Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the London Irish have announced the signing of Jamie Hagan from Leinster, the Irish provincial side, who has put pen to paper on a new three year deal with the Premiership club.
The 25 year old plays as a tight head prop forward and joined the Leinster side from school before he made the move across the Galway to sign with Connacht, where he made over 50 appearances for the club before re-signing with Leinster back in 2011.
Having joined the Leinster Academy as an 18 year old back in 2005, Hagan earned caps at all the levels – provincial as well as national through all the age groups during his stint there. He was part of that famous Under 20 Ireland national team that went on to capture the Grand Slam title back in 2007. His former club maintained a brief on his progress at Connacht and after he impressed in the league, he was re-signed in June 2011. And the London Irish is another club that had maintained a long scouting report on the player before moving for him finally.
Brian Smith, the Director of Rugby at The Exiles stated that Hagan has all the skills and talents required to become a Test player for the Ireland national team in the future. He mentioned that having played at the very top level in the Rabo Direct Pro 12; he is more than ready to play for the London Irish in the Aviva Premiership.
The player himself is also excited about making the moved across the sea to England and the Aviva Premiership and added that he just cannot wait to put on the kit of the club, which is one of the famous English clubs in his own country and England as well.