Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

bilston · 17-03-2026 11:49AM

Good news, although a central contract for Bundee is interesting. McCloskey might want to have a word with his agent.

Podge_irl · 17-03-2026 12:00PM

I'll just say I don't understand the Aki one and leave it at that.

Great to get the others signed up.

50HX · 17-03-2026 01:19PM

Aki is a one year deal, I doubt he would have gotten it if we were further out from RWC.

The others make sense

Redo91 · 17-03-2026 01:29PM

Will that extension for Aki cover the RWC or does he need to sign a short extension to cover it? Assuming he is selected of course.

Paddy_Mag · 17-03-2026 01:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319349#Comment_124319349

Id say it runs until the RWC final date

El_Duderino 09 · 17-03-2026 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319335#Comment_124319335

There are probably other factors. Like keeping Aki at Connacht, fan engagement, ticket sales etc.

I know Central contracts are nominally all about the Ireland first team, but there's always more to it than that. Presumably without the 40% wage from the IRFU, Aki would have left for more money elsewhere.

Based on all the factors, they gave Aki a central contract. I don’t hate the idea

TRC10 · 17-03-2026 02:04PM

Good to get Josh, JGP and Sheehan tied down. If Aki is getting one you’d imagine McCloskey should also be getting one.

Presumably Crowley and Baloucoune will also be getting bumped up to a CC soon.

Redo91 · 17-03-2026 03:20PM

I wouldn’t jump the gun on Baloucoune yet. Hansen not on one and has contributed more over the last few years so presumably he’d be in line for one first. Would be hasty to give RB based on one, albeit very impressive, Six Nations campaign.

AbusesToilets · 17-03-2026 03:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319615#Comment_124319615

Yea, but would it be more hasty than giving a clearly past it Aki one?

Former Former Former · 17-03-2026 03:36PM

McCloskey turns 34 in the summer; I doubt any player has ever got a first central contract at his age.

Baloucoune won't be getting one any time soon, he needs to back this 6N up in the summer at least and show that's he actually first choice, not just first choice when there's a load of injuries.

I wouldn't have given Aki a CC extension but I presume it's at a greatly reduced salary so not going to lose any sleep over it.

Redo91 · 17-03-2026 03:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319624#Comment_124319624

Most definitely not. Given his age RB would surely be getting a multi-year CC compared to Aki who is only getting one year so far less of a long term risk. No doubt about it Aki’s form has dipped but he was a test Lion less than a year ago. Not saying it is totally deserved but I can see the logic in giving him a one year deal with the RWC next year.

Edit. Meant to say it wasn’t more hasty!

Packrat · 17-03-2026 06:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319664#Comment_124319664

As the player who did more than any other for Ireland team and supporters in the 2023 WC. AND - As a player who is still well capable of doing a job, who doesn't get injured a lot, and who's test career hasn't been ridiculously long like for example Ringrose, not only should he be given this single year extension to get to 2027, but he should be nailed on in the 40 or however many are taken to Australia.

I would sincerely hope we wouldn't be starting him, unless in early pool games, but he should be there.

Eaten bread is soon forgotten by some around here.

inbloom427 · 17-03-2026 06:46PM

@Packrat - sums up the entire problem. He's done now, will get worse, shouldn't have been given a central contract extension, and the idea of him being nailed on in the squad this far out is absurd. The fact part of your justification is he played well at the last World Cup says it all really.

Redo91 · 17-03-2026 06:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319966#Comment_124319966

Sorry I worded my post incorrectly. Meant to say it wasn’t more hasty than giving RB a central contract. Why his form has dipped, I definitely wouldn’t begrudge him the new deal.

phog · 17-03-2026 07:01PM

Tbh, I think giving Aki a national contract is a bit of a waste and giving JGP a two year extension is risky but I assume his bargaining power is stronger than Aki's and we need JGP for the RWC.

The rest are fully deserved

sprucemoose · 17-03-2026 07:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319966#Comment_124319966

ringrose made his ireland debut a year before aki did, how does GR have a ridiculously long test career and aki doesnt?

aki was absolutely brilliant for ireland at the last rwc but that shouldnt count for much when it comes to the next one. if hes in great form when the time comes then he should be picked, but i wouldnt have him as a certain pick right now

Podge_irl · 17-03-2026 07:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124320100#Comment_124320100

Not giving JGP a two year extension is about a million times riskier.

Paul Smeenus · 17-03-2026 07:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124320062#Comment_124320062

I wouldn't as be vociferous as inbloom, but the idea that someone wants a CC for a player and also "would sincerely hope we wouldn't be starting him" tells me I have a very different take on CCs to others on here.

Former Former Former · 17-03-2026 07:53PM

It was always the case but the last six months have proved that having a CC does not guarantee selection so who cares?

Whether Aki renews his central deal or moves to a provincial contract is an accounting exercise with zero on-pitch impact.

phog · 17-03-2026 09:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124320118#Comment_124320118

Hence why I say his bargaining power is higher but I think his last season of the new contract will see a decline in his ability to play his current game.

johnh6767 · 17-03-2026 11:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124320467#Comment_124320467

I know 2 years can seem like a long time in sport but there is zero evidence of age being in any way detrimental to his performance to date. Quite the contrary in fact but who knows

eagle eye · 18-03-2026 12:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124320062#Comment_124320062

How did he play when he came on last weekend?

Zeugnis · 18-03-2026 12:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319615#Comment_124319615

Mack is on a central contract through until the end of the 26/27 season.

Zeugnis · 18-03-2026 12:50AM

people are making too much of the central contract tag. it's been clear for some time that they don't have the significance that was once attributed to them.

Does anyone know if there is a specific percentage the IRFU pays for PONIs or is it case specific?

Paul Smeenus · 18-03-2026 09:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124320193#Comment_124320193

I'd say provinces trying to balance their books care. And by extension, then, their fans.

I mean, there was all kinds of upset on here when it was announced that provinces were to pay up to 40% of CCs, despite no changes to who was getting one.

Tommybojangles · 18-03-2026 10:20AM

Bundee is going to the world up folks, no doubt about it. over the last few weeks he's had his first break in almost 2 years and a lot of peolple are going to look foolish when his performacnes for Connacht the remainder of the year reflect that. People's perception of age is broken.

Also, to be entirely clear, mcloskey is our unquestioned starting no.12 for the time being. He is also contracted until next year as is Balacoune so I wouldn't expect them to be 'bumped up to central contracts' until then and provided they both keep their form. Baloucoune in particular while I'm a fan and always have been needs to carry his good form on into next year and stay injury free

phog · 18-03-2026 10:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124320781#Comment_124320781

Very few of us know the value, what we do know is the province has to pick up the balance. So a player on only a provincial contract is paid from the provincial budget, a player on a CC gets a minimum of 60% of his salary from the IRFU and a player on a PONI must be somewhat in between. The IRFU provide most of the provincial budgets anyway so to some degree its all IRFU money.

I would also assume, anyone on a CC is probably on more money than they'd be on with a PONI or Provincial Contract

Former Former Former · 18-03-2026 10:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124320923#Comment_124320923

I'd say provinces trying to balance their books care. And by extension, then, their fans.

But the impact isn't much. If Aki dropped down to a provincial contract, IRFU would still pay 50% of it as opposed to 60%, and conversely if McCloskey is in the top tier of provincial contracts, IRFU are already subsidising his wages to the tune of 40-50%, so bumping him up to a CC is only a marginal saving to Ulster. Now, if we get to the point where a province has loads of players on CCs, then the figures become meaningful.

all kinds of upset on here when it was announced that provinces were to pay up to 40% of CCs

it's the internet, people get upset over everything, but at this stage, CCs are a fairly mundane accounting exercise.

FtD v2 · 18-03-2026 10:45AM

Some guys never got central contracts despite being mainstays in the Irish side for years - James Lowe, a guy with 45 caps in the last 5 seasons or so and a Lions tourist never had one, Jack Conan - the Lions starting test #8 for the last two tours has never had one, so I don't really see the argument for Rob Baloucoune or Stu McCloskey being bumped to one right now.

If McCloskey had an expiring contract then he may get one, or he'd certainly get a bumped up PONI at a minimum given his current importance, but it's hard to think of a time in the past when there was a strong argument for him to have one, and it's not even a discussion for Baloucoune.

sydthebeat · 18-03-2026 11:11AM

And in all this, let's not forget the reason central contacts came into being in the first place.

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Comments