Mike Ross agrees one-year IRFU contract

Mike Ross has agreed a new one-year contract with the IRFU and Leinster which will take him up to the end of the 2015/'16 season.

The 34-year-old tighthead, who is out of contract at the end of this season, had recently expressed a desire to sign on for another two years but his representatives and the union have compromised on a one-year international contract.

Despite turning 35 later this month, Ross's value to both Leinster and Ireland as the World Cup nears was underlined when he stoically withstood 74 minutes of the win over the Springboks after 30 days nursing a groin/abductor injury.

The Cork-born prop has taken a circuitous route to the top, having re-invented himself in three seasons at Harlequins after being rejected by Munster, and in his six years with Leinster has played 111 times for the province (starting 80 times and winning two Heineken Cups, a Pro12 and a Challenge Cup winner's medal). He also cemented his status as first-choice Irish tighthead for the last five seasons (winning 44 caps and a Six Nations title).

Ironically, Ross endured one of his toughest days in the coalface on his old stomping ground at the Stoop last Sunday and will be amongst those looking for redemption this Saturday at the Aviva Stadium.

Ross's representative, Ryan Constable from Esportif International, has been in negotiations with IRFU performance director David Nucifora for the last few weeks

Last month the tighthead said: “I wouldn’t mind two more years. You’re dealing with one person now, it seems to be, David Nucifora is the main man, he handles that sort of thing so that simplifies matters a bit.”

In the event, all parties have agreed to a one-year deal.