Nathan Hines will link up with his 2009 British & Irish Lions teammates Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Jamie Heaslip and Gordon D’Arcy when he joins Heineken Cup champions Leinster this summer.
The 32-year-old lock-cum-blindside flanker was one of only two Scottish internationals selected in the original draft of players selected for the South African tour and gave up the chance to play in the semi-finals and final of the French Championship with Perpignan to make the tour.
He played in five games for the Lions, although picked up a week long suspension after being cited for a dangerous tackle against the Emerging Springboks.
His return to the Magners League will see him play against his former team mates at Edinburgh. He is set to sign a two-year deal with Leinster and could take over the blindside role vacated by the departing Aussie Rocky Elsom.
