The struggles of the scottish clubs is a combination of a lack of depth in terms of talent, and a lack of cohesive professional outfits that can attract a large number of supporters.

The Welsh clubs struggle financially first and foremost, as they’ve either invented amalgamated teams which have struggled to capture the imagination of the supporters, or the team doesn’t have a big enough fan base to begin with. Not every welsh player who’s moved away is making megabucks.

The Irish provinces have a traditional fan base, which has swelled based on our ability to identify with a province we’ve always felt a part of.

Players centrally contracted with the IRFU still regularly get 200k+ per annum, along with the tax benefits of being a sportsperson in Ireland. I can count on one hand the players we have worth much north of that figure (though admittedly, some in the twilight of their careers could easily have made big bucks a while back).

Irish players will still have to negotiate IRFU contracts, and with the history of ignoring foreign based players, not everyone will jump ship for a few extra quid.

For what it’s worth, I think it’d be good for Ireland to have some of our top performers ply their trade abroad for a few years. They can learn from the culture and rugby ethos of other teams. Bowe came back a different player from Ospreys, and though you can argue he might have peaked anyway, he certainly learned a bit of Welsh flair and continuity. Furthermore, this allows us to develop depth in our squads. Madigan looks a find, but is destined to miss out on the bigger games as understudy to Sexton. Keatley isn’t being developed quickly enough at Munster.

I’d like to see the rules changed about retirement to a majority of years spent playing in Ireland, the likes of ROG should be doing what Wilko is doing now, playing out a final few years abroad.

Finally, I’d like to see an Irish 10 playing on French soil, learning what makes them tick. Thinking about the intensity and passion which Contepomi has played with against Ireland, along with the upper hand he’s shown from time to time, I’d love to see Sexton au fait with developments in French rugby, and just playing them off the park in RWC 2015

Disclaimer for the above:

I’m a Munster man, and an Ireland fan first and foremost, so Leinster players moving abroad for the benefit of the Irish team is not a sacrifice for me ;)

Rónán- well said.

1.How long do you think the crowds will go see Munster an Leinster if their best players go overseas?
Well basically how many turn up to watch leinster A v munster A
2.How much development will the younger players get if our teams are not competitive?
3. If the best Irish players go abroad will the irfu / Declan kidney pick them for Ireland ?
4. These players if allowed play for Ireland will not be allowed to irfu training camps so either the camps have 13 players or a load of young players taken from their provenices without getting game time for either.
5. If Ireland’s best players go overseas young fans will start supporting these teams buying jerseys and slowly lose affinity with their Provence.
The success of the big 3 and even the Westie’s gaining a bigger fan base is purely to do with the teams suscess in Europe if we lose our best players we will lose much more than that

Winter in Paris is a lot colder than Ireland.

Jonny surely no? Johnny does not look right!

You’d like to watch your Provence play without your favourite local players?
That’s one of the best things about Irish rugby at the moment!

by some of our big star players moving abroad after they’ve developed into world class players it’s gonna give our young talented players a chance to step up & develop their own game & improve giving us a bigger pool of top players, no young player is gonna improve by warming d bench

Wales won all that when their players were playing at home but they are in free-fall now!
They will probably be in the mix for the Wooden Spoon this year. Granted injuries and Gatland’s little Lions holiday will play a part but their player exodus also has a role to play. Their camp is in complete disarray and Ireland ending up like Wales would be terrible. We’re going in the right direction so lets keep the players here!

I’m engaged and if I told herself we were moving to France and that I’d be earning 750k per year, I can assure you her reaction would not be “but our life is in Ireland”

I disagree, they flog you to death over there. He is currently the pole position choice for the Lions out half so his game is doing pretty ok I think

The season that ROG etc can keep playing well into his mid 30′s is because he’s not get crazy miles on the clock. The Irish system works.

Besides he’s not going anyway, it’s all contract fun and games. He’ll earn upwards of 400k here, and his endorsements and he’s well taken care if with cars and all the other bits.

Lets not forget the huge tax advantages he gets by playing here, compared to France where a insanely high tax system is being brought in.

And finally the most silly of all, why would the triple h-cup winning out half, with years ahead of him go to Racing Metro ?

Pity a bookie wont give odds that he stays, would be easiest money ever.

I too cannot understand how his game will get better at an inferior team in a league that overplays his players. He is currently playing in one of the most successful European teams ever.

Hang on, the French top 14 is not inferior. I’m not saying Sexton should go there, but just because French teams no longer dominate the H Cup, doesn’t mean their domestic league is weaker than the Rabo… far from it!

Whoops, misread that comment: inferior team… fair enough!

Racing Metro have deep pockets. They’re on the rise and I have no doubt they’ll be appearing in one H Cup final at least in the next 5 years.
Watch this space…

He doesn’t actually get the big tax break here for another few years as he’s only been on an IRFU senior international contract for two years. He will easily make another 200k a year in France at the very least.

That being said, it’s very well known how much he loves playing for Leinster, Joe Schmidt and Ireland and the IRFU player welfare scheme (giving international players extended domestic rests) is a world leader in terms of keeping players fresh and injury free and why the battered bodies of O’Driscoll and O’Connell are still on the go.

If he’s wise he’ll stay and look at it that the money he’s turning down now will probably be recouped over the long term as his body will probably tolerate an extra couple of seasons if he doesn’t subject himself to the rigors of Top 14 rugby.