Dan Sheehan has been rewarded for his outstanding form of the last few seasons by being promoted from a provincial contract to a central contract. In doing so, the Leinster and Ireland hooker has agreed a two-year deal with the IRFU to remain with the province until at least the end of the 2025-26 season.
Effectively therefore, Sheehan and his provincial teammate Caelan Doris (who agreed a three-year deal with the Union until the end of the 2026-27 season) have filled the central contracts that had been occupied by Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray, who have each signed one-year provincial contracts with Munster.
Since making his Test debut against Japan in November 2021 the 25-year-old quickly established himself as an integral part of the Irish pack with his explosive carrying and exceptional lineout throwing. He was an ever-present starter in the 2022 comeback series win in New Zealand, and although injury delayed his entry to the World Cup until the pool win over South Africa, Sheehan has missed only one Six Nations match in the last three campaigns, starting all five this year and scoring four tries.
Sheehan has scored 10 tries in his 26 caps and was recently selected in the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Team of the Championship.
Additionally, his form last year culminated in his selection on to World Rugby’s Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year.
His try in last Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final win over La Rochelle was his 35th in 58 appearances to date.
Commenting on the new contract, Sheehan said: “I am delighted to commit my future to Leinster and continue my playing career in Ireland. It means an enormous amount to wear the green of Ireland and blue of Leinster and I would like to thank all of my coaches, team-mates and support staff who help foster such positive environments. It is a hugely exciting time to be playing rugby in Ireland and I believe the best is yet to come at club and international levels in the months and years to come.”
IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora added: “Dan is a world-class talent who continues to set the bar high in world rugby. His try-scoring stats are eye-catching but tell only part of the story of his value to the Ireland and Leinster dressing-rooms. It is a great boost for all supporters of Irish Rugby that he has decided to remain in Ireland over the coming seasons and I look forward to watching his development as he approaches the prime stages of his career.”
