The future of Ireland and Leinster wing James Lowe remains uncertain as his contract approaches its expiry at the end of the season, with no new deal yet in sight.
Despite a record-breaking performance on Saturday, where Lowe scored his 70th and 71st tries on his 100th appearance for Leinster—surpassing Shane Horgan's long-standing club record—head coach Leo Cullen offered no clarity on the player's future following the 59-10 win over the Lions in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals.
"Listen, James will come out in terms of his own individual piece, so, it's not really right for me to comment on him at this moment in time," Cullen said, while also noting pre-match that "conversations are always ongoing" and that "some people will move on."
Lowe, originally from New Zealand, arrived in Ireland in 2017 from the Chiefs and has since become a vital player for both Leinster and Ireland. He made his Ireland debut in 2020 after qualifying through residency, earning 45 caps and scoring 17 tries, and played a key role in Ireland's Six Nations titles in 2023 and 2024. He also represented the British and Irish Lions during their series win over Australia last summer.
If Lowe leaves Leinster and moves outside Ireland, he would lose eligibility for head coach Andy Farrell's squad for the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Farrell had expressed confidence in March that Lowe and centre Bundee Aki would sign new contracts. While Aki has agreed to a one-year extension with Connacht, no progress has been made on Lowe's deal, which is with Leinster rather than the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).
Lowe missed the Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux due to a hamstring injury sustained during the Six Nations, but his two tries against the Lions demonstrate his continued threat when fit. Cullen praised Lowe's impact, saying, "He's been a great character in the group. Very, very different, you know, what he brings, great energy."