Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3823_6228481,00.html

Harlequins have completed the signing of former Newcastle loose forward Peter Browne on a year-long deal, the club announced on Friday.

Browne, who was allowed to leave the Falcons twelve months into a two-year contract, had attracted interest from Gloucester, Scarlets, Leinster and the Dragons.

Leinster were particularly interested in Browne, who qualifies to play for Ireland through his father, however he has now agreed to head to the Stoop.

The 22-year-old, who is 6ft 7in tall, can provide cover in the back-row however he is set to challenge for a place in the Quins second row.

Current Quins locks James Percival and George Robson are both currently sidelined so Browne will be challenging the likes of Ollie Kohn and Louis Stevenson.

Probably the front 5 signing that was being talked about. Young player, 6'7", prop, could probably movce to tighthead given his size, Irish qualified, and can cover backrow...

Damn it, could have been a pretty good signing that got away...can't imagine how Quinns could me more attractive than Leinster right now...maybe he saw the competition and didn't want to take the challenge, maybe he's dedicated on attempting to playing for England...who knows...

Yup, but McLoughlin will be out until roughly xmas. But I've full confidence in a back-up backrow of 6. Ruddock 7. Ryan 8. Keogh.

Keogh really was excellent when called upon last season, as an 8, he did a very valuable and underrated job imo. Ruddock & Ryan are there for a reason, and both are fully able to cope at this level if called upon imo. Plus the option of Hines at 6, and as a lineout operator, gives guys like Toner & O'Donoghue, and even Hogan oppertunities in the second row if required. I think we're well covered all over the squad with the exception of 10.

If Johno Sexton can play whenever needed and stays injury free (almost like RO'G can) then we should be fine.

After a very disapointing end to the Chieka era compared to what was possibly expected and certainly what we were capable of, I expect this new chapter to open with a very hungry and determined sqaud.

As a Leinster fan, I am absolutely chomping at the bit for this season to begin....I can only imagine how the squad feel...

I've a feeling our squad skill levels and creativity and clinicallness has the potential to hit an all time high with the new coaching structure, fresh approach and ideas, if we can maintain our tactical savy and street smarts we've developed over the last number of years, which i think we will, we could be looking at a Leinster machine that will take some stopping. I'm extremely optomistic.