James Lowe eligible for Ireland in November after signing new Leinster deal

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Lowe arrived at Leinster from the Chiefs in 2017Image source, Inpho
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New Zealander Lowe arrived at Leinster from the Chiefs in 2017

Leinster winger James Lowe will become eligible to play for Ireland in November after signing a new three-year deal with the Irish province.

Lowe, 27, went back to his native New Zealand in March after the Covid-19 pandemic halted the season.

He tweeted: "Excited to be staying in Dublin for another three years."

Lowe joined Pro14 Leinster from the Chiefs in 2017 and will become eligible for Ireland through World Rugby's three-year residency rule.

That rule has been extended to five years but Lowe arrived in Ireland when the three-year protocol existed.

The Pro14 season is due to resume on 22 August, while Leinster will play their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Saracens in mid-September.

Last week, Leinster presented a list of 28 players who have agreed new contracts for the 2020-21 season.

Backs Fergus McFadden and Rob Kearney are in their final seasons with Leinster but will remain at the province to see out the delayed 2019-20 campaign.

McFadden will retire at the end of the season while Kearney, another of Leinster's long-standing Ireland internationals, is still assessing his options.