Central Contracts

[blockhead]

Cian Healy the latest piece in IRFU jigsaw
Ruaidhri O'Connor Twit
Published
18/02/2016 | 02:30

And then there was one. Jared Payne is expected to join the rest of Ireland's elite nationally contracted players on a two-year IRFU deal to complete the set for performance director David Nucifora, who yesterday nailed down Cian Healy's future as the Leinster prop signed a three-year deal.

When Payne commits to Ulster and Ireland, he will bring the number of centrally contracted players to 15, with Jack McGrath expected to be upgraded to a national deal after one season of his new three-year contract in June 2017.

That would mean Nucifora has contracted seven players on IRFU deals that expire after the 2019 World Cup, with Healy joining McGrath, Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray and Sean O'Brien as the spine of the squad who will, in the union's grand plan at least, spearhead Ireland's bid for glory in Japan.

Silly season

When Payne signs on the dotted line, it will bring silly season to a close. Munster and Leinster are still looking to add an overseas signing or two for next season, a few veterans still have to sort their futures, while fringe players are still looking for deals, but by and large the big deals are done.

After some loose talk of an exodus, only Ian Madigan and Marty Moore will leave these shores from Joe Schmidt's extended squad. Others came close to joining them, but ultimately they were persuaded to stay.

Given the buying power of the French and English clubs, it is no mean feat for the IRFU and the provinces to convince their best players to stay at home.

Healy is an interesting case. Had his contract expired 18 months ago, Toulon would have done everything in their power to sign him, but his subsequent injury struggles left him with big-spending Worcester Warriors as his chief bargaining chip.

For the IRFU to hand the injury-plagued loosehead a three-year deal is a major leap of faith.

In recent years, the union have moved more and more to heavily incentivised deals and one imagines the 28-year-old's contract is heavily weighted towards pay for play.

When fit and firing, Healy is one of Schmidt's true world XV contenders. A barnstorming ball-carrier with rare explosive power, he is also a destructive tackler who adds so much to Ireland's game.

Unfortunately, that player has not been seen in an Ireland jersey for some time as a result of successive problems that have limited his involvement and de-powered his efforts.

In both last year's Six Nations and the World Cup, he was always playing catch-up due to injuries and never found form. Ahead of the current campaign, he underwent knee surgery and only came back on Friday.

Yet, the player's record speaks for itself and 28 is not old for a prop.

Healy has won three Heineken Cups, two Six Nations, a Pro12 and a Challenge Cup, playing 56 times for his country and touring Australia with the Lions when injury denied him a Test cap.

His unique talents and ability to dove-tail with Leinster colleague McGrath make him a key member of the squad when fit and Nucifora acknowledged that yesterday.

"Cian is one of the most explosive athletes in world rugby," the Australian said.

"He has proven for both Ireland and Leinster his ability to compete at the highest levels of the game. We are delighted that Cian has committed to playing in Ireland up until after the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan."

Having sorted his future, the goal now for Healy is to get his body back into a place where he can consistently perform once again at the highest level.

If Ireland are to resurrect this Six Nations campaign and hold out hope of Test wins over South Africa, New Zealand or Australia in their six meetings with southern hemisphere giants during 2016, then they will want Healy on board.

Centrally contracted players from 2016/17: Rob Kearney (2018), Andrew Trimble (2017), Tommy Bowe (2018), Keith Earls (2019), Robbie Henshaw (2019), Johnny Sexton (2019), Conor Murray (2019), Cian Healy (2019), Rory Best (2018), Devin Toner (2017), Donnacha Ryan (2017), Peter O'Mahony (2018), Sean O'Brien (2019), Jamie Heaslip (2017). Jared Payne (2018) TBC.

[rooster]

Ah. We are back to your theory that Payne was woken up in the middle of the night and secretly converted to a central contract....




Who knows? We'll see what be signs this time. Ulster have more players with Ireland now. Makes sense that they have more CCs.

To be honest I don't see the point of central contracts any more since IRFU control the finances for wages anyway, only thing it does is move contract negotiations to them directly instead of the province. In the past it has lost a few players as the individual province would have done a deal with a player instead of him just dismissing the IRFU offer and heading away.

[simonokeeffe]

whats the point of not just giving McGrath one now?

[johng]

whats the point of not just giving McGrath one now?

Mike Ross

[simonokeeffe]

whats the point of not just giving McGrath one now?

Mike Ross

other side of scrum and off a central deal?

[johng]

whats the point of not just giving McGrath one now?

Mike Ross

other side of scrum and off a central deal?

Yeah. But would you fancy "giving him one" with Ross watching?

[simonokeeffe]

not with that moustache no

Im half tempted to throw a red herring in there (OP) just to see if it gets picked up anywhere

[simonokeeffe]

bumping this up as its getting relevant again

[Dave Cahill]

According to Thornley, these are the centrally contracted players

Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Keith Earls, Donnacha Ryan
Cian Healy, Jack McGrath, DevinToner, Seán O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw, Rob Kearney
Rory Best, Tommy Bowe, Iain Henderson, Andrew Trimble, Jared Payne
None at Connacht

[johng]

Only other one expiring this year in that list is Trimble.

New ones are:

Payne. Probably upgraded to one when he qualified.

Henderson. Did he get Ryan's?

Henshaw. Makes sense. Upgraded upon moving to Leinster

McGrath. Makes sense.

[simonokeeffe]

Henderson (publicly) and McGrath (GT) were previously announced as provincials so not sure when they were upgraded but both sensible

[johng]

if you scroll up to blockheads post at the top. McGrath was flagged over a year ago as being upgraded this summer.

[simonokeeffe]

if you scroll up to blockheads post at the top. McGrath was flagged over a year ago as being upgraded this summer.

Chapeau

Shouldve updated the OP a year ago on that one

[johng]

Furlong and Possibly Ringrose to get one next year.

Bowe not to be renewed. Possibly one of Payne or Kearney too.

Trimble still up in the air this year.

Payne Kearney and Trimble will all be 32 at the end of their current contracts.

[R-Dog]

Furlong and Possibly Ringrose to get one next year.

Smart Move would be to lock him in on one now if possible. A good summer with the lions and his value could increase significantly

[sunshiner1]

What about Dillane? Connacht have being agitating to be given a central contracted player for a while now. Could Dillane be given one for political reasons as much as talent?

[simonokeeffe]

Furlong and Possibly Ringrose to get one next year.

Bowe not to be renewed. Possibly one of Payne or Kearney too.

Trimble still up in the air this year.

Payne Kearney and Trimble will all be 32 at the end of their current contracts.

Furlong is the poster child for a central contract
Ringrose worth one but Bundee Aki shaped elephant rearing its head again

Bowe is definitely not getting another one
Trimble would be a surprise, though his last one was a big surprise at the time, age and likelihood of leaving seriously against him

Depending on pecking order etc Payne and or RK might get 1 year deals to get them to RWC, Best probably assumed hes not leaving (especially if hes still captain as unlikely as that is)

[Grumpy Old Man]

What about Dillane? Connacht have being agitating to be given a central contracted player for a while now. Could Dillane be given one for political reasons as much as talent?

He'll probably be upgraded when he moves to Munster.

[sunshiner1]

True

[Dave Cahill]

Upgrade in the sense of putting GEM on a MacBook Pro!