The IRFU are right in the middle of a storm that doesn’t look like shifting any time soon.
Reports this morning suggest that Munster’s James Cronin is off to the Aviva Premiership next season. This follows Wednesday’s news that Marty Moore will be the latest high-profile Irish rugby player to leave the country on a lucrative deal.
Moore is set to join former Leinster teammate Brendan Macken at Wasps next season. Leinster now look set to line up in 2016/17 without Moore and Ian Madigan, who is off to Bordeaux/Begles in France’s Top 14.
Other Irish prospects, such as JJ Hanrahan [Northampton], Paddy Butler [Pau], Chris Farrell and Denis Coulson [both Grenoble], are all plying their trade abroad and more could follow.
Top 14 sides have been able to offer big-money deals to players for the past decade and, following an relaxation of salary cap impositions, the Aviva Premiership has increased financial clout.
The IRFU has decreased the amount of international contracts it has handed out in recent years [there are currently 13 players on full IRFU deals], which does not help.
One of the main fall-backs for the union would be to exclude foreign-based players from Ireland’s Test squad. It is a stringent measure that backfired on England in the World Cup and one that both Australia and Wales have watered down in the past 12 months.
Still, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt is a man that, more often than not, calls the shots.
As a deterrent to a looming player exodus, should Joe Schmidt exclude players with foreign clubs from his upcoming Six Nations squad?
It is my opinion that Schmidt should include the likes of Madigan, Moore and even Hanrahan.
It is understandable that the coach, and union, wave the carrot of Test rugby at leading lights but there is little point in forcing players to remain in the country. It will reflect badly on performances in the long-run.
As for the players, they are more than free to shop around. Most top-end players only get two or three big contract offers in their entire career so they should go after the best deals possible.
What the provinces, through the union, must be freed up to do is offer longer contracts to senior players and allow them to explore more image right and sponsorship possibilities.
It has been roundly acknowledged, for the past few years, that the unions need to loosen the lease around provincial necks to allow them to seek outside investments. This notion should become a fast-tracked reality.
Also, the IRFU last year announced a surplus of €8.7m due to on-field success and positive ticket sales.
What good is a surplus when there is a talent drain taking place.
Swift action is needed and excluding some of their best players because they are earning in France and England is not an option.
Only New Zealand can get away with stuff like that.
