Hines to join the Heineken Cup winners

Hines had spent the last four seasons in Perpignan and has made 44 games Heineken Cup appearances - 25 for Edinburgh and 19 for the French champions. The Australian-born forward will stay with the Irish province until at least 2011 and will meet up with his 2009 Lions team-mates Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Jamie Heaslip and Gordon D'Arcy.

The 32-year-old Hines is set to play in the back row in place of the departed Rocky Elsom, Hines packing down at blindside flanker for the Lions in the 20-8 win over Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth last month.

Hines played no part in Perpignan's Top 14 Orange final win because ofthe Lions Tour but will now be a major force in Leinster's Heineken Cup defence when they clash with Brive, London Irish and Scarlets in Pool 6 of the 15th season of European club rugby's premier tournament.