Connacht awake to new IRFU threat - Gerry Thornley

thomond2006

GERRY THORNLEY Rugby Correspondent

THERE IS deep disquiet within Connacht’s ranks that, yet again, the Sword of Damocles may be hanging over them following the IRFU’s recent decision to permit only one-year contracts for those already on the province’s books.

This also follows a recent governance and operations review of the professional game within Connacht, which has either yet to be completed or the results of which have yet to be made known.

Apart from a handful of players who were already under longer contracts, it is understood the IRFU are only sanctioning one-year deals for any other players whom Connacht are looking to re-sign beyond the end of the 2009-10 season.

This is in stark contrast to the other three provinces, where most of their squads have already been signed up for next season and where the union have not applied such an across-the-board ceiling on the length of contracts.

For example, Ulster have recently signed Johann Muller and Xavier Rush,
as well as home-grown players Stephen Ferris, Paddy Wallace and Rory Best, on longer deals.

What’s more, Leinster have already found a successor to Michael Cheika and secured the Clermont Auvergne assistant coach Joe Schmidt on a three-year deal, and Tony McGahan has re-signed for another two years at Munster, whereas Connacht have been unable to confirm Michael Bradley’s successor.

This is despite Bradley announcing his decision to stand down after seven years at the helm as far ago as early November and, on top of which, Connacht quickly lined up his assistant, Eric Elwood, as the man to replace Bradley.

However, as with player contracts, the IRFU will only sanction a one-year contract for Elwood which, understandably, has not gone down well with the province or, presumably, Elwood.

In truth, the threat to Connacht has never fully gone away ever since the IRFU considered axing the province as a professional entity in the 2002-03 season. That was only averted after the supporters rallied round the province and marched on Lansdowne Road.

Within the province, it is feared that one or two influential committee men, as opposed to the executive staff, are again looking at the possibility of saving the union an estimated €2.5 million per annum by abandoning Connacht as a professional entity at the end of the 2010-11 season.

This is in light of the financing of the Aviva Stadium (the loan for which is being paid off in five years), the estimated halving of the valuation of their property portfolio in the economic downturn and undisclosed financial assistance to Ulster.

Regarding the policy to offer only one-year contracts to the Connacht players, an IRFU spokesperson last night confirmed: “That’s correct,” adding: “The reason behind that is that the union have conducted a governance and operations review which has only just been completed.

“That was on the basis that Connacht came to the union to ask us to look at their rugby and business model. Connacht felt that they were in an unsustainable position and asked the IRFU to conduct a review in order to create a more sustainable model to operate in.

“Pending that review the union felt it was prudent not to offer more than one-year contracts.

“Very few people have seen that review,” he added, but said that it would soon be circulated.

It could be that when the results of the review are released, the purse strings will yet be loosened and contracts of more than one year will be sanctioned.

But until that happens, those within Connacht’s professional ranks will remain deeply concerned.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0226/1224265201873.html

That's very worrying.

No doubt we'll hear more about this soon.

Ciaran-Irl

That is a huge worry...

I do agree that the current situation is unsustainable, but dissolving the team is a bad idea. Many in Scotland think that getting rid of Borders was the worst decision ever made by the Union. Having an extra club for players to get experience is invaluable.

I amn't sure what the solution is mind you.

Theoretically, they could replace connacht with a branded non provincial Franchise and move it somewhere else where there might be more interest in rugby, but obviously this is highly unlikely. They might be planning an overhaul of the AIL that would bring it to a higher level, and they might feel that players will get enough experience there (I disagree).

Podge_irl

Considering the rather massive backlog of academy players in Leinster especially, along with the constant complaints of Ireland having such a small playing pool, these seems like a rather absurd decision. Connacht needs to be treated properly, not shut down. With the current system a 4th team anywhere in one of the current provinces just won't work.

It's just silly to give Connacht less funding, make it difficult for them to recruit quality players and stick them with a woefully inadequate coach and then complain that they aren't successful.

Co45

Another club located in Dublin would be much more appropirate. There is a lot of rugby players in the Leinster academy that won't go to Connacht because they are in college in Dublin. Many aren't willing to just drop their course on the hope that one day they might be a professional player. An actual development team where clubs like Munster, Leinster and Ulster could send their players on one year deals to get experience. We could see something like :

1. Hurley
2. Kyriacou
3. Jack McGrath
4. Devin Toner
5. Donnacha Ryan
6.Kieran Read
7.Phil Waugh(might want to seek a new challegene at this point in career)
8.Ruddock
9.Willis
10.Stephen Donald
11.D.Kearney
12.Adrian Jacobs
13.Macken
14.Hosea Gear
15.Conway

With 5 quality foreign signings that could be a team that could pull off a few results. Obviously the players in bold are just an example of what signings could be pulled off if another 2.5million was pumped into a new club. The club could even use donnybrook grounds as their stadium if the IRFU could make a deal with Leinster.

Very far fetched I know

Ciaran-Irl

Co45 wrote: »

Another club located in Dublin would be much more appropirate. There is a lot of rugby players in the Leinster academy that won't go to Connacht because they are in college in Dublin. Many aren't willing to just drop their course on the hope that one day they might be a professional player. An actual development team where clubs like Munster, Leinster and Ulster could send their players on one year deals to get experience. We could see something like :

1. Hurley
2. Kyriacou
3. Jack McGrath
4. Devin Toner
5. Donnacha Ryan
6.Kieran Read
7.Phil Waugh(might want to seek a new challegene at this point in career)
8.Ruddock
9.Willis
10.Stephen Donald
11.D.Kearney
12.Adrian Jacobs
13.Macken
14.Hosea Gear
15.Conway

With 5 quality foreign signings that could be a team that could pull off a few results. Obviously the players in bold are just an example of what signings could be pulled off if another 2.5million was pumped into a new club. The club could even use donnybrook grounds as their stadium if the IRFU could make a deal with Leinster.

Very far fetched I know

No more or less likely that there being one Cork team and one Limerick team :-)

That is to say, VERY unlikely.

Co45

Ciaran-Irl wrote: »

No more or less likely that there being one Cork team and one Limerick team :-)

That is to say, VERY unlikely.

More just a bit of fun than anything.

Sangre

Maybe they are trying to clear out all the deadwood signings in Connacht to make room for Leinster/Munster academy players?

outwest

this is just wrong,
the problem was bradley and his inability to play the good young palyer like o brien and o halloran at senior level, the irfu would hate connacht to win the amlin this year, or even see them in the Hcup.

why do this the year bradley is leaving, not fair on new managment that coming in.

sock puppet

Co45 wrote: »

Another club located in Dublin would be much more appropirate. There is a lot of rugby players in the Leinster academy that won't go to Connacht because they are in college in Dublin. Many aren't willing to just drop their course on the hope that one day they might be a professional player. An actual development team where clubs like Munster, Leinster and Ulster could send their players on one year deals to get experience. We could see something like :

1. Hurley
2. Kyriacou
3. Jack McGrath
4. Devin Toner
5. Donnacha Ryan
6.Kieran Read
7.Phil Waugh(might want to seek a new challegene at this point in career)
8.Ruddock
9.Willis
10.Stephen Donald
11.D.Kearney
12.Adrian Jacobs
13.Macken
14.Hosea Gear
15.Conway

With 5 quality foreign signings that could be a team that could pull off a few results. Obviously the players in bold are just an example of what signings could be pulled off if another 2.5million was pumped into a new club. The club could even use donnybrook grounds as their stadium if the IRFU could make a deal with Leinster.

Very far fetched I know

Those 5 foreign signings alone would probably wipe out half of the €2.5 million saved by shutting down Connacht.

buck65

The IRFU are treating Connacht disgracefully. Remember they are top seed in the Amlin Cup, they have always punched well above their weight at European level and with a few more players would have the squad to really have a cut at the Magners league. At the moment they are stretched in every way, player qualtiy and quantity, facilities.
I really can't understand why some investor doesn't take this team from the IRFU and pump a few million in and turn this around to be a viable business. Rugby is booming in this country.
A Connacht-less situation would be a disaster, as some have posted previously the amount of academy players that could do with a senior contract alone should be a reason for the IRFU ro invest.

Co45

buck65 wrote: »

The IRFU are treating Connacht disgracefully. Remember they are top seed in the Amlin Cup, they have always punched well above their weight at European level and with a few more players would have the squad to really have a cut at the Magners league. At the moment they are stretched in every way, player qualtiy and quantity, facilities.
I really can't understand why some investor doesn't take this team from the IRFU and pump a few million in and turn this around to be a viable business. Rugby is booming in this country.
A Connacht-less situation would be a disaster, as some have posted previously the amount of academy players that could do with a senior contract alone should be a reason for the IRFU ro invest.

They're pumping 2.5million into Connacht yearly! I agree that they shouldn't disband Connacht but this financing excuse doesn't wash with me. The problem with Connacht is they make very poor signings and seem to be continously mismanaged.

outwest

bradley has signed a few bad player, nathen, nikora and morris, all of these could be repalced with connacht player bradley let go, durcan, riordan, durcan was poorly treated by bradley, was motm v south africa and didnt get another chance left the following summer and bradley got troy in, riordan shipped out nikora in, the front row should be wilko morris hagen, morris just get sin binned and gives away stupid pens,

skelliser

to hell or to connacht!, the west brits have spoken!

Webbs

As a non irishman it would be a huge mistake for the IRFU to remove a fourth province.
It may take a few years but the ramifications of that would be seen at International level with poor strength in depth a result as younger players were not given the opportunity to play at a reasonable level.

The alternative to 4 regions may involve the IRFU and the Irish national team management putting further pressure on the regions to pick only Irish qualified players in certain positions and as a result a decline in the standards of the regions.
Wales for example have been struggling for backrow forwards and scrumhalves as there are so many non welsh players in those positions.

bamboozle

would this possibly lead to scenario's where Connacht would bring in players from other provinces on 1 year deals or on loans, 1 year deals would be ideal for lads who are finishing in academys but not yet ready to step into bigger shoes

anonymous_joe

Sangre wrote: »

Maybe they are trying to clear out all the deadwood signings in Connacht to make room for Leinster/Munster academy players?

When I read it that's the obvious conclusion. And you'd be able to nick anyone who does well because it'd only be a year long contract.

Macsimus

anonymous_joe wrote: »

When I read it that's the obvious conclusion. And you'd be able to nick anyone who does well because it'd only be a year long contract.

Yeah, seems more likely they're bringing in the 1 yr contracts to facilitate players moving from Connacht to the larger clubs, and those players could then be replaced by academy players from Lein/Mun/Ulster, who are badly in need of development.

Would be an extremely short sighted move to shut Connacht down.

Edit: Have to laugh at GT dragging out 'the sword of damocles' reference - I'm obviously not the only one whose knowledge of the classics is principally derived from 'the simpsons'

buck65

buck65 wrote: »

The IRFU are treating Connacht disgracefully. Remember they are top seed in the Amlin Cup, they have always punched well above their weight at European level and with a few more players would have the squad to really have a cut at the Magners league. At the moment they are stretched in every way, player qualtiy and quantity, facilities.
I really can't understand why some investor doesn't take this team from the IRFU and pump a few million in and turn this around to be a viable business. Rugby is booming in this country.
A Connacht-less situation would be a disaster, as some have posted previously the amount of academy players that could do with a senior contract alone should be a reason for the IRFU ro invest.

The point about investors is it can't really happen the way the provincial setup is run. Money can be pumped in from outsiders but they get a 0% stake in Connacht Rugby or any of the other three for that matter while they are under the IRFU banner.Therefore it isn't an investment.

The only way an investor may come in is if Connacht Pro side is disbanded, the IRFU don't want to see things going down the Edinburgh route as the provinces becoming standalone clubs is the last situation the IRFU want to arise for a multitude of reasons including access to players, current player management situation, no restriction on NIQ players etc.

buck65

I know what you mean Borders but if it came to the IRFU closing down Connacht and an investor willing to take over then I know what I'd prefer to see. Surely the potential suitor and the IRFU could come to an arrangement whereby the IRFU could still insist on things like NIQs and player access in granting a licence to a new consortium?

What way is it done in England?

Connacht is an existing brand and to force an investor to start from fresh would be unfair to say the least. I know this is all pie in the sky talk but when you see what is happening in the other provinces commercially I really don't understand why with planning and decent structures it couldn't happen in the West.

Robbo

Sangre wrote: »

Maybe they are trying to clear out all the deadwood signings in Connacht to make room for Leinster/Munster academy players?

The last two contract extensions signed were Sean Cronin and Jamie Hagan for 1 year each.

This is either the beginning of the end for Connacht or the start of some kind of fast-swapping incubator programme.

And I do love the talk of franchises and brands, it makes me feel so American and sophisticated. Perhaps if Malcolm Glazer has a few quid to whack into a leveraged multiplier, he could take over the Galway Eagleswords?

anonymous_joe

Macsimus wrote: »

Yeah, seems more likely they're bringing in the 1 yr contracts to facilitate players moving from Connacht to the larger clubs, and those players could then be replaced by academy players from Lein/Mun/Ulster, who are badly in need of development.

Would be an extremely short sighted move to shut Connacht down.

Edit: Have to laugh at GT dragging out 'the sword of damocles' reference - I'm obviously not the only one whose knowledge of the classics is principally derived from 'the simpsons'

Dunno really. A lot of rugby schools also offer Classical Studies. :pac:

profitius

Sangre wrote: »

Maybe they are trying to clear out all the deadwood signings in Connacht to make room for Leinster/Munster academy players?

I actually think this is what they're going to do. Currently Connacht is just existing and the IRFU are not getting any value out of it in terms of helping the national team. Flannery and Cronin are exceptions.


I think they now realise that a 4th team is needed to give game time to some of the quality young players who can't get games with the other provinces. Theres no point in Connacht signing southern hemisphere players while still finishing bottom of the league. If less point when you look at all the other players who can't get games for the bigger provinces. I reckon the IRFU realise that it has to change.


Maybe in a few years time when the IRFU debts are cleared they might give Connacht proper funding.

outwest

Maybe in a few years time when the IRFU debts are cleared they might give Connacht proper funding.[/QUOTE]


no they wont, connacht have and will always get less funding from the irfu. and also most big stars like bod poc and tol get their wages paid for by the irfu so their budget can be spent elsewhere, jdv, howlett get close to 600000 in wages between them, that more then a 1/5 of connacht entire budget on two players.

connacht have and had a good few good young player, hopefull the next coach will have a brain and play them instead of the the likes of nathan and nikora,

in fairness tho naupo has been very impressive in all the games he played in with exception on munster,

f1dan

connacht have and had a good few good young player, hopefull the next coach will have a brain and play them instead of the the likes of nathan and nikora,

in fairness tho naupo has been very impressive in all the games he played in with exception on munster

Naoupou and Ofisa have been 2 of the better signings, Upton too has done well. To be fair Nathan can put in some good performances, although i'll never forgive him for not passing the ball last Sunday.

Nikora however is a complete waste of space. I watched the team training last week and you could easily find someone to replace him in any AIL match.

seanin4711

f1dan wrote: »

Naoupou and Ofisa have been 2 of the better signings, Upton too has done well. To be fair Nathan can put in some good performances, although i'll never forgive him for not passing the ball last Sunday.

Nikora however is a complete waste of space. I watched the team training last week and you could easily find someone to replace him in any AIL match.

Agree!
You would wonder why the branch go to the other side of the planet to sign an extremely ordinary(and thats being kind!) player.
sean:rolleyes:

Sleepy

Co45 wrote: »

There is a lot of rugby players in the Leinster academy that won't go to Connacht because they are in college in Dublin. Many aren't willing to just drop their course on the hope that one day they might be a professional player

There's both a University and an IT in Galway and I'm sure both would be willing to allow someone transfer in from a Dublin college where there's a similar course available.

anonymous_joe

Sleepy wrote: »

There's both a University and an IT in Galway and I'm sure both would be willing to allow someone transfer in from a Dublin college where there's a similar course available.

If I happened to be doing Commerce in UCD (again) there's a strong chance that a job I secure on the back of a decent commerce degree will pay me more money than a job as a pro rugby player. College is thus more attractive to me than rugby.

Going to Galway might not be to my benefit if I intend to work in Dublin for the majority of my adult life.

This isn't football where the chances of someone making more money in an alternative career are relatively low.