RUGBY/News round-up: Leinster have confirmed that they expect to add Australian outhalf Christian Warner to their ranks.
Warner (26), who has represented Australia at schoolboy, under-19 and under-21 levels, and who played for the Australian Barbarians between 1997 and 1999, has been attracting strong interest from Leinster over the past few weeks.
He will come into the squad subject to passing a medical test, and is seen as cover for the injured Nathan Spooner and Emmet Farrell, who is recovering from a cruciate injury to his knee.
Coach Matt Williams, however is no stranger to the outhalf, having worked with him at the NSW Waratahs Super 12 side in Australia.
Warner, who played for five years in Super 12, eventually left the Waratahs for France when he lost the outhalf position to Manny Edwards.
Yesterday, Williams said he was looking forward to renewing his acquaintance with the player.
"I hope to work with Christian Warner again. Christian is a superb all-rounder who will further add to our fluid back line.
"We are still finalising our squad but we've also re-signed Adam Magro, Gavin Hickie, Niall Treston, Shane Jennings and Niall Breslin, so I'm delighted with the way things are working out.
"We are also delighted that scrumhalf Brian O'Riordan (Leinster Young Player of the Year), threequarter Gary Brown and back row Des Dillon have agreed to join the Leinster squad next season."
Warner's strong running style, pace off the mark and solid kicking clearly makes the Australian a solid choice for the Celtic League and interprovincial champions.
Although he has appeared for the Australia A side against Namibia, he has never won a full Test cap for the Wallabies. Warner comes from French club Pau, who are trying to avoid relegation this season.
The Irish squad to travel to New Zealand for a three-match tour next month, including two Test matches against the All Blacks on June 15th and 22nd, will be announced today. The squad, who have been training in Limerick all week, depart on June 1st.
Ballymena Rugby Club have put in place a series of family orientated events centred around the Ballymena President's XV v Ireland President's XV match, which has been scheduled to assist the Irish squad's preparation for the tour to New Zealand.
The match will take place at Eaton Park on May 25th along with numerous other activities designed to make the day a festival occasion.
Players selected for the tour from Leinster, Ulster and Connacht will take part, while Munster players will be involved in the European Cup final against Leicester at the Millennium Stadium.
On that issue, the ERC have said that the roof of the stadium could be closed for the final, depending on the weather.
About 1,000 school children turned up to watch Munster's open training session in Limerick yesterday. There was no change in the roll-call of injuries to Anthony Foley, Paul O'Connell, Jim Williams or Anthony Horgan.
