the wing.
He also played every minute of their recent wins over the Ospreys and Cardiff, which leave Cullen’s side 13 points clear at the summit ahead of Saturday week’s round 13 clash with the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria.
O’Brien has played 93 times for his home province, closing in on becoming a Leinster centurion, and scored his 26th try during a player-of-the-match performance away to Ulster last November.
McKee, who progressed to his first senior contract in 2023, was a try scorer during Leinster’s 42-24 victory over Cardiff at the start of the month. His opportunities this season have been limited somewhat by injury.
The 25-year-old Belfast-born hooker has also captained Leinster ‘A’ this term, as well as playing for Terenure College in Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 1A.
He made his Investec Champions Cup debut against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium almost two years ago, and now has 32 senior appearances to his name, along with five tries.
Fresh from his involvement with Ireland’s Six Nations squad as a development player, Cooney will move up from the Leinster Academy to the senior set-up ahead of the 2025/26 season.
An Under-20 Grand Slam winner with Ireland in 2023, he toured South Africa with Emerging Ireland last October – starting the final two games – and made his Leinster senior debut away to Connacht that same month.
The promising Dubliner (21) has made four senior appearances for the province so far this season, including a first start alongside Robbie Henshaw against the Emirates Lions, and two in a fledgling centre partnership with Charlie Tector against the Ospreys and Cardiff.
Meanwhile, English club Bristol Bears have confirmed that they have extended the loan deal of Ireland international Harry Byrne until the end of the current season.
Byrne, who joined from Leinster in January as injury cover, will remain with Bristol until the conclusion of their campaign as they target a place in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs.
The 25-year-old out-half has scored 36 points in six appearances since his arrival at Ashton Gate, having made his debut against Saracens in early January.