TRANSFER NEWS:SPECULATION LINKING Ireland tighthead prop Mike Ross with a move from Leinster to Munster during the summer appears to be wide of the mark.

The Cork-born former Harlequins prop is negotiating a new deal at IRFU level and Ross has indicated he is happy to stay with Leinster.

A source for the 2009 Heineken Cup champions suggested they would be “very disappointed” if the player had a change of heart.

Leinster confirmed the signing of Balbriggan-born tighthead prop Jamie Hagan, who reverts to the province of his birth from Connacht.

The rumours that Ross might be moving to Munster were given more impetus by Hagan’s impending return but there is no correlation between the two.

As things stand, Cian Healy and Ross are the first-choice props for the national side and, barring injury, won’t be available to their province for a period before and after the World Cup in New Zealand later this year, as well as during the tournament. Hagan will appreciably bolster Leinster’s resources in this area.

Isa Nacewa and Heinke van der Merwe have two of Leinster’s five overseas contracts permitted by the IRFU.

Nathan Hines, Stan Wright and Shaun Berne are all out of contract this summer.

Hines has been linked to Stade Français and given he will miss about four months, due to World Cup commitments with Scotland – preparation and recovery time included – next season the IRFU are likely to factor that into any contract negotiations.

The 34-year-old has been a superb player for Leinster, so too Wright, who may play this weekend for the first time since rupturing his Achilles tendon last August.

He will be keen to show his employers his playing ability has been in no way diminished by the injury. Berne, too, has enjoyed an injury-curtailed season and he may return to the squad for Saturday’s game against Cardiff.