Madam, – According to recent media reports, the Commission for Taxation will propose the abolition of tax breaks for professional sportsmen in Ireland in its report in July. If this move goes ahead it would put a dagger through the heart of rugby in Ireland. Young stars such as Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney and Keith Earls would be lured to countries such as France to ply their trade for far greater financial reward and who could blame them.
I would implore the commission to take into account the huge revenue domestic rugby generates in Ireland. The recent sellout Heineken Cup semi-final between Leinster and Munster in Croke Park for example.
Furthermore, Leinster and Munster rugby have created many jobs in the past decade as they have grown into huge corporate machines. If we cannot keep our stars in Ireland we will be left with a second rate domestic rugby setup which will wither and eventually die. – Yours, etc,