THE odds on Seán O’Brien leaving Leinster at the end of the season have receded, with the Ireland flanker seemingly on the verge of agreeing a new international contract with the IRFU and therefore set to stay with his native province. The likelihood of Jonathan Sexton remaining with Leinster has also strengthened in recent weeks, although like his provincial and Ireland team-mate Jamie Heaslip, his future beyond this season is still not resolved.

Both O’Brien and Sexton have attracted interest from Stade Français and their former coach Michael Cheika, with O’Brien also coveted by Leicester Tigers, though of late they have apparently baulked at the flanker’s increased valuation.

The two players were apparently accompanied by their agent, Fintan Drury, on recent visits to Paris, and while both are keen to stay, O’Brien is closer to signing a new deal, with an announcement to that effect expected inside the next week.

Both Sexton and Heaslip, who is also represented by Drury, have reputedly had offers on the table from the IRFU for at least three months, and possibly longer in the case of Sexton.

It is widely believed the 25-year-old outhalf has never previously been on an international contract and thus has not been especially well paid until now.

But with Stade Français no longer seemingly in the frame for Sexton and Lionel Beauxis closer to extending his stay in Paris, the expectation remains the Ireland outhalf will stay with Leinster on a new international contract.

However, as those negotiations drag on and remain unresolved, the province have been linked in the Australian media with Berrick Barnes.

The 24-year-old NSW Waratahs outhalf-cum-centre has played 21 times for the Wallabies while Leinster also have the option of extending the stay of another Australian outhalf-cum-centre, Shaun Berne, who has heretofore been limited to just three starts this season due to injuries.

Meanwhile, as expected, Munster’s Australian outhalf-cum-fullback Paul Warwick has agreed a two-year deal with Stade Français, with the option of a third year, on foot of deciding to turn down the one-year extension which had been offered to him by Munster.