THE NUMBER OF foreign rugby players lining out for Irish provinces will be further restricted under a new strategy to aid the development of top domestic talent.
The IRFU announced this afternoon that the number of non-Irish eligible (NIE) players at Leinster, Munster and Ulster will be capped at 15 — one player per position across all three teams — once the new rules come into force in 2013/2014.
To ensure that the limits are applied correctly, all contracts offered to NIE players from 2013 onwards will be position specific.
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Once that contract has expired, the province will not be allowed to resign the player or to bring in a new NIE player in the same position. However, players affected by the new restrictions will be able to move between provinces if they wish to remain playing in Ireland.
The changes will not apply to Connacht who recently agreed a separate programme of structural and performance development with the IRFU.
The strategy, which was agreed following consultation with the provinces and the national management, will ensure that at least two Irish-qualified players per position are playing in the Heineken Cup and RaboDirect PRO12 as first choice selections, the IRFU said today.
“The challenge for the IRFU in an increasingly competitive environment is to strike a long term balance between success for the Ireland team, through exposing Irish players at the highest level of the professional club game in the Heineken Cup and RaboDirect PRO12 and the needs of the provincial teams in terms of the recruitment of quality overseas playing talent to complement Irish qualified players.
The desired outcome of the changes to contract policies is that Irish-qualified players who have progressed through the provincial Academy systems will see greater opportunities for professional game-time experience, allowing both the IRFU and provinces to deliver the maximum amount of value for the €2.5million that is invested annually across the four provincial Academies.
The IRFU has confirmed that all exisiting contracts will be honoured under their original terms and that the new rules will only apply to deals signed from the beginning of the 2013 season.
Announcing the strategy, IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said that it was key to find a balance which allow both the national team and the provinces to be successful for many years to come.
“The aspirations for the IRFU are that in any single year, we would want to win the RBS 6 Nations Championship, but also have our provincial teams winning the Heineken Cup and the RaboDirect PRO12,” Browne said.
The key is finding the balance to allow this to happen, but not disadvantage one over the other and always remembering that a successful Ireland team is the catalyst for success at all levels below that.
This new strategy is essential to put Irish rugby in the best position to reach that.
really don’t think i’m stretching it to say that we’d never have won a Heineken cup without our imports? (perhaps the Ulster one would have stood) – and that was the golden generation of Irish players……
Fuckballs (pardon the French) but I just re-read this. Only 1 non-Irish player per position for the 3 provinces combined? That’s madness… So only 1 hooker out of 3 squads can be non-Irish… Has the influx of foreigners in the Irish game hurt us in the long run? I would say not…
I know Paul … although at hooker we are farely well stocked with good players, the postion that worries me is tighthead….. look what Botha has done for the Munster scrum this year!
The imported players have a got a very bad press from some people. Hugh Farelly in the Indo has regularly criticised them. I doubt if Munster and Leinster would have won their H Cups were it not for the imported crew. Neither would they have capacity crowds.
Many of the Irish players will never make it, no matter how much game time they will get.
Does this new rule mean that Ulster and Munster couldn’t have Afoa and Botha, as the 3 teams together are restricted to one import per position???
The IRFU statement commented on how national success creates provincial success. I would think it is the exact opposite. The national team has won very little bar a single Grand Slam (Triple Crowns don’t count!).
On the other hand the provinces have pumped millions into their local economies and brought hundreds of tourists in. I can’t see the provinces being happy with this.
Pretty sure this won’t fly EU law-wise. Also this will deter players from coming to Ireland in the first place, since there is no prospect of a follow up contract (realistically). This move also deters Irish players going abroad to get experience in other set-ups, since there will be less competition for places back home. Player growth needs a competitive atmosphere, not a protectionist one.
They also state that players will be signed on a ‘position’ basis. What is to stop a province signing a player for the centre but playing him on the wing?
This is madness, and infuriating to boot. Leinster, Munster etc may be provincially named but they’re club teams and clubs teams traditionally have a multicultural squad which is something I love about them. Watching Ireland play is always fantastic but I love the variation that the club teams provide. On top on all that, are foreign players really jeopardising Irish opportunities? This isn’t man utd, there is presumably a relatively small proportion of foreign players to Irish?
Current national success has come on the back of Provincial success which has been supported by a few foreign players in key positions in each province. I agree we need to develop home talent but what’s wrong with them going to the southern hemisphere or France to help them gain experience. I think the problem is a narrow minded selection policy. Why didn’t Bob Casey or Trevor Brennan (the French years) get more caps for Ireland? This must have been dreamed up by the same genius that increased ticked prices in the middle of the financial crisis.
Totally agree with most of the above our foreign players have been influential
In the development of rugby fan base and styles of play over the years. I think sell out matches at the Aviva for Leinster and Thomand for Munster indicates that you would think club teams were the driving economic engines behind propping up the Irish national team that don’t really play that many games.
The kids coming through are bigger, better, more skilled than anyone before. What’s the point in having an academy in each province if we tell them to go away without giving them decent chance.
While NIE players bring expertise to a position/province, home grown players bring the crowds, local hero’s!
Give the kids a chance.
So if this had applied all along it means that players like Dougie Howlett could only stay in Munster for one contract spell and that’s it? Or could they move him to a different position? (e.g. sign him as winger, then re-sign as FB or something)
Paul, my understanding of it is that Howlett (to use your example) couldn’t have been re-signed in a different position. It would be one contract spell at Munster and then either a move to a different Irish province or abroad.
I think its a good idea. We need to keep young irish players coming through for the national team. The H Cup is beginning to go down the Premiership route, look at Toulon. I think the reason the England soccer team arent winning major tournaments is down to not capping foreign players in Premiership. Also, noticed alot more lip from players to ref’s in H Cup last weekend than i’d seen before.
I think The English Soccer Team don’t win major tournaments because their players are not nearly as good as the mass media in england (and here) build them up to be. Balls of shite we’re constantly told are truffles!!
I think England haven’t won a major tournament in ages because their players aren’t nearly as good as the mass media over them build them up to be. Balls as shite sold as truffles!!
Thats my point, only 1 or 2 english players would make the best Premiership 11, the rest would be foreign. The best 13/14 rugby players in Ireland are Irish and it should stay that way.
A few weeks ago I watched Ulster against Treviso during the World Cup. That was the sort of team that these new rules will create i.e. lacking in significant creative talent. They were absolutely terrible and I haven’t been back (even though they have been playing better). This is a bad move- people want to watch rugby at it’s best – this is the only chance to see some world beating top level teams in Ireland in any sport.
Each provence needs at least 3 players in key positions. Take tighthead for example, If munster have the oversea player then you could have the ninth or tenth choice Irish tighthead as leinsters third choice and your top two got injured your third choice could seriously be not up to European rugby and either risk serious injury or give the team no chance of winning.
This is just a stupid stupid idea.
One oversea player per position at each provence maybe.
silly move. Earls has learned from Howlett, O Brien from elsom, the whole munster pack from seamus williams. under these ‘laws’(not sure they are legal) Williams wouldn’t have coached the munster forwards. It doesn’t allow SH players the opportunity to plan their future, raise kids in Ireland put down roots,maybe eventually coach here like Williams like shaun payne(manage) like howlett might do. SH players pass on their knowledge. restrict the amount of SH players sure but don’t make it unattractive and plain messy for quality players to come here and stay here. And dont say they can switch province, could you have honestly seen or wanted to see contepomi or elsom in red or Howlett/halstead in blue… Wise up IRFU!
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If its not broke, dont fix it.
Killing the Golden Goose…
really don’t think i’m stretching it to say that we’d never have won a Heineken cup without our imports? (perhaps the Ulster one would have stood) – and that was the golden generation of Irish players……
Fuckballs (pardon the French) but I just re-read this. Only 1 non-Irish player per position for the 3 provinces combined? That’s madness… So only 1 hooker out of 3 squads can be non-Irish… Has the influx of foreigners in the Irish game hurt us in the long run? I would say not…
I know Paul … although at hooker we are farely well stocked with good players, the postion that worries me is tighthead….. look what Botha has done for the Munster scrum this year!
The imported players have a got a very bad press from some people. Hugh Farelly in the Indo has regularly criticised them. I doubt if Munster and Leinster would have won their H Cups were it not for the imported crew. Neither would they have capacity crowds.
Many of the Irish players will never make it, no matter how much game time they will get.
Does this new rule mean that Ulster and Munster couldn’t have Afoa and Botha, as the 3 teams together are restricted to one import per position???
The IRFU statement commented on how national success creates provincial success. I would think it is the exact opposite. The national team has won very little bar a single Grand Slam (Triple Crowns don’t count!).
On the other hand the provinces have pumped millions into their local economies and brought hundreds of tourists in. I can’t see the provinces being happy with this.
Pretty sure this won’t fly EU law-wise. Also this will deter players from coming to Ireland in the first place, since there is no prospect of a follow up contract (realistically). This move also deters Irish players going abroad to get experience in other set-ups, since there will be less competition for places back home. Player growth needs a competitive atmosphere, not a protectionist one.
interesting point – though might only apply to European players – whereas we’re generally speaking about Southern Hemispere recruits here?
They also state that players will be signed on a ‘position’ basis. What is to stop a province signing a player for the centre but playing him on the wing?
This is madness, and infuriating to boot. Leinster, Munster etc may be provincially named but they’re club teams and clubs teams traditionally have a multicultural squad which is something I love about them. Watching Ireland play is always fantastic but I love the variation that the club teams provide. On top on all that, are foreign players really jeopardising Irish opportunities? This isn’t man utd, there is presumably a relatively small proportion of foreign players to Irish?
Current national success has come on the back of Provincial success which has been supported by a few foreign players in key positions in each province. I agree we need to develop home talent but what’s wrong with them going to the southern hemisphere or France to help them gain experience. I think the problem is a narrow minded selection policy. Why didn’t Bob Casey or Trevor Brennan (the French years) get more caps for Ireland? This must have been dreamed up by the same genius that increased ticked prices in the middle of the financial crisis.
Totally agree with most of the above our foreign players have been influential
In the development of rugby fan base and styles of play over the years. I think sell out matches at the Aviva for Leinster and Thomand for Munster indicates that you would think club teams were the driving economic engines behind propping up the Irish national team that don’t really play that many games.
The kids coming through are bigger, better, more skilled than anyone before. What’s the point in having an academy in each province if we tell them to go away without giving them decent chance.
While NIE players bring expertise to a position/province, home grown players bring the crowds, local hero’s!
Give the kids a chance.
So if this had applied all along it means that players like Dougie Howlett could only stay in Munster for one contract spell and that’s it? Or could they move him to a different position? (e.g. sign him as winger, then re-sign as FB or something)
Paul, my understanding of it is that Howlett (to use your example) couldn’t have been re-signed in a different position. It would be one contract spell at Munster and then either a move to a different Irish province or abroad.
I think its a good idea. We need to keep young irish players coming through for the national team. The H Cup is beginning to go down the Premiership route, look at Toulon. I think the reason the England soccer team arent winning major tournaments is down to not capping foreign players in Premiership. Also, noticed alot more lip from players to ref’s in H Cup last weekend than i’d seen before.
I think The English Soccer Team don’t win major tournaments because their players are not nearly as good as the mass media in england (and here) build them up to be. Balls of shite we’re constantly told are truffles!!
I think England haven’t won a major tournament in ages because their players aren’t nearly as good as the mass media over them build them up to be. Balls as shite sold as truffles!!
Thats my point, only 1 or 2 english players would make the best Premiership 11, the rest would be foreign. The best 13/14 rugby players in Ireland are Irish and it should stay that way.
A few weeks ago I watched Ulster against Treviso during the World Cup. That was the sort of team that these new rules will create i.e. lacking in significant creative talent. They were absolutely terrible and I haven’t been back (even though they have been playing better). This is a bad move- people want to watch rugby at it’s best – this is the only chance to see some world beating top level teams in Ireland in any sport.
Each provence needs at least 3 players in key positions. Take tighthead for example, If munster have the oversea player then you could have the ninth or tenth choice Irish tighthead as leinsters third choice and your top two got injured your third choice could seriously be not up to European rugby and either risk serious injury or give the team no chance of winning.
This is just a stupid stupid idea.
One oversea player per position at each provence maybe.
silly move. Earls has learned from Howlett, O Brien from elsom, the whole munster pack from seamus williams. under these ‘laws’(not sure they are legal) Williams wouldn’t have coached the munster forwards. It doesn’t allow SH players the opportunity to plan their future, raise kids in Ireland put down roots,maybe eventually coach here like Williams like shaun payne(manage) like howlett might do. SH players pass on their knowledge. restrict the amount of SH players sure but don’t make it unattractive and plain messy for quality players to come here and stay here. And dont say they can switch province, could you have honestly seen or wanted to see contepomi or elsom in red or Howlett/halstead in blue… Wise up IRFU!
Good idea but think it could be implemented a lot better, not just for players but for the fans who spend the money going to club games