IRELAND INTERIM HEAD coach Simon Easterby said they are “confident” that Jack Crowley will sign a new deal to stay in Irish rugby beyond the end of this season. Munster out-half Crowley’s current contract expires this summer and English club Leicester have made an approach for the 25-year-old.

Simon Easterby has given his backing to Jack Crowley to make an impact at out-half this week, while he remains "confident" the Munster man will stay in Ireland next season.

Crowley also caught the eye with a fleeting but effervescent endgame appearance at the Stadio Olimpico two years ago. He was patient then, has been patient again now, and deserves his chance, as the Farrell/Easterby policy of bringing two young outhalves to the next World Cup with 50-plus caps between them continues.

IRELAND ARE SET to give Jack Crowley his first start of the Six Nations in their final game of the championship against Italy in Rome on Saturday. Crowley has been used off the bench in all four matches so far but now looks set to take over in the number 10 shirt against the Italians.

Leicester Tigers have ‘launched an audacious bid’ to sign Ireland and Munster fly-half Jack Crowley, according to reports. Crowley started all five of Ireland’s Six Nations matches last year, filling Johnny Sexton’s void in the number ten jumper.