IRELAND'S HUGO KEENAN has signed a new three-year deal with the IRFU today. The new deal will see Keenan continue his Ireland career up to until the end of the 2025/26 season.
This comes days after Keenan scored a try in Ireland's 32-19 win over France on Saturday.
Does anybody do try-scoring moves as well as @IrishRugby right now?! 💚#IREvFRA #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/frwlWunHB3
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 11, 2023
The new deal means that the Leinster fullback is the first player from the Seven's rugby format to sign a pro 15s deal.
The Leinster player's influence in Andy Farrell's team has positively increased for the better since he made his debut for Ireland in October 2020.
The 26-year-old has started 27 of Ireland’s last 29 games, scoring eight tries. He won a Triple Crown with Ireland in 2022 and played every minute of Ireland’s three Test Series against New Zealand last summer.
Keenan also made his Leinster debut against Zebre in November 2016 and has since amassed 51 appearances for his Province, scoring 13 tries and winning URC titles in 2020 and 2021.
At U20 level, Keenan started every game for Ireland in 2016 across the Six Nations and the World Rugby U20 Championship, when the team reached the final in Manchester.
He is also an Ireland Sevens international, competing in the shorter format of the game from 2017 to 2019, including the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Fransisco in 2018.
Keenan commented, “I am delighted to be part of two very competitive and ambitious environments with Ireland and Leinster.
"I am enjoying my rugby and looking to improve each week and there are so many opportunities to learn more about the game with the quality of coaches we have at provincial and national level.”
David Nucifora, IRFU Performance Director also spoke also about the announcement, “Hugo is the first player to come through the Sevens Programme to attain a Central 15s Contract. His dedication to improvement and his drive have gotten him to this point of his career and after impressing in his first season at senior international level, he has kicked on again over the past 12 months.
"He is the type of player that drives standards around him and he will have a key role to play for both Ireland and Leinster over the next few seasons.”
Keenan and Ireland will not be in action this week as the Six Nations takes a break, but Ireland will return the weekend after to play Italy in the 3rd game of the event.
✍️ We're delighted to announce Hugo Keenan has signed a three year IRFU contract, committing his future to Ireland and @LeinsterRugby until the end of the 2025/26 season. #TeamOfUs | #IrishRugby
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 15, 2023
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