Sean O'Brien spurns Top 14 offers to commit to Leinster and IRFU

Sean O'Brien has rejected multiple lucrative offers in France to commit his long-term future to home province Leinster, signing a new three-year deal with Leinster and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).

O'Brien turned down European and French heavyweights Toulon to stay at Leinster two years ago, and this new deal ensures the 28-year-old will remain in his native Ireland until after the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

The combative flanker's decision to stay is a timely shot in the arm for Leinster, on the day when much-vaunted centre Ben Te'o agreed to up sticks and join Worcester Warriors next summer.

"Growing up as a young lad in Tullow it was always my ambition to play for Leinster and Ireland so you never take moments like this for granted," O'Brien said. 

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity to sign with a club that I feel is going in the right direction under Leo (Cullen) and the rest of the coaching team. 

"I think we have a hugely talented group of players and coaches at provincial and national level and it is something that I want to be a part of." 

O'Brien's renewed loyalty to Leinster and the Irish system is the perfect tonic to the increasing financial might of Leinster’s English and French rivals. 

Leinster were unable to retain former rugby league star Te'o, the highly-rated centre agreeing to a sizeable deal with Worcester on Tuesday.

The New Zealand-born former South Sydney Rabbitohs star qualifies for England through his mother, and Leinster admitted the opportunity to carve out a Test career with Eddie Jones' national side was a decisive factor in Te’o’s decision to leave Ireland. 

Meanwhile, Connacht's Ireland international centre Robbie Henshaw could be set to replace at Te'o at Leinster next season, Press Association Sport understands. 

The IRFU will hope O'Brien's new deal will help other out-of-contract internationals commit their future to home provinces, with Simon Zebo and Ian Madigan both rumoured to be eyeing moves abroad. 

"Sean is not only a proven world class player but he is a leader within the national set up and at Leinster," said IRFU performance director David Nucifora.

"The IRFU is delighted that Sean has committed to playing in Ireland until after the next World Cup."