Josh van der Flier pens new deal with IRFU

LEINSTER AND IRELAND player Josh van der Flier has signed an IRFU extension to his current Leinster contract until at least the end of the 2025/26 season.

Van der Flier has featured 125 times for his province, scoring 25 tries, and has won a Heineken Champions Cup (2018) and four league titles in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

The Leinster player has not just been integral for his province; the World Player of the Year has been a mainstay for Ireland since making his debut in 2016.

JVDF 🤝 2026!#TeamOfUs | #IrishRugby

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) April 11, 2023

The Wicklow native was part of Ireland's most recent Grand Slam Six Nations championship win.

He also started three Tests of the series win against New Zealand in the summer of 2022.

Josh van der Flier commented, “It is a privilege to be a part of two incredible rugby environments. I am very grateful to the coaches at both Leinster and Ireland who have helped me to develop my game over the years.

"I appreciate that I get to go to work each day with some of my best friends, doing something that I love, and I am thankful for the incredible support of my wife and family who have been with me for every step of this journey so far.”

Josh van der Flier's new deal comes hours after his provincial and Ireland teammate James Ryan also signed a new deal with the IRFU.

The Leinster and Ireland lock has become an integral player for both his province and country since making his debut in 2017. He has made 71 appearances for Leinster, winning a European Champions Cup in 2018, and has also won four league titles in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

On the international front, he has become one of the best second rowers for Ireland. He had a huge part to play in Ireland's 2018 and 2021 Grand Slam successes.

This year, Ryan was the stand-in captain for the injured Johnny Sexton when Ireland played Italy in round three of this year's Six Nations.

He was one of Ireland's standout players during their campaign last month. Before this, he was also part of Ireland's team that beat New Zealand in a three-test series on their home patch for the first time in 2019.

Speaking about his new deal, the 26-year-old said: "The ambition of Leinster and Ireland to improve each day and win trophies is one of the reasons why it is so enjoyable to be part of these squads.

"There is also great camaraderie and competitive edge in both squads.

"I have also been fortunate to captain my country over the past couple of seasons, which has been an incredibly proud moment for me and my family."

On the league front, Leinster will face the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship this weekend, with the game on Saturday starting at 3pm.

Dublin , Ireland - 5 February 2022; Andrew Porter, left, and Josh van der Flier of Ireland  (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)