James Lowe extends contract with Leinster rugby team

James Lowe has signed a new contract with Leinster, the club announced. This follows similar extensions for his teammates Jamie Osborne, Jack Conan, Ryan Baird, and Luke McGrath. Lowe, a wing for Ireland, joined Leinster from the Chiefs in 2017. Since then, he has played 85 matches and scored 61 tries for the team. The 32-year-old made his debut for Ireland in 2020, earning 40 caps and scoring 17 tries in international play. He helped the team win the Six Nations in both 2023 and 2024. Leinster has not disclosed the length of Lowe's new contract. Meanwhile, players Andrew Osborne, Diarmuid Mangan, and Niall Smyth have also signed their first senior contracts with the club. Leinster is currently at the top of the BKT United Rugby Championship, leading Glasgow by 13 points. They are preparing for a match against the Bulls in Pretoria. Most of their Ireland players will be absent due to a rest week following the Guinness Six Nations. Senior coach Jacques Nienaber expects a challenging game against the Bulls, who defeated Leinster in last year's semi-final. He praised the depth of the Bulls' squad, noting that they have many players on the radar of international selectors. "I expect a Test-match intensity game," Nienaber said.