Babbling 'brook

He will be a real asset to whatever province gets him. There is no point in him going to Connacht or Munster. So, if he still has Ireland aspirations, Ulster is what he has to do. He's 27, so still plenty of scope to reignite his career from an international perspective. If he can't get ahead of Do...

POM hasn't played much this season for Munster, only 5 times. But it was a RWC year and after an extended break he got injured in his first game back. There's no pattern of recurring injuries, he got 17 Munster caps and as he fades he'll probably lose Ireland minutes just as quickly. He actually pla...

It takes perceptive, dedicated people to figure it out. What do we perceive as our strengths, are they really our strengths, how can we use our strengths, how can we improve our weaknesses etc. How do we spend the money we bring in? Do we bring in academy players younger or older? Do we look for be...

O'Mahony announced he was stepping down as captain the week before Ahern played there first.

When the sun goes down by the Artic Monkeys could be referring to sports fans who peacefully go to sports games to show support to the wrong team, don't you know.

Surely every player who plays in Ireland is paid by the IRFU? Whether their wage is lodged to their account from the IRFU bank account or lodged to their account by the IRFU via a provincial bank account at the end of the day all funds come from the IRFU and therefore in effect every single player ...

The job isn't finished till the paperwork is done.

Meritocratic is the word EPRC use when they want to mess something up. It shouldn't be used unironically on this site. Gibson Park has been announced for a central contract too. Long term there should have been a drop in central contracts the problem (such as it is) is that there are too many strate...

Leo already did. And saying another word before the game would put more people off, which would make him the incompetent one. They're not going to change it now, but if you give them a bloody nose they'll retaliate when they get a chance. As long as he stay quiet, it's win win. Poor attendance and e...

FtD wrote: ↑April 17th, 2024, 3:06 pm Let's hope we can send him off by letting him be the one to go up and collect a couple of trophies this year.

You can probably tell from my avatar how much I'd like to see that happen.

If the IRFU scale up part funded contracts, we'd have the strongest case for the bulk of them.

They need to stop looking for shortcuts and loopholes.

Central contracts are in no way intended as a subsidy or reward (to provinces). A central contract is where Nucifora negotiates contracts directly with strategically important players rather than leaving it to the provinces. If Sexton asked for more money and was told no, it should (& was) be on...

It was corrected to Murphy in replies. Also Lasisi.

Are you now or have you ever been.... a legend

Thought it was time for a thread.

Matfield has big (BIG) praise for our Joe.

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/victor ... tion-packs

I think the point (when pushed) for a lot of the contract qouta believers is that yes Leinster players should be offered contracts after they have filled their quota but it should be accompanied with a move to a province were a contract vacancy exists. They either take it or leave it. I’m not sayin...

Cutting Billy Burns to save money and signing Aaron Cruden would be even more Ulster.

Or they could double down on making central contracts more obscure and stop having to deal with nit-picking bullshit. Ultimately I care that we have players like Sheehan and Gibson Park, it doesn't actually matter to me whether their salaries are attributed to Leinster or the Irish team or whether t...

Absolutely. But I want them to be well run (us) rather than badly run and always needing help (Welsh regions). Connacht's turnaround was tied to more direct control by the IRFU. I don't think Munster are there, but the fact they chafing against the Irish teams interests is something that the IRFU ca...

Gerry breaks down central deals: https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2024/04/17/blue-bloods-irfu-national-contract-system-will-continue-to-load-the-dice-in-leinsters-favour/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter reveals JGP going to get bumped up. Nobody told Gerry that we were going to sign...

Oh dear. I remember hearing stories about Foley and players too.

It's not something you want a lot of.