Tadhg Furlong confirms that he turned down a longer IRFU contract

Ireland and Leinster tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong has revealed that he turned down a longer contract offer from the IRFU.

The 28-year-old has reiterated that he is "very happy" with his current situation internationally and at Leinster but confirmed that he opted to sign a one-year extension over a longer deal.

After a prolonged period of negotiations, he extended his contract by one year, up to the end of the 2021/22 season 

"There was a delay in starting the negotiations across the board because of the situation we're in," the Wexford man said at a Vodafone event.

"I was coming back from a long-term injury, I wanted to get back playing, and when you're in big game weeks you don't want to be talking contracts.

"The one-year deal probably suited me best, for a number of reasons really. What I would say is I'm very happy where I am playing rugby. I'm very happy in Leinster, I'm very happy with Ireland.

"I'm well looked after in terms of not only game management, but my relationship with physios, coaches, how we want to play. There's a good group of us now who came through the academy together and we're getting to that 27 to 29, 30 age bracket. We'll see where we are again next year.

"I suppose there is the element of risk with the one-year deal from my point of view in terms of injury, selection, performance et cetera but you just have to get on with it don't you? If you start thinking like that you're in trouble."

When asked if he had the option of penning a longer deal, Furlong replied: "There was the offer of more than one year on the table."