In September, Ronan O’Gara was asked if the first €1m-a-year player might arrive in France after the World Cup. ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘and it might be sooner than you think’
Dan Carter has become rugby’s version of Trevor Francis – the first €1m man. Rugby clubs, for now, receive no transfer fees so the big money goes to player and agent. Depending on the reports you read, the New Zealand out-half will earn anything from €1m to €1.3m per annum when he joins Racing Métro at the end of the year.
Carter is not the only Southern Hemisphere heavyweight jetting into France next season. Adam Ashley Cooper is off to Bordeaux while Will Genia looks set to spurn Bath for either Stade Francais or Toulouse. Ma’a Nonu is joining Toulon and may partner Mathieu Bastareaud in one of the most bruising midfields imaginable.
Reports in the Irish press this week suggested Munster were eyeing Australia and Waratahs winger Rob Horne as a replacement for Northampton-bound JJ Hanrahan. Munster chief executive Garret Fitzgerald will need to convince the IRFU to produce a sizeable wedge to lure the Australian to a country bursting at the seams with wingers.
Therein lies the rub. While Leinster have been very clever in tying up senior players with a contract mix of baseline pay, bonuses, image rights and assistance in securing private sponsorship deals, they remain reliant on their union. Each province also benefits from donations from benefactors (for Ulster Rugby – see Rory McIlroy).
The IRFU is relatively content with the shifting sponsorship sands but will not be ceding control to Sugar Daddys and billionaires just yet.
Racing secured Carter by paying him a reported €500k in basic pay with Arena 92, Racing’s new home from 2016, will match that through image rights and sponsorship deals. The Irish provinces may be able to secure sponsorship and advertisement deals for star players but the Carter payments are in the stratosphere.
It is our proposal, then, that the recruitment rules be eased to allow the provinces to each recruit a ‘marquee’ player from 2015/16.
Bringing in the likes of Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Willie le Roux or Jerome Kaino (wishful thinking here) would engage fans, improve the quality and performances of the provinces and bring on the Irish players on their team.
Munster and Leinster players speak in reverential terms about Isa Nacewa, Doug Howlett and Rocky Elsom while Ulster’s current contingent hold Ruan Pienaar up on a well merited pedestal.
The players themselves – if the names are big enough – should have no problem attracting sponsor’s and advertisers money while earning extra through image rights add-ons. Here are four Southern Hemisphere giants and the provinces we would send them to.
Kieran Read (Ulster)
The province lost a wrecking-ball presence when Stephen Ferris retired last summer. The world’s most dangerous back-row should fill that hole nicely and do some damage in the process.
Aaron Smith (Leinster)
Leinster need some zip back in their game and the All Blacks scrum-half can perfectly provide it while the promising Luke McGrath deputises.
Willie le Roux (Munster)
The South African fullback is superb under the high ball, provides counter-attacking skills and is a genuine line-breaker.
Israel Folau (Connacht)
Once Mils hangs up his boots and joins Pat Lam’s coaching staff, there will be a fullback position up for grabs. Izzy can scrap it out with Darragh Leader for the 15 jersey.
Irish rugby prospered in the Test arena last year thanks to the joined up thinking between unions and provinces. It is no coincidence, though, that players such as Sean O’Brien and Keith Earls underwent procedures that would provide proper fixes, rather than short-term solutions, late last year. The national team took precedence and getting players right ahead of the World Cup is the goal.
The national team is still the priority but, as witnessed in this year’s Champions Cup, some of Ireland’s best players, and provinces, will be left sitting on their hands in April and May.
If the provinces can prove the money is there to support a big-name signing, they should be given leeway to bring them in.
