Easterby signs one-year deal with Leinster

RUGBY: International scrumhalf Guy Easterby has agreed a one-year deal with Leinster. Subject to passing a medical, the 33-year-old will put significant pressure on Brian O'Meara and Brian O'Riordan for the number nine jersey this season.

Although he has lived in Peter Stringer's shadow at international level, Easterby is still highly rated by new Leinster coach Declan Kidney.

The Rotherham and former Llanelli Scarlets player picked up his 26th cap for Ireland in an impressive performance against South Africa in last month's Cape Town test.

Meanwhile, Peter Melia will replace newly promoted Leinster assistant coach Barry Byrne as the head-coach of the Irish Schools side to tour Australia next month. Former Schools trainer Keith Patton has been named as his assistant.

The current crop head to Australia for the seven-game schedule with some big shoes to fill. Both of the previous schools tours Down Under have ended in Test victories.

In 1996, Barry Gibney's side swept the boards and eventually produced four senior internationals in Stringer, Ciaran Scally, Leo Cullen and Bob Casey, while in 2000 the Gavin Duffy-led side followed suit. The Harlequins full back became the first senior international from that squad in South Africa.

The 2004 team will take part in a training camp this weekend in King's Hospital School before departing the following weekend. The Test match is in Canberra on August 26th.

IRELAND SCHOOLS SQUAD

BACKS: Joe Burns (Coleraine AI), Fionn Carr (Newbridge College), Darren Cave (Sullivan Upper School), Conan Doyle (Ard Scoil Rís), Rory Drysdale (Belfast Royal Academy), Tom Gleeson (PBC Cork), Conor Guildea (Terenure College), Robert Kearney (Clongowes Wood College), Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College), Peter Shallow (Rockwell College), Jonathan Shortt (CBC Cork), Duncan Williams (CBC Cork).

FORWARDS: Paul Collins (Templeogue College), Jamie Cornett (Royal School Armagh), Seán Cronin (Ard Scoil Rís), Michael Essex (CBC Cork), Billy Holland (CBC Cork), Darragh Hurley (CBC Cork), Diarmuid Laffan (Blackrock College), Gary Mitchell (Royal Belfast AI), Barry O'Mahony (Crescent College), Gavin O'Meara (St Mary's College), Darren O'Reilly (Blackrock College), David Pollock (Royal School Dungannon), Devin Toner (Castleknock College), Gary Walsh (Blackrock College).

MATCH SCHEDULE - Sunday, August 1st: Ireland v New South Wales Country, Singleton, Hunter Valley; Wednesday, August 4th: Ireland v Queensland Schools, Noosa, Sunshine Coast; Saturday, August 7th: Ireland v Queensland Schools, Anglican Church GS, Brisbane; Wednesday, August 11th: Ireland v New South Wales Combined High Schools, Sydney; Sunday, August 15th: Ireland v New South Wales, Sydney: Sunday, August 22nd: Ireland v Australia A, Sydney; Thursday, August 26th: Ireland v Australia, Canberra

MANAGEMENT: Peter Melia (coach), Keith Patton (assistant coach), Barney McGonigle (manager), David Eakin (assistant manager), Roger Wilson (doctor), David Lyons (physiotherapist).