There's a fair argument to be made that there's been no club debut quite as highly anticipated as Jordie Barrett's debut for Leinster.
The All Black finally joined up with the Leinster side last week following the culmination of New Zealand's 2024 season and all going well, could be in line for a debut in the Champions Cup in the coming weeks.
Since the confirmation of the short-term deal back in April and since then fans have been salivating at the thought of one of the 68-time All Black joining up with a side that has reached 3 Champions Cup finals in-a-row. Leinster have an even larger embarrassment of riches as Jordie Barrett will be joining a backline already boasting the likes of Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, Robbie Henshaw and more.
It's a move that has divided opinion of fans outside of Leinster with some feeling that there's no need for Leinster to go out and sign a player of this calibre who could block the development of homegrown talent. But it's hard to argue that barring injuries, Barrett should make a positive impact in Leinster this season.
He's already been a part of the travelling squad that went up to Belfast last week, where he was on water and tee duties during their 27-20 interpro victory over Ulster at the Kingspan. In his first interview as a Leinster player, Barrett talked his arrival and first week in Dublin following the Autumn Nations Series and mentioned the special treatment he got.
Yeah it's great to be here, got the royal treatment, got picked up at the airport by Tadhg Furlong so it's great to be welcomed by someone like that. It's nice to be able to rub shoulders with a lot of boys.
This week the internationals are away so seen plenty of fresh faces in and around the environment. It's a special time that I'm much looking forward to.
Jordie Barrett has already been the talk of the town in Dublin and made headlines last month when he was pictured pouring a pint of Guinness at a pub in Booterstown along with some of his All Blacks teammates ahead of their Autumn Nations Series victory over Ireland in the Aviva.
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When Barrett was asked about the story of the video, he chuckled and explained how it came about.
Yeah, funny old story. Popped out for a meal and a pint on a Sunday night and somehow found its way all over social media. Look, it's great to be in Dublin, the people are amazing and I'm looking forward to my time here.
He may only be at Leinster for a short time, but hopefully fans will get to see the best of Jordie Barrett in a Leinster jersey and maybe this will be the move that finally end Leinsters' Champions Cup woes.
