Tadhg Furlong has revealed he turned down a longer contract offer from the IRFU but reiterated he is "very happy" with his current situation internationally and at Leinster.
On Monday, the 28-year-old tighthead extended his contract by one year, up to the end of the 2021/22 season after a prolonged period of negotiations.
Furlong said his lengthy rehabilitation from a calf injury, the Covid-19 pandemic and a busy spring period with Ireland and Leinster were all contributory factors to things being held up.
"There was a delay in starting the negotiations across the board because of the situation we're in," the Wexford man said at a Vodafone event to promote their partnership with the Lions.
"I was coming back from a long-term injury, I wanted to get back playing, and when you're in big game weeks you don't want to be talking contracts.
"The one-year deal probably suited me best, for a number of reasons really. What I would say is I'm very happy where I am playing rugby. I'm very happy in Leinster, I'm very happy with Ireland.
"I'm well looked after in terms of not only game management, but my relationship with physios, coaches, how we want to play. There's a good group of us now who came through the academy together and we're getting to that 27 to 29, 30 age bracket. We'll see where we are again next year.
"I suppose there is the element of risk with the one-year deal from my point of view in terms of injury, selection, performance et cetera but you just have to get on with it don't you? If you start thinking like that you're in trouble."
When asked if he had the option of penning a longer deal, Furlong replied: "There was the offer of more than one year on the table."
Expanding on his ambitions with both province and country, Furlong expressed his "deep belief" that Ireland are on the right track under Andy Farrell.
"We had a disappointing Six Nations pre-World Cup and then a disappointing World Cup but I think you a get a sense of it.
"We're there or thereabouts with Leinster every year, we're always competing, certainly in the Pro14 but at the business end of the Champions Cup stages as well
"With Ireland I think we're getting there. I have a deep belief in that."
