Leinster best place to push Ireland claim, says Will Connors

Will Connors believes making the next step at Leinster is a faster route back to the Ireland set-up than a move to any of the other provinces.

The 28-year-old Kildare man won the last of nine international caps in March of 2021 in a Six Nations game against Scotland.

Injuries curtailed his game time the following season and when he recovered he found himself in competition with a rejuvenated Josh van der Flier, European and World Rugby player of the year in 2022, Lions Test starter Jack Conan, Caelan Doris, who has captained both Leinster and Ireland, and Ryan Baird, who has become the favoured number 6 option and accumulated 20 international caps.

Leo Cullen decided Connors was the horse for the La Rochelle course and he started both Champions Cup wins over the European champions.

His nine other games this season have all come in the URC and he didn't make the match-day squad for the semi-final win over Northampton on Saturday.

Yesterday, Leinster announced that two-cap Ireland international Max Deegan had agreed a contract extension after being linked with a switch to Ulster, and on Monday that academy graduate James Culhane had signed a senior deal.

In addition, regular captain Scott Penny is looking to push his claims for more European game time.

The likes of Joey Carbery, Jack McGrath and Jordi Murphy have previously left logjams at the province to get more game time but despite the incredible level of competition in the back row, Connors says he is in the right place.

Asked if he would consider a move in order to push his Irish hopes, he told RTÉ Sport: "No, I think being able to play amongst a huge amount of the Ireland team is something that stands to players trying to break through and to get another taste of it.

"To