https://www.irishrugby.ie/2024/05/22/irfu-announce-changes-to-funding-model-after-extensive-review/#:~:text=A%20key%20change%20to%20the,level%20to%20be%20reviewed%20annually.
Key points:
In essence, this new model is simpler, more transparent, more equitable and delivers better incentivisation and alignment.
It is good to see them actually acknowledge that changes needed to be made, and recognise that a more equitable and transparent setup is better for Irish Rugby.
This also does pretty much confirm that until today, central players were essentially free for provinces.
How are Ulster running a deficit? It's bizarre! They are a well supported side.
Yep, and every new signing, contract or retirement will be framed as either being driven by the new rules or that the new rules have had absolutely no effect, and it will impossible to confirm or contradict either take.
Lol! Good man urself. So it's Leinster rugby's fault that the planters bestowed the private schools on us fickle pale dwellers!
I don't know if the gate receipts go into a general IRFU pool or stay with the province.
The fuss has been building over a longer time though, I posted last year that Leinster should be worried about the imbalance/financial situation at other provinces and that it will inevitably impact Leinster.
All in all the changes look fine
It seems a bit knee-jerk that they'd make the changes so soon after there was fuss about Leinster having so many CCs.
If we continue to see the Leinster second string not being as good at winning games as when Lancaster was here players like Deegan will be much less attractive to the other provinces and talk of Leinster being able to hoard talent because they have 10 centrally contracted players off their books will go away.
Ultimately, the IRFU are a very pragmatic organisation. They're not going to kill the goose that laid the golden egg. Leinster have produced a lot of quality internationals for Ireland, and the national team generates 80% of the revenue. If these changes tip the balance too far then the necessary corrections will be made back the other way.
should there be some recognition of the input to the funding in the rate of output of the funding? Genuine question.
For example, Ulster Rugby havent won a competition in 18 years, are the lowest current provider of players to the national team, and are running an accounting deficit of about €1 million in their current accounts.
what is it they need to become net contributors to IRFU funding then?
Mod: no more use of terms like "planters".
well it appears that everyone can claim victory here and still no one knows how the funding is actually done. I predict this thread runs for months, maybe years and no one will have any actual knowledge or facts to use only a few snippets mentioned in the press and extrapolated out to confirm an already held opinion.
It's not the only patently wrong thing in your post, but WTF are you on about "planters" setting up private schools in the East?
There is nothing remotely Anglo-centric about any of the major rugby player producing schools in Leinster, and anyone who suggests otherwise hasn't a clue what they're talking about.
Aren't gate receipts retained by the individual provinces?
And if international players' wages are being subsidised by the IRFU to the tune of 70% then that's a pretty good reward for whatever province has the most CC players!
The performing teams aren't responsible for the weaker teams.
The IRFU are responsible for the weaker teams, and they have identified that the funding model was at least partially responsible for this, and they are therefore changing it for "for the betterment of rugby in Ireland" as they put it.
I suppose we all see something different.
Should the performing teams be responsible for the weaker teams? Equitable to me, is all provinces are the same. I see it as Leinster being the cash cow and then being reduced or penalised.
In this context, "more equitable" can only mean addressing an imbalance in funding between the provinces, rather than tying funding to performance.
My interpretation as to the extent of this is that funding will not be totally equal between all 4, but rather there will be less disparity of funding compared to today.
You wouldn't have been saying this back when all the Leinster people were supporting Munster.
Some provinces tends to produce more than others through a quirk in history where the planters decided to set up their private schools in certain areas on the East. Not because one province applied its self better and worked harder than the rest.
ive no idea what youre saying here.
as i alluded to in my first post here, 'equitable' means different things to different people.
does "equitable" to you mean rewarding the "performing" teams more and the "non performing" team less?
if so, how will that make the non-performing team better?
Obviously, if all the provinces are benefitting from the payout and 1 province provides more in gate receipts, international players etc, it's rewarding the poor performers.
I read it as there's equality. 4 provinces and 4 payouts! R
Like i have shown above, even the full 30% wouldn't take up the suggest extra 25% in funding on top of the 8 million.
as for the "non performing" teams, either they need extra financial help or not. i just hope there are strict KPIs to be met so that mediocrity isn't rewarded continuously. There has to be some recognition and allowances made for the fact that Connacht have to play, on average, 2 games more every season against better opposition than say edinburgh or glasgow, and as such need extra help to be more competitive.
It's rewarding the non performing provinces.
Where is the evidence for this statement?
The 30% is a key here. Wouldn't that take up a considerable part of the 8 mill. It looks to me that they're "leveling" the talent pool. In other words, an increase of funds to the weaker provinces and an opportunity to raid from the productive province. It's rewarding the non performing provinces.
That would be difficult for a province to manage as the contracts are signed at a moment in time but the injury can happen anytime in the future or a player can drop out of favour after contracts are signed.
Maybe the more call ups a player gets, the less the province has to pay of the total, with 30% for a CC player that's out of favour or injured?
well the reported IRFU funding to the provinces wage bill was said to be €30 million ([8 x 3] + 6=30)
if they are now going to increase that by 25% across the board, then theres more money for wages, not less. Why would we'd see an increase on the rate of players moving abroad if this is the case?
lets assume all leinsters 10 current CCs are on an average of 500k, even paying the full amount of 30% of that would still be less than the 25% increase on the €8 million the IRFU reportedly are paying. So would we see a big exiting of players from leinster in that case? probably nothing significant at all.
IRFU CEO
“We hear loud and clear from our players that Ireland is the best place for them to play rugby, owing to our exceptionally high player welfare standards and game management, and that is something of which we are immensely proud. The strength of rugby in Ireland is aligned to having four healthy, competitive provinces and the IRFU remains committed to delivering this in a financially sustainable manner.“In essence, this new model is simpler, more transparent, more equitable and delivers better incentivisation and alignment. We will however continue to review the model annually which will also need to take account of the pending release of new strategic vision for rugby in Ireland. I would like to thank all the provinces for their support and participation in this review and we look forward to implementing these changes for the betterment of rugby in Ireland. ”
“We hear loud and clear from our players that Ireland is the best place for them to play rugby, owing to our exceptionally high player welfare standards and game management, and that is something of which we are immensely proud. The strength of rugby in Ireland is aligned to having four healthy, competitive provinces and the IRFU remains committed to delivering this in a financially sustainable manner.
“In essence, this new model is simpler, more transparent, more equitable and delivers better incentivisation and alignment. We will however continue to review the model annually which will also need to take account of the pending release of new strategic vision for rugby in Ireland. I would like to thank all the provinces for their support and participation in this review and we look forward to implementing these changes for the betterment of rugby in Ireland. ”
You could see more players looking at England/France
Yeah it strikes me as a bit quasi-transparent alright.
But I didn't mean "it'll be interesting to see more details soon", but rather "it'll be interesting to see how's this shapes the look of provincial squads over the next 12-18 months"
I'd imagine the provinces will have more clarity of the "up to 30%" and have accepted it
Is for players moving from a provincial contract to a CC or is for players who are on the top end of CC or is of players who the province will have to rest more than other players to allow the player be rested for international games
It'll be interesting to see how it's applied in practice
I'd say we've just seen as much detail as we're ever going to see, to be honest.
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