McCullen signs deal with London Irish

London Irish have confirmed the signing of Aidan McCullen, the former Toulouse, Leinster and Ireland flanker, on a two-year contract. McCullen joins the Exiles from Toulouse, where he spent the past year.

During that time he played 14 times for the French club in a season curtailed somewhat by injury. Prior to that he made 56 appearances for Leinster in the European Cup and Celtic League.

The 29-year-old won a single Ireland cap, against Samoa in Apia on the 2003 summer tour.

He also played for Ireland Sevens, Under-21 and A teams.

London Irish coach Brian Smith said, "As we prepare for next season we need strength in depth in all positions. This will be especially important if we are to compete in the Heineken Cup.

"Aidan McCullen is an excellent player who has shown his class in Ireland and France with Leinster and Toulouse.

"He has played at the top level in Europe and that experience will be invaluable to us.

"Aidan's Irish background is a bonus, we're obviously very keen to retain our historic links with Ireland."

McCullen is looking forward to the new challenge: "I've always wanted to play in the Premiership so when Brian Smith called I jumped at the chance to join London Irish.

"I'm looking forward to pre-season and to meeting up with Bob Casey, Barry Everitt and Ben Willis, who I know from my time at Leinster."

He is not the only Irish player on the move. Brian O'Riordan will quit Leinster at the end of the season to join Premiership side Bristol. The impending arrival of Australian Chris Whitaker at the province and the decision to award Guy Easterby a one-year contract influenced O'Riordan's decision to look elsewhere.

The Bristol coach, the former England scrumhalf Richard Hill, pointed out his first-choice number nine, Shaun Perry, is expected to be involved in the England set-up and so he was looking for quality back-up.