O'Loughlin happy to stay on the wing

Leinster's Rory O'Loughlin says he is happy playing on the wing and in no hurry to return to his favoured position at centre.

The 22-year-old started on the wing in the province's 57-3 win over Montpellier in Dublin on Friday evening, as Leo Cullen's side became the first team to qualify for the last eight of the European Champions Cup.

O'Loughlin, who spent most of his career at the Leinster Academy as an outside centre, accepts that it will be difficult to displace Ireland international Garry Ringrose and take his No 13 jersey.

"I’ve enjoyed the wing, especially playing with the two boys [Robbie Henshaw and Rngrose] in the centre," the former St Michael's pupil told the42.ie

"They’re constantly chatting and I’ve already had a good few assists from Garry so I’m happy enough playing on the wing, I’m enjoying it. It is a different position but even if it ends up that I do go back into the centre, I think it’s going to improve my game overall.

"I’m just happy to be involved in these games at the moment to be honest, I don’t really mind what position I’m playing as long as I’m playing."

O'Loughlin, who is expected to sign a new two-year deal with Leinster in the coming days, says his recent good form is due in part to an injury-free pre-season.

"I’ve just been working to stay on the training pitch because the last few seasons I hadn’t been training consistently and the chances didn’t come where as this year I don’t think I missed a session pre-season," O'Loughlin, who has scored seven tries in his last six matches, continued.

"You get confidence from that and when you play games you gain more confidence.

"When you’re clear with your role in the team and all the moves and plays and stuff you aren’t as nervous about that and you can concentrate more on expressing yourself and playing to your potential. It has been more about staying fit and keep progressing as a player really.

"It’s great to play in a team like that where everyone has the confidence to take a player on and has the confidence to throw an offload as I’ve been in teams in the past when it’s been kind of frowned upon but we’re in a place now where we’re backing ourselves and our skill-sets and thankfully it has worked well."

In other Leinster news, Leinster lock Hayden Triggs has been cited for making contact with the eye area of Montpellier scrum-half Nic White at the RDS on Friday.

The New Zealander is likely to face a ban of at least 12 weeks if found guilty of making contact with the eye area at the hearing, which takes place in Paris on Wednesday.

Photo: Inpho/James Crombie

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