IRFU rebuff Connacht's big-time plans

A proposal by Connacht, which entails trying to bring home some of their indigenous players like Johnny O'Connor, Gavin Duffy, Colm Rigney and Damien Browne - as well as Simon Easterby - from across the Irish Sea has been rejected by the IRFU pending the presentation of a business plan by the province which would also detail how they could fund their plan.

At a round of meetings between the IRFU's Player Advisory sub-Committee and the provinces before Christmas, Connacht put forward a proposal to sign the likes of O'Connor (Wasps), Duffy (Harlequins), Rigney (Leeds) and Browne (Northampton), as well as the Llanelli and Irish back rower Simon Easterby and perhaps others.

To the union's surprise, Connacht claim to have had very favourable responses from the aforementioned players, all of whom, bar Browne, are out of contract at the end of this season.

The union rejected Connacht's proposal as it would mean them exceeding their allotted budget for the season, which is believed to be in the region of 2.2 million.

However, when Connacht subsequently came back to the union and said they could underwrite the additional costs of bringing these players to the provinces, they were again refused permission.

It's been suggested to Connacht that any additional funding which they generate has to be put into their operational costs rather than signing players.

Yet, this is faintly ridiculous, as any additional sponsorship which Connacht generate would surely be contingent upon the return of their higher profile indigenous players, not for some unseen expenditure.

The IRFU chief executive Philip Browne yesterday maintained that the union also haven't seen enough written details in the proposal, and that this should be part of an overall business plan.

"Connacht need to sit down and do what they agreed to do," said Browne, "and set out a business plan. We've got to the situation where we've actually suggested they go off and get a professional."

Browne maintained that the other provinces "effectively, with the grant aid we are giving them towards their operating costs, are making a profit".

It's worth pointing out that the union produce almost twice the funding for playing squads of the other three provinces, around the 4 million mark, than they do for Connacht. Furthermore, it must be easier to generate extra gate receipts and commercial revenue streams if you are guaranteed participation in the Heineken European Cup every year.

Browne also intimated that any new signings proposed by any of the provinces would have to be ratified by the union's Player Advisory Group, reasoning that the union and the international management should have a say in the destination of each individual signing. This obviously places Connacht in a catch-22 situation, for unless the union give them approval to generate additional funding for their proposed signings, the province will struggle to obtain that outside funding.

Furthermore, the prodigal return of O'Connor, Duffy and co would help Connacht to generate additional funding for their off-field costs as well as increase their spectator base - which the union cite as one of Connacht's main failings, along with their failure to hold on to their players.

The Connacht Branch chief executive, Gerry Kelly, maintained that "the matter is under discussion".

Nonetheless, it is clear that Connacht remain hopeful that the union can be persuaded to have a change of heart.

"Michael Bradley and I have been quite open with our ambition to qualify for the Heineken Cup through either route and, with that in mind, we would always look to strengthen our squad, and do all we can to strengthen Irish rugby by bringing back Irish players into the Irish game," said Kelly.

Ironically, Connacht's proposal is merely in line with the union's stated policy of trying to have Irish-qualified players based in Ireland.

The Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan is a member of the Players Advisory Committee and he would surely prefer to have O'Connor, Duffy, Easterby and others based in Ireland, with the ensuing game management and greater attendance at Irish get-togethers which this would ensure, and thus is surely supportive of Connacht's proposal.

"But if they (Connacht) have a business plan which involves bringing in another 500,000 in sponsorship to cover the costs of these players," Browne added, "then I'd like to see the plan."

Whether they then get the union's go-ahead is seemingly another matter.