Messages

[I don't know but from next season they'll be better served as the Professional game in Ireland will soon be run by a professional body and not the Blazers and their political agendas.]

So in effect, Dinny, is it true to say that the more established internationals you have, the more you are likely to be able to offer big money deals to 'free agents'? And if you have a big commercial 'brand' like Leinster and Munster, you're more likely again to have the ammo to do so?

That's it in a nutshell.

Connacht have a role to play in Irish Rugby and in fairness to them they are evolving on and off the pitch, whether they ever hit the heights of Munster/Leinster I don't know but from next season they'll be better served as the Professional game in Ireland will soon be run by a professional body and not the Blazers and their political agendas.

There'll be downsides to that too. Interested by your words on the PAG, can they only advise where players can go (i.e Bowe) and dictate what foreign players can sign? Any examples of foreign moves they have prevented? Who are the two Ulster PAG wingers and 3 current 2nd row's? Trimble, Gilroy - POC, DOC, Cullen?

More or less but Leinster wanted to sign Donnacha Ryan (your 3rd CC 2nd row) and it wasn't sanctioned a couple of season ago.

Leinster wanted to resign Nathan White but it wasn't sanctioned and the PAG moved him to Connacht instead. They were also only allowed offer Nathan Hines a 1 one year extension, needless to say he fecked off to France.

Gilroy isn't CC'd but Bowe and Trimble are.

Leinster did want to sign Donnacha Ryan and Donnacha seriously was looking at moving to dublin but eventually he decided to stay and fight it out in munster for a first team place. Leinster never got to stage of PAG sanctioning a move for Don Ryan

How does that work Dinny? I know some of the contracts at least are 'central' contracts, but how are they actually structured? Are you contracted to the IRFU who decide where you play, or is your contract to Leinster, Munster or whoever?

If the contracts are with the individual provinces, is there a limit on who can move where, or is it simple marked demand? i.e. if Leinster can afford to pay X euro for Craig Gilroy for example, are they free to make an approach to him?

IRFU centrally contracts around 22 players. They are the top players like Donnacha Ryan, Paul o Connell, Brian O Driscoll, Sexton, Bowe,
Each province then contracts the rest of their squad.
IRFU can influence players where they play. Players can be tempted to move province by being offered central contracts
Leinster are free to approach Gilroy if they wanted to but the IRFU have to approve all transfers so the move would be rejected

Wondering if any of ye can help, I'm home for christmas and I see Ulster are playing Glasgow on the weekend of the 12th of January and wouldn't mind heading to it. Though tickets aren't on sale (I suspect because a firm date has not been set) any idea when the date will be set and when tickets would go on sale?

Anyone?

usually the date and time of round 5/6 fixtures are set the monday/tuesday after round 4. so fixtures will be released by the ERC next monday or tuesday when the pools are decided and tv companies can pick which games they want to show and which games are the big games as to quarter final spots to put at prime time for tv