James Lowe says “not everyone gets their fairytale ending” as he confirmed he will leave Leinster at the end of the season after nine years in Irish rugby.
Lowe, 33, joined Leinster in 2017 and has scored a club-record 71 tries in 101 appearances.
The New Zealand-born back has been a hugely influential figure for Ireland, earning 45 caps since his debut in 2020 after qualifying through World Rugby’s old three-year residency rule.
He has helped Andy Farrell’s side win two Six Nations titles, including the 2023 Grand Slam, and also represented the British and Irish Lions in last year’s series win over Australia.
With Leinster, Lowe has won five United Rugby Championship/PRO 14 titles, the 2018 Champions Cup and is set to play his final game in the URC final against the Bulls at Croke Park on 19 June.
Before Ireland’s Six Nations win over Scotland in March, which secured the Triple Crown, Farrell said he expected both Lowe and centre Bundee Aki to sign new contracts.
But while Aki agreed a new one-year deal to stay with Connacht, Lowe is set to leave when his contract expires this summer and has been strongly linked with a move to Japan’s Suntory Sungoliath.
Moving to Japan would halt his Ireland career a year out from the Rugby World Cup in Australia given the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)’s policy of not selecting players based outside of Ireland.
“I find it difficult to put into words what Ireland means to me,” Lowe said in a statement.
“It’s become so much more than a place of work. It’s become our home. This country has not only shaped me, it has shaped my career, our family and given us friendship that we will have for the rest of our lives.”
