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

You commented on Lowe without mentioning his "big left boot". You'll never make it as a pundit with this appalling lack of clichés.

Bit surprised Lowe isn't on a central - feel he is one of those that would be nailed on to get one if he played for another province.

Given potential injury risk, form, and the impact of age on wingers it probably makes to avoid giving them out to that position but it hasn't stopped the IRFU doing it in the past (or likely again in the future).

The IRFU need to be careful with who they give the central deals to in terms of building a very lopsided model. Lowe has become a key player for Ireland (particularly in terms of the territorial game as opposed to ball in hand) but there are only so many Leinster players that can or should be given central deals.

In terms of their importance to the Irish team, guys like Stockdale, Earls, Murray and Aki didn't really deserve them (none have been first choice consistently for quite some time) but they have to take into account the optics and financial burden of not supporting other provinces with these contracts.

I would imagine the IRFU have a number in mind in terms of the maximum number of central contracts any province should have and Leinster are probably close to that total now with 7. VDF is moving onto one for next season but Sexton is coming off one. Furlong, Henshaw, Porter and Ringrose are all finishing contracts in 2025 and there's a possibility that Furlong and Henshaw come off theirs depending on who else is available at that point and their own performances as they will both be 32 that year (Henshaw the more likely, I'd imagine).

The fly in the ointment is that guys like Aki (2024), Earls (now), Henderson (now), Stockdale (already moved to a provincial deal), POM (2024) and Murray (2024) are all either well on in their careers or their form has fallen off a cliff which makes it very hard to award a central deal. Perhaps they'll just reduce the number of contracts as I'm sure they're keen to avoid a scenario where Leinster are the only ones with them aside from Tadhg Beirne. I'd fully endorse Bealham getting one at the end of his current contract if he sustains his form.

Excellent.

Now get Sheehan on that central deal and away from prying eyes.

It's a decent team given the number of players left at home.

Gerry Thornley made the (probably correct) suggestion in today's paper that Lowe turns 31 this summer, meaning he'll be 35 at the next RWC, and that's too old for a guy to be getting his first central deal, particularly in the back three.

In a practical sense, the only real difference is guys on central contracts get called up to all training camps. Everything else is an accounting construct.

Lowe's rheumatoid arthritis has been remarkably well controlled. I don't think there was any impact on his calf injury he picked up preseason.

There's a relatively recently article about his condition.