![](\"https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/images\/common-svg\/select-arrow.svg\"){kind=icon}
https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/news\/luke-mcgraths-leinster-exit-appears-to-be-a-done-deal\/ <\/p>\nmens<\/p>\n
united-rugby-championship<\/p>\n
Leinster captain Luke McGrath walks the pitch before the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly\/Sportsfile via Getty Images) https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/news\/luke-mcgraths-leinster-exit-appears-to-be-a-done-deal\/ <\/p>\n
Perpignan<\/a> are reported to have agreed a deal to sign Leinster\u2019s former Ireland<\/a> scrum-half Luke McGrath<\/a> to end their search for an international-quality scrum-half.<\/p>\n McGrath, 33, who was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and grew up in Ireland, won the last of his 20 caps with a seven-minute cameo in Ireland\u2019s 2019 World Cup quarter-final defeat against the All Blacks<\/a> in Tokyo.<\/p>\n The experienced star has become Jamison Gibson-Park\u2019s understudy, only starting five of his 13 appearances this season, and had talks with the Blood and Golds when they were priced out of a move for Springbok Faf de Klerk.<\/p>\n McGrath, who has made 251 appearances for Leinster, scoring 55 tries, has now agreed terms with Perpignan for a move when his contract in the Irish capital ends this summer, according to Midi Olympique.<\/p>\n He will play alongside Tom Ecochard<\/a>, 33, who has signed a new one-year deal, and South African James Hall<\/a>, 30, who has put pen to paper on a two-year extension to his current contract.<\/p>\n Perpignan, who are battling against relegation from the Top 14, have been very active in the transfer market, hoping that bringing in quality signings will bolster their fortunes next season.<\/p>\n They have already confirmed the signing of All Blacks winger Sevu Reece<\/a> and his Crusaders<\/a> team-mate, outside centre Braydon Ennor<\/a>, who has won nine All Blacks caps.<\/p>\n They travel to Stade Francais<\/a> on Saturday afternoon and will almost certainly face a relegation play-off at the end of the season unless they can cut the 18-point gap between them and 12th-placed Bayonne.<\/p>\n Eleven points clear of bottom-of-the-table side Montauban, they have also signed Montpellier<\/a> loosehead Enzo Forletta<\/a>, Oyonnax<\/a> inside centre Ma\u00eblan Rabut and Saracens<\/a> Italian international tighthead Marco Riccioni.<\/p>\n