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More contract news at Leinster as Hugo Keenan among three renewals

Hugo Keenan is the latest Irish international to sign a new deal at Leinster this week, capping o...



More contract news at Leinster...
Rugby

More contract news at Leinster as Hugo Keenan among three renewals

Hugo Keenan is the latest Irish international to sign a new deal at Leinster this week, capping off a great day for the 24-year-old.

The former Ireland 7s international was earlier nominated for European Player of the Year, one of four Leinster men among the longlist.

Keenan's rise has been meteoric in the last nine months; having established himself in the regular matchday squad last August, he has since cemented himself as Ireland's first choice fullback for Andy Farrell, the only Irish player to have played every minute of the Six Nations campaign.

The now 11-cap Irish international is even being tipped as a potential Lions bolter, although with Warren Gatland bringing a smaller squad than usual on tour to South Africa, Keenan is viewed as an outsider to make the squad of 36.

While Leinster haven't revealed the length of Hugo Keenan's new contract, it adds to a busy week of renewals in Leo Cullen's side, with Ireland internationals Dave Kearney and James Tracy among four players to sign new contracts yesterday.

On Monday, Leinster also confirmed the high profile signing of Samoa international tighthead Michael Alaalatoa.

Keenan is among three players to re-sign with the province today; Leo Cullen has also secured promising flanker Scott Penny to a contract, while outhalf/centre David Hawkshaw has signed his first senior deal, stepping up from the academy.

Penny's contract news will come as relief to some Leinster fans, who may have been worried about a logjam of backrow players causing Penny to look elsewhere. The former St Michael's College student has put together a phenomenal strike rate of 15 tries in 25 senior appearances, with this seasons record of 9 tries in 11 matches seeing him named the Guinness Pro14 Next-Gen Star of the Season.

21 year-old Hawkshaw has been rewarded for the seven games he's played this year. However, the former Ireland under 20 captain would certainly have seen more gametime had it not been for a serious knee injury suffered in 2019.

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David Hawkshaw Hugo Keeenan Irish Rugby Leinster Rugby Scott Penny