Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan signs new two-year contract with Leinster

By SABC Sport
15th April 2024

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is pleased to announce that Dan Sheehan has signed a new two-year contract with Ireland and Leinster Rugby.

The 25-year-old hooker made his Leinster debut in October 2020 and has since established himself as a mainstay for club and country, with his international debut coming against Japan in 2021. At the end of the 2021/22 season he was named by his peers, the LAYA Young Player of the Year at the end of season Leinster Awards Ball.

Since then he has gone on to win a total of 58 caps for Leinster, scoring 35 tries, and has represented Ireland on 26 occasions, scoring ten tries. He was a key figure in Ireland's 2023 Grand Slam and 2024 Men's Six Nations successes and was recently selected in the 2024 Six Nations Team of the Championship.

Additionally, Sheehan was named the URC Players' Player of the Season in 2022/23 and his form last year culminated in his selection on to World Rugby's 15's Dream Team. He captained Leinster Rugby for the first time in November 2023, when captaining the side to a win against the Dragons.

Commenting on the new contract, Sheehan said; "I am delighted to commit my future to Leinster and continue my playing career in Ireland.

"It means an enormous amount to wear the green of Ireland and blue of Leinster and I would like to thank all of my coaches, team-mates and support staff who help foster such positive environments.

"It is a hugely exciting time to be playing rugby in Ireland and I believe the best is yet to come at club and international levels in the months and years to come."

IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora added; "Dan is a world-class talent who continues to set the bar high in world rugby.

"His try-scoring stats are eye-catching but tell only part of the story of his value to the Ireland and Leinster dressing-rooms.

"It is a great boost for all supporters of Irish rugby that he has decided to remain in Ireland over the coming seasons and I look forward to watching his development as he approaches the prime stages of his career."