IRFU control over players in the provinces what do we want and is it what we need

First topic message reminder :

Following on from last summer we seem to be seeing the IRFU taking a more active role in where players play.

Last summer many complained that moving Cooney to Ulster to replace Ruan was a bad move but from a player point of view and Irish view it has worked out well.  We now have 4 scrumhalfs playing regularly and we now have three players pushing for second spot.

We are seeing Jordi moving North and talk of a flyhalf joining.  We also see Copeland going to connacht.  We have the situation where we have about 20 international players at Leinster whose growth is stunned due to lack of Quaility games.  Before it was locks at Munster.

So do we want to see the 4 best players in each position starting regularly at each of the provinces with an experienced lesser player and young upstart fighting it out for backup
Or is it up to each province to produce their own and let players move if they want.

There is a third option which is what I would like to see is the IRFU sign younger players on development contracts and send them to other provinces to learn from outside their team bubble.  When the contract would be up the provinces could then try and get players they need rather than feel they have to keep a certain player because they developed them

geoff999rugby wrote:In the end it will be up to him.

Sexton and Kearney will be close to retirement - Sexton will be 34, Kearney 33

However he will still be competing against Bryne at 10 and Larmour at 15 so not easy.
I suspect he will go back but if McPhillips, Lowry and Curtis are a year on then it may not matter.
Given the small nature of next years Ulster squad they will all be getting game time - Curtis will play some games at 12 I reckon
Remember McPhillips has done ok but he is is considered the weakest of the three

By the way it is Carbery not Carberry

I think he’s related to Joe Launchberry, bery, burry, bury.