Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XII (The Byrne Supremacy)

Perhaps but he was an Irish international when he signed this deal (during last season's 6N) and his stock was very much on the increase despite only having had one test start. He had come off the bench earlier in the tournament and played excellently against France for about an hour. I'd say he's on north of €200k (totally guessing) but it does underline the fact that many people form their opinions based on current market values and not what these guys are actually being paid in their contracts. Porter and Sheehan could both command serious money if at the table now.

You have to give credit to the IRFU when it comes to their planning. It's no coincidence that Furlong's current deal ends in 2025 (he turns 33 later that year) when Andrew Porter's deal will be ending at his peak age of 29.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the constraint on any of the provinces is the level and quantity of player they can produce rather than budget (though obviously there isn't an infinite budget). If you can bring through a team of XV homegrown internationals the budget will flex to meet that. This isn't unique to Leinster, if Munster could do it they'd they the budget for it, as they have in the past.

In fairness, I think Sexton said that he regrets that he could not be a one-club player, not that he regrets rejecting the IRFU offer.

It was reported (maybe in his book or else from his agent) that he had offers of €650,000 from France, and would have accepted the €400,000 that the IRFU paid their senior players like O'Driscoll and Heaslip. But the IRFU offered him only a marginal increase on his then salary to €150,000. He tried to renegotiate as he wanted to stay in Ireland, but they barely moved, so he left.

I think Sexton regrets that the IRFU did not make him a credible offer at the time.

The IRFU seem to have become much more professional in their negotiations since then and they seem to have learned a lot from how badly they messed up the Sexton deal.

This is the key point and largely comes down to the appointment of David Nucifora.

Prior to his appointment Eddie Wigglesworth (he himself a product of the amateur era) handled all negotiations as essentially a mediator between the player and a committee. His role was the overly broad one of "Director of Rugby"

This was the same committee that the likes of Declan Kidney and Eddie O'Sullivan had to justify their international selections to on a granular level. It was a demand of Schmidt prior to taking the Ireland job that he wasn't going to have that committee led interference.

Nucifora came in to be essentially the sole contact for contract negotiations and high performance coaching coming from actual high performance environments and also without any knowledge or care to "the old ways" or "traditions" that the committee model was stuck in at a huge risk of letting the pro game pass them by.

I was at a function where Joe (still Leinster coach at the time) spoke and it was just after the news of Johnny leaving broke. Joe was extremely critical of the IRFU for allowing it to happen. Literally said in black and white "this should not have happened". It was clear he had little time for the committee interference that was going on behind the scenes. And that little time didn't really change during his tenure as head coach.

Sexton leaving really was the catalyst for major changes in the IRFU including splitting High Performance department from the clutches of a blazer led committee.

And credit to Nucifora, in the 10 years since Sextons departure to Racing he is by far and away the highest profile player to have left Ireland.... and we managed to still get him back

I think it's a bit of a stretch to say he was dazed there.

It was a pretty low impact head clatter. Certainly one he would have felt but I can't imagine too much

To me his arm is up here as he's calling pillar. But the few steps he takes back seem to be so he can readily react to either side that Leicester decide to break on. Leinster had burnt a few players on the ground with only JGP defending the open side. You can see he's on strings with Conan here and moves straight to open side once Conan gets in the line.

I suppose its helpful having the Ireland U20 forwards coach as a player development officer.

He can be drafted in to fill out the coaching ticket when needed.

Joe Biden just thanked (presumably) Rob Kearney for his IRFU tie saying "he was a great rugby player who beat the Black & Tans" in Soldier Field.

I bought new tickets and cancelled the others. You have 24 hours from purchase. Some details from a poster a few posts back.

Just go for the refund. If its within 24 hours you're good. An exchange would just an extra few steps and could complicate it.

Ditto. When he started doing more with the sevens I thought his days were numbered.

He's had a very good breakout season in TOBs absence.

Rahoo rahoo