Sir, – I enjoy watching rugby, following and supporting Leinster and our superb international rugby team. When they are not Leinster’s opponents, I am also a closet supporter of Munster, Ulster and Connacht.
I will not pretend to have any expertise in the complexities of the relationship between the IRFU and the provinces but I recognise the benefit to the game in Ireland of our best players remaining in Ireland. However, a career in the top flight of rugby is of limited duration and serious injury can result in a brutal and premature retirement.
Like others, talented rugby professionals are entitled to maximise their earnings and restrictive practices which erect barriers to their doing so are of doubtful legality. Automatically excluding from the Ireland squad players who move outside the jurisdiction, have the talent and desire to play for Ireland and are available for squad training is incompatible with EU rights to freedom of movement.
Johnny Watterson's article in Tuesday's Irish Times references some of those "cut from" the Irish squad who are so affected (Sports, April 24th).
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Is this rugby’s version of Brexit? It is an issue which requires greater scrutiny and public discussion as it is likely if a player were to publicly raise the issue it could detrimentally impact on his career and selection prospects. – Yours, etc,
ALAN SHATTER,
Dublin 16.