Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

That's lot of disruption. There's bound to be better ways to spend the money. Also, you're just folding other provinces' youth into the Leinster system rather than improving theirs.

I wonder if a province could offer a player and non-subsidised, non-CC contract separately with terms they were happier with. That'd be an interesting conversation.

Nor really. Its more likely going to mean 2 or 3 guys on the periphery move elsewhere, be it to another province or overseas.

I got fairly slaughtered on here around this time last season for suggesting something needed to change with the Central Contract situation. That was before the “up to 30%” came in, and I’m glad to have seen both that and now this change going to be implemented; it has to be for the good of Irish Rugby in the medium to long-term. The status quo just wasn’t tenable.

So like when Hump spoke about props, he was again talking out of his arse when he said:

"For me, it’s about making sure that Leinster remain where they are."

Leinster had the foresight to use outside money to invest in their pathways, rather than big money NIQs, reaped the rewards but now will be paying a tax on the current model to fund the shortcomings of other provinces.

This is a definite hit to Leinster but to the annoyance of many they'll work their way through it and still be the most successful province. If it comes to it they'll find more money from outside backers to top up contracts or bring in NIQs, like other provinces were celebrated for.

You'd be hard pushed to argue Leinster haven't "remained where they are" this season, after the 30% was introduced…

This aged well after today's news

There's zero fear of Leinster not being "kept where they are" so let's stop pretending that these measures are going to/intended to kneecap Leinster in any way.

Very true. The IRFU threw a sop to the other provinces yesterday and then allowed todays deal to go through. Leinster will dominate Irish rugby for the foreseeable future and the other provinces will gradually fall away to the detriment of Irish rugby.

Thats my point. The annoucnement yesterday isn't going to make a whole lot of difference to Leinster. I think we will just see a few guys less in the squad in the longer term with no real impact

I have to presume you aren't being sarcastic with the aging of my post…

I specifically reference them being able to work their way through this extra cost and still being able to bring in NIQs

Sounds like you fall into the bold from my post:

This is a definite hit to Leinster but to the annoyance of many they'll work their way through it and still be the most successful province.

The other provinces are falling away in the most part due to their own mismanagement over the years.

The blazers who drove each one into the ditch over the years must be laughing away as the most vocal members of their fanbases spend most of their time blaming Leinster and the IRFU.

One minute you say:

"So going back to the OP that the Versatile was replying, how is this "a definite hit to Leinster"? It's not."

Now its:

"To be clear; it's a hit"

🤣