Hurricane blowing over to Leinster

Hurricanes and Taranaki prop Michael Bent has signed a contract to join Irish side Leinster at the end of the NPC later this year.

The 25-year-old has signed a two-year deal and is eligible for Ireland selection through his maternal grandmother.

The chance to play international rugby was a major attraction for Bent when he considered his options.

"That's really something I want to push hard for," Bent told Sportal. "It will be a big focus when I get over there. That's certainly one of the aspects of the deal that I thought was quite attractive and one of the reasons I signed."

Former Taranaki, Crusaders and All Black prop Greg Feek is currently the scrum coach at Leinster and helped convince Bent to head for the Heineken Cup holders at the end of the year.

"In my first year (in the Hurricanes) wider group Greg Feek was here so I've had a bit to do with him," explained Bent.

"He was the one I was talking to a fair bit just getting the gist of things over there.

"Talking to him it sounds like a great environment and a great team to play for."

Bent has struggled to get regular game-time with the Hurricanes this season, with head coach Mark Hammett using rookies Tristan Moran and Jeff Toomaga-Allen to partner Ben May in the front row.