Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Because you’re overlooking the fact that these young players Leinster are recruiting are lads who are from Leinster and who grew up wanting to play for Leinster.

If it was the case that Leinster were hoovering up the best underage talent from the other provinces then I’d say fair enough you’ve a reasonable point but that isn’t the case here at all.

Its not JUST money, but its a massive factor on why you don't see more moves. Like are you actually denying that? What a ridiculous argument.

How much money?

I'd say Munster and Ulster would have been willing to go quite a bit higher than whatever Boyle and Prendergast are getting just because of their needs at those positions.

I'll believe DeKlerk and Berman when its announced. Not saying its not true but you never know. Sometimes these are floated to get leinster to offer.

I don't believe any of them on that list had a leinster offer but who knows.

Well not that much higher obviously - they could have offered them full contracts if they wanted to (and we know those initial contracts are relatively small money) but they didn’t feel the need to do that.

The thing is - guys like Prendergast and Boyle are on Leinster’s radar from before the age of 15 probably, and have player development officers talking to them etc from that juncture. They’re both elite talents who will back themselves to make the grade wherever they go, so they’re going to go to where they think they’ve the best prospect for development and for the province they grew up supporting and wanting to play for.

Can’t remotely see how that surprising or a difficult concept.

So your grand theory about the “in built IRFU protection” that Leinster benefit from is the inability of the other provinces to get into bidding wars for teenagers?

You really think that would be a good outcome for Irish rugby, and if not, that the reason the IRFU do not permit this is because of solid, structural reasons for the benefit of Irish rugby?

Sam Prendergast doesn’t want to go to Ulster to be their long term 10 because he believes he’ll be the Leinster long term 10. Plain and simple.

If the provinces could free for all outbid each other for talent, wouldn’t that suit Leinster best of all? As the wealthiest province who generate lots of cash, wouldn’t they disproportionately benefit from such an (incredibly ill-advised) model?

Depends on the player and the need. Especially if they are potentially central contract talents.

I'd say the biggest disparity is the first senior deal. Some guys you just know coming out of the academy.