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A lot of the focus on Leinster's recruitment for next season has been on the high profile, short term signings of RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett but the real detail is in who Leinster have re-signed and what that says about the depth chart into the future.
Cian Healy made his debut, aged 19, against Border Reivers in 2006 and became first choice loosehead prop during the 2008/09 season. He is a legend of Leinster and Ireland rugby but the fact he is still the second choice loosehead for both tells the story of development in certain positions in the Leinster system.
Andrew Porter is one of Leinster and Irelands most important players. He is the definition of a difference maker and when its an important game in the balance he doesn't get taken off. He will regularly play 70 minutes plus in the important games because of the impact he has on and off the ball.
Healy will be 37 next season and at present there is no one pushing him enough to take the 17 jersey away from him. Michael Milne is a solid player who has excelled in the loose but his scrum work would be a significant worry should he be called into the 23 for a high profile game. Leinster have also confirmed that they will be moving Jack Boyle and Paddy McCarthy from the academy to senior deals. Boyle and McCarthy like Milne are excellent around the field but set piece would most definitely be a work on. Ed Byrne who was the safety net of sorts is leaving for Cardiff so an injury to Porter could see Healy start, be unable to match Porter's high minute count for big games and you are looking at Milne, Boyle or McCarthy who have a combined total of 41 minutes of Champions Cup rugby between them to close out a big game.
There are similar issues on the tight head side with Michael Ala'alatoa leaving for Clermont at the end of the season. Tadhg Furlong is finding his form again but behind him the cupboard is bit bare. Tom Clarkson is starting to develop but is he enough along with Rory McGuire enough depth to sustain a push on two fronts next season? My guess is that Cian Healy will be asked to cover both loose and tight head bench spots and to keep both Porter and Furlong on the pitch as long as possible.
At the moment the rumours are that no Irish side is allowed to sign an NIQ (Non Irish Qualified) prop and Leinsters chase of Tom O'Toole and Finlay Belham for next season may give that more credence. In my opinion Leinster have a strong case for an NIQ tight head given they supply Furlong to the national side, shifted Porter over to loosehead and lost Salanoa and Aungier to other provinces. But David Nucifora and the IRFU make the rules and at present they reportedly don't see any Irish team being allowed one.
At lock Leinster will welcome RG Snyman to replace Jason Jenkins who is heading back to South Africa to join the Sharks. Snyman is a game changer, and even in a world of massive athlete's is somewhat of a unicorn given his size, strength and skillset. He is the epitome of the win now shift in Leinsters culture. Previously Leinster were all about strength in depth, top the league with ease and their first XV were pretty much all Irish qualified. (Leinster have appeared in 4 finals from 2018 onwards and of those 4 teams sheets and potential 60 spots only 3 have been NIQ). Now they are going for NIQ starters, game changers who will get them back to the top but at what cost?
Jenkins is leaving but so is Ross Molony, as did Jack Dunne when Jenkins was initially signed from Munster back in 2022. Leinsters lock depth for next season is very impressive at the top with Snyman, Ryan and McCarthy, all internationals but that poses its own problems. Snyman is likely to be away with South Africa for the summer tours and The Rugby Championship and will therefore need either rest or an extended preseason. Ryan and McCarthy are both regulars in the Ireland 23 and will need their gametime managed. That leaves Brian Deeny who has 10 pro starts and 8 minutes of Champions Cup rugby under his belt. Below that its academy players like Conor O'Tighearnaigh who haven't even started a game of pro rugby yet.
Scrum half has long been a problem area for Leinster. Not since the game has gone professional have Leinster developed a home grown 9 who has held the Irish jersey for any length of time. Jamison Gibson-Park is one of the best 9's in world rugby but without Andy Farrell picking him for his system would he be the player he is now? Gibson-Park is the key player to Leinster's attack at the moment, his form and skillset are one of the main reasons Leinster aren't missing Sexton as much as some people thought they would.
The depth chart at scrum half is possibly more of a worry than loosehead. If Gibson-Park were to be injured its Luke McGrath, Cormac Foley and Fintan Gunne. There's lots of potential but the history of development raises the question if they can push through to make it a reality.
The pecking order at outhalf post Sexton seems a little clearer now but does it give comfort to fans? Ross Byrne is a perfect fit for Leinsters system that requires a stand and sling 10 who sits in the pocket and distributes and thats why he is Leinster's first choice 10 with his brother Harry next in line. Ciaran Frawley similar to Gibson Park is a player Andy Farrell has identified and developed as a 10 with Leo Cullen seeing him as anything other than an outhalf based on game time. Sam Prendergast was "the chosen one" when he was part of the Ireland under 20s team but despite the calls from pundits as Sextons successor he is being eased in gradually. Gametime from the bench is important but starting Prendergast has been thrown somewhat to the wolves - 60% of his starts have come on the Leinster B team tours to South Africa and he only has a 40% win rate when starting.
Leinsters overseas signings for next season will grab the headlines and will most definitely make them a better team, more likely to win silverware in the short term but if you scratch below the surface there are some question marks about the back up and depth chart in certain positions that would start to worry me. For the 25/26 season with RG and Barrett gone, where do Leinster use their NIQ spots? Is it back up for the props, add lock or scrum half depth or do they push the boat out and try for dispensation for an international quality 10?
It will be a few seasons before we know but Leinster need to have players pushing the current generational talents and replacing them before they retire. We've already seen with Sexton that its difficult to do that in the Irish system especially when central contracts and an Ireland team that is harder to get out of than into is in place. 10 central contracts is an amazing achievement but when you look at how Leinster have managed the transition from Sexton, could they afford to do something similar in 3 or 4 years at loosehead, tighthead, scrum half and centre in one go and be happy that the talent currently there now can be developed to replace them to a similar standard? Only time will tell.
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