Leinster coach Matt O’Connor yesterday expressed his optimism that a deal to sign the 67-times capped former Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri “can be done in the next week or two”.

Of more pressing long-term concern off the pitch, however, is the reported interest in both Seán O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip by Clermont Auvergne.

Nor is French interest in the pair, now in the last year of their current contracts, likely to stop with les jaunards.

Tuqiri, the 2003 World Cup finalist, who turns 34 later this month, is expected to be signed on a three-month deal, in part due to Zane Kirchner’s involvement in the Rugby Championship with the Springboks, not to mention the summer departures of Isa Nacewa, Andrew Conway and Fionn Carr.

The Fijian-born dual code Australian has just finished a three-year stint with the Wests Tigers in the NRL after spending seven years in rugby union, which culminated in playing the 2009-10 campaign with Leicester when O’Connor was the assistant/backs coach.

Tuqiri’s 2011 and 2011 seasons with Wests were undermined by two broken arms, but he is currently fit and well, having played his final rugby league game last weekend.

“He can bring 6ft 4ins of raw power,” enthused O’Connor. “He’s very experienced, he’s played in both codes all over the world and in my experience, Lote is an unbelievable competitor; he’s extremely physical and we’ll be looking to get a little bit of that experience in the wide channels.

“He’s at a bit of a loose end, he’s finished up his rugby league career, which he was very keen to do.



‘Performed admirably’

“I worked with him at Leicester where he went from to return to NRL. He has performed admirably in that, he’s had some injury worries but he is back playing and played last weekend. He is quite excited about the next chapter in his life really.”

Meanwhile, over the weekend the Auvergne daily newspaper La Montagne listed O’Brien and Heaslip among a five-strong wish list, which also includes Ma’a Nonu, Leigh Halfpenny and Alun-Wyn Jones, for next season.

O’Brien is represented by Fintan Drury’s sports management company Platinum One, which brokered Jonny Sexton’s deal with Racing Metro earlier this year.

This strengthened Drury’s hand in future negotiations with the IRFU, as well as his contacts with Racing’s owner, Jacky Lorenzetti.

Ideally, Leinster would like to nail down the future of both players sooner rather than later but, as with the loss of Sexton to Paris, not only does it take two to tango, both O’Brien and Heaslip are also on international contracts, and therefore their representatives deal solely with the IRFU.

“We would back the environment to make it very, very difficult for them to leave, like we did with Jonny,” said O’Connor.

“Ultimately that is their decision to make, but I’m sure off the back of what Leinster provides and what Dublin provides and what they have achieved in this environment, I would be very, very optimistic that they’ll be still here.”



Sexton saga

He also expressed the hope that lessons would be learned from the Sexton saga, although clearly the threat to the provinces from the cash-rich elite of the Top 14 has never been so acute.

“It is always going to be that way, in that the guys will have to make a decision,” said O’Connor. “Do they want to stay in a really good environment and potentially win things or do they want to chase the financial rewards?

“That isn’t new to our game, that’s the reality of professional sport. But we will back our environment to give them the best chance to remain, and achieve what they want to achieve in the game.”

In the continuing absence of the aforementioned duo and Leinster’s other three Lions, they are hopeful of welcoming back more of their Ireland summer tourists for this Saturday’s visit of the Ospreys to the RDS.

That said, O’Connor stressed “continuity is pretty important” for a squad which responded to a 13-0 deficit inside 13 minutes with a handsome 42-19 bonus point win away to the Scarlets last Friday.

Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden (a late withdrawal in Llanelli with a tight hamstring), Kevin McLaughlin and Richardt Strauss might all come back into the reckoning, as might Quinn Roux, who rolled an ankle in training last week.

Luke Fitzgerald, who departed early in the second half with a groin injury, resumed training yesterday, although Michael Bent (neck) is still out.

Gordon D’Arcy has also revealed his desire to extend his time at Leinster beyond this season, with a view to making the 2015 World Cup. Refreshed by a rare summer off and “great long chats” with his wife Aoife, D’Arcy said: “I’ve spoken to Leinster. In and around Christmas I will have a chat with them. And they are pretty happy with that as well.”



‘I want to stay on’

“I definitely want to stay on. But, it is not just me making a decision any more. There is also my wife. There is also Leinster. There is also Ireland.

“I have to speak to Joe (Schmidt). Am I in his plan for the World Cup? Am I not in his plans? Where do Leinster see the squad going? There are a huge amount of things. It will be a very, very easy decision when it comes around.”