Updated 16:30
LEINSTER WILL COMPLETE the signing of former Wallaby winger Lote Tuqiri ‘within a week or two’, head coach Matt O’Connor confirmed today.
Following the retirement of Isa Nacewa and Eoin O’Malley, and the departure of Andrew Conway and Fionn Carr Leinster have found themselves low on pace in pre-season.
Today, despite the impressive performances from Darragh Fanning and Brendan Macken in Llanelli, O’Connor said he hoped to complete the signing of a new outside back before the end of the month.
“We’re still probably a body short and we’re continuing to look at that,” said the Australian.
“Hopefully we’ll have that rectified in the next week or two.”
Leinster last week refused to be drawn on a link with Australian international Lote Tuqiri who has joined up with O’Connor previously at Leicester Tigers. The 33-year-old dual star is currently seeing out the final weeks of his contract with NRL outfit Wests Tigers.
Although O’Connor was again reluctant to speculate further than narrowing his candidates down to half of the world – joking: “He comes from… the southern hemisphere, Wait and see on that” – the coach went on to brief the print media and the Irish Times this afternoon report that the signing of an initial three-month deal has been confirmed.
With resources in wide areas depleted, O’Connor could at least deliver good news on Luke Fitzgerald who worried supporters when he limped from the field after 42 minutes of the win in Wales.
The 2009 Lion took part in light training today, running a slow drill separate from the fully fit members of the squad.
‘Luke’s fine’
“Yeah, Luke’s fine,” O’Connor said. “He’s got a bit of a tight groin. He’s going to a bit of running with the [conditioning staff] today.
“It’s just a fact of not having played a lot of rugby. His groin was tight after half time but he’s gonna be okay.”
O’Connor also added that another option at both centre and wing, Fergus McFadden, will “hopefully” be fit enough to face Ospreys at the RDS on Saturday after he was a late withdrawal from Friday’s opening night win.
Meanwhile, Ian Madigan is a likely starter in the number 10 shirt in Leinster’s opening home fixture of the season as the new international’s pre-season nears an end.
Originally published: 15.23
