THE IRFU is to put around 40 players under contract next season in a concerted effort to stern the flow of players to English clubs. The terms of the contracts the union will offer will give considerable incentive to players to stay with their Irish clubs and will also differ appreciably from the contracts under which the national squad operated this season.
The initiative was announced by the president of the IRFU, Dr Syd Millar when the officers of the union met representatives from the All Ireland League clubs at Lansdowne Road yesterday.
Money, the loss of players and the format of the season were the main issues in what was a constructive meeting in which club representatives expressed their very understandable concern about these matters.
European competition next season was also on the agenda, and on that important issue the IRFU president forcibly reiterated the union's belief that Ireland's best interests will be served by being represented in the European Cup. He said that, as of now, the indications are that a second division European competition would not be a viable financial proposition and that there was broad acceptance that it had no commercial value. He also stated that it was obvious attempts were being made to split the game. "It seems to me and others that Rupert Murdoch, through Sky television, is making a concerted attempt to take over world sport," he said.
The decision to put top players under contract to their national unions, as opposed to a continuance of the specific international squad membership contracts that operated here this season, is in line with what has happened in the top southern hemisphere countries. The players to be given the new contracts will be chosen after consultation with the Ireland manager, Pat Whelan. While no specific figures were announced, a reasonable sum would be around £30,000 per player.
All players contracted will have to play their club rugby in Ireland and be available for the Irish provinces. The players who play club rugby in England and are chosen for the national side will get just a match fee. Were that to be in line with the match fee paid this season it will be £3,000 per match with a £1,000 win bonus.
The Irish players under contract will get the match fee in addition to the squad membership money. Thus a player who stays in Ireland and who is in the national team could earn well in excess of £40,000, and this represents a considerable incentive to players to stay with their Irish clubs. "We want to make it as attractive as possible within our resources for our players to stay in Ireland, and I am quite sure when they look at all the issues involved many of them will," said Millar.
The need to generate more money was stressed by Millar and union honorary treasurer, Bobby Deacy. "Anyone who looks at the IRFU balance sheet will see that were it not for income from the renting of Lansdowne Road and the interest on investment all we would do is break even," said Deacy.
He also revealed that while money paid to branches and clubs for grounds and game development in 1994-95 amounted to £2 million, this season that sum will rise to over £5 million. The two main additional items are the cost of the national squad, at over £1 million, and the sum of nearly £2 million for the installation of floodlights in the branch grounds in Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Dublin and Galway.
"In relation to the payment of players by the union," he said "the emphasis is now changing in a very definite effort to keep our players at home. Those who play in England will get match fees and they will have their other income from whatever agreements they have with their clubs." The average earned this season by the Ireland squad players who played in the internationals came to about £22,000. Staying in Ireland next season could see that doubled.
Vincent Sheridan, from Blackrock College, outlined the concern of the first division clubs and the reasons that they had met to consider mutual problems, while Frank Hogan of Garryowen stated that he believed the league format for next season, when the league will not start until December, was detrimental to the clubs. That view was supported by Walter Morrissey (Cork Constitution), while Frank Dowling (St Mary's College) and Paul Inglis (Lansdowne) expressed their concern on the general issues involved, particularly the possible loss of players.
On the matter of investigating what was happening in Britain, Hogan said: "Surely it is only good business to investigate and get all possible information. We would be extremely foolish not to examine the position."
Ken Reid, chairman of the President's Review Committee and director of the European Cup, said: "As of now Ireland has entered three provinces for the European Cup, Scotland three district sides, France and Wales four clubs each and, as yet, England have not entered.
"Let it be understood there are people outside this country who do not give a damn about Irish rugby and whether we sink or swim, or whether we enter or not. We have, done well to get three representatives in Europe.
He also stated that with 20 teams involved next season much more money will be coming from sponsorship and television rights. But, equally, there will be 20, as opposed to 12 entries.
It was also emphasised that there will be more flexibility in relation to the structure of the season in 1997-98, with one factor the fact that the Five Nations Championship will be going to later dates.
Millar added: "The new format for next season was done in consultation with and with the agreement of the branches and has generally been very well accepted."
Des Guilfoyle (Greystones) drew a round of applause when he stated that while there might not have been adequate dialogue, he welcomed the meeting. "I do not agree with selective meetings. We are all in the game for the same purpose. There has been frustration out there, but we must all have the same aim - to do what is best for our clubs, provinces, and Irish rugby."
No decision has yet been reached on new dates for the All Ireland League matches postponed last weekend. An announcement is expected today.
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