Of course you can adjust and redistribute monies, that's basic book keeping. Especially if players being brought on would be at the lower levels of pay brackets
Others have pointed out similar, but if it’s a redistribution of funds, with more going to wider squad players, there has to be less going somewhere else. Where?
A few years ago there was an increase in match fees and bonuses for international victories (centrally contracted players don't get international match fees) and there wasn't win bonuses for individual tests previously and a cut in centrally contracted players.
International match fees for Irish players are roughly 8K per player per cap. Theres also a win bonus of a similar amount and an additional 12K per player game for winning the six nations and roughly 3K per player game for a grandslam. Theres also a payment for being in an Ireland squad.
There's no longer a large number of internationals who will be highly paid no matter what. Instead there's a smaller number of central contractors while there's 35 players thinking in their head that if they get a good run they will get 155K in a six nations or 270K a season.
Edit changed some numbers
Ok, but equally the likes of VdF, Doris, Dan Sheehan, Keenan etc. will all be looking for significantly more on their next deals which will be up in and around when those players retire.
After all, one of your original points was that players deserve to get their market value.
The increased salaries for all the players that have improved, and can command a higher salary at their next contract negotiation, would completely obliterate this pot.
That’s a great breakdown.
Another wrinkle in all of this is that, didn’t some of the higher earning players defer some salary during Covid?
I think there was some deferrals but it was 2020 salaries deferred to 2021.
Just on the topic of my previous comment, look at people like Crowley or Joe McCarthy. Both would be on their first professional contract and on a comparatively low salary and they pocketed 16K each for the Australia game in the AIs.
Every professional player on the fringe of the Irish squad is probably thinking to themselves a good run of form or an injury or two and I'll be 250K a year better off. Thats keeping them in Ireland to a large extent. If they were to leave Ireland to go to England the English team would want to beat their salary by a large amount as they need to beat the salary plus the potential international upside.
Those players will want more money in any situation and I presume the IRFU has budgeted for salary increases in the future. Not trying to veer off into the intricacies of accounting, especially given how opaque the IRFU is in that regard. Just an idea for changing the system. Perhaps they would negotiate lower salaries up front with the offer of increased incentives, there by ensuring the money is targeted at the most valuable players in any given season?
Thats more or less what happened when the number of central contracts fell.
Match fees went up, test victory bonuses were introduced and tournament victory bonuses were increased.
Players on central contracts aren't eligible for match fees.
OK, so there's this tree...
Those players will want more money in any situation and I presume the IRFU has budgeted for salary increases in the future.
You think that budgeting won’t have accounted for no longer having to pay retired players salaries??
In any case, we’re going round in circles, so happy to just leave it there…
Where did you see that €16,000 amount of a bonus for McCarthy playing the Aus game?
Based on his earlier post - 8k match fee and another 8k for the win
Piece by Ruaidhri O'Connor about central contracts in today's Indo, included the following which I wasn't aware of:
"Players on provincial deals can bridge the gap when they put together a run of games for Ireland, with appearance fees on offer which are increased for blocks of five and 10 games at a time. Deals for older players are more weighted towards incentives than a flat wage."
https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/deal-or-no-deal-is-the-irfus-central-contract-system-still-fit-for-purpose-42294925.html (paywalled)
Also Stockdale speculated to lose his central contract
https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-star-jacob-stockdale-to-lose-irfu-deal-after-dropping-off-ireland-radar-42294923.html
No major revelations tbh, says that Keenan has already signed one and VDF and Doris to follow, Stockdale to lose his. Central contracts are in the range of 300 - 500 k but we knew that too.
Lowe is a certain starter for Ireland if fit. He's vital to how Ireland plays by how much he comes off his wing to act as an auxiliary playmaker.
But he has barely played this season due to injury and is now unavailable on compassionate grounds. I just wonder will he even be available for selection.
I think if he's back in Ireland in time for the six nations camp then I'd back him to start even with limited game time.
You keep saying Lowe is vital. Recent results show otherwise.
lets not exaggerate his importance.
I keep saying it because to me it's evident. He's incredibly important to our backline and how we play. Also, I think recent results while good, glosses over the backline performance which wasn't as as impressive. This is probably down to the opposition scouting our systems in greater detail. But Lowe wasn't available at the time and I think in his absence we didn't perform as well.
He comes off his wing and links the play better than any other wing and is also a very effective strike runner.
Fwiw, I think Hansen links the play better, but Lowe is a stronger carrier and offloader. And kicker too.
Another point is that wing is one position we have really good depth in. Sexton, Furlong and Porter are vital. Lowe isn't in that category for me.
I think Hansen is the better passer. Lowe can definitely be sloppy in that regard. But he's so effective in tying down opposition defences who fear his line running, that he can then pop a pass to a man that's now in space.
Hansen has had a few brain farts this year and hasn't been as sharp as last year.
Something he has acknowledged himself and cut his hair and mustache to rectify the issues he's had.
"Vital" is debatable but it certainly looks like Lowe is a nailed on starter when fit.
We do have good wingers but they're more classical "give me the ball and I'll run past a few guys" wingers. Larmour and Baloucoune aren't the sort of guys to be popping up in midfield and unlocking defences with an offload.
It comes from numerous articles I've seen quoting 8k as an appearance bonus foe Irish internationals and 8k being a win bonus for Irish International tests.
9k+8k=16k.
When the overall machine is as good as it has been then no one is vital. We went from Sexton to a novice out half and beat Australia.
But I think he's of such a standard that he's vital to us playing our best.
Moving the conversation along, a running running threat like that is why I'd rather see Crowley continue to be selected ahead of Ross Byrne tbh. He's been in really good form, but I just don't think he offers the running threat we need.
With Sexton and Carbery cler 1st and 2nd choice, I think it makes more sense to have Crowley as 3rd.
I'd agree , but I do have this recurring thought of Ross Byrne doing a "Stephen Donald" for Ireland at the World Cup following injuries to Sexton/Carbery
Don't know why , but it keeps popping into my head!!
Fair to say I wouldn't have any complaints about out 3rd choice OH pick if that happened!
It's definitely a strength of Crowley's game, and I do think he'll make this 6N squad and the RWC squad (barring injury and if he continues on the trajectory he's on), but is that really a core skill of a 10?
To me, you're more concerned with how the 10 can influence the overall shape of the attack. Ross Byrne has marshalled a lot of really good Leinster attacking displays, but, so far, I haven't really seen it from Crowley playing at 10. He's had good moments, but I think oddly his best displays still this season have come playing at 15 (or some at 12).
He's obviously a very talented footballer, but I don't know if he's there at 10 yet.
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