Nacewa 'absolutely surprised' Leinster released all-time top try-scorer Lowe before URC Final

Isa Nacewa has said he was “absolutely surprised” that Leinster chose not to renew James Lowe’s contract, with the winger set to depart for Japan after Friday’s United Rugby Championship Grand Final against the Bulls at Croke Park.

Lowe, who arrived in Dublin a decade ago and went on to become Leinster’s all-time leading try-scorer, will bring the curtain down on nine seasons in Irish rugby in what is the province’s biggest game of the season. Nacewa, who won four Heineken Cup titles and two Pro 12/Pro 14 titles across two spells with Leinster, recalled personally collecting Lowe from Dublin Airport when he first arrived.

“It’s interesting that he doesn’t get a contract but becomes the all-time leading try-scorer for Leinster in the last game,” Nacewa said. “Oh, look, he’s been absolutely superb since he landed, and we picked him up from the airport in Dublin 10 seasons ago now.”

Nacewa, who has recently taken up the role of head of athletic performance at Auckland Rugby Union, was effusive about the influence Lowe has had both on the pitch and within the squad. “He’s helped mentor the Tommy O’Briens and the Jimmy O’Briens, had so much influence on the club, and is just a great human at the same time,” he said. “But the decision’s hard. I’m not privy to any of the decisions, but he’s been a weapon for Leinster and Ireland. So was I surprised? Yeah, absolutely.”

Nacewa acknowledged that Lowe’s farewell will add emotional weight to an already high-stakes occasion, but cautioned that those feelings will need to be carefully managed. “There’s more than the match on the line,” he said. “There’s always that extra fire in the belly when there’s someone as important to the club as James when he’s leaving. But it’s about containing all that emotion.”

He added that Lowe himself would be unlikely to want the occasion to become a distraction. “James won’t want to make a big deal of it. He’ll just want to get into a stride of things, not let it be a distraction and get into the groove of what the week is and how to build for a final.”

The Bulls, meanwhile, arrive at Croke Park having lost three URC finals in four years, including last season’s defeat to Leinster. Two-time World Cup winner Willie le Roux has said that result will have no bearing on Friday night’s clash, with the South African side determined to finally claim the title.