IAN MADIGAN ADMITS he has a number of variables to consider before deciding on whether his future lies away from Leinster after reports this week linked him with a move to England.
Madigan faces a battle with Jonathan Sexton for a starting berth at out-half and was the only unused replacement during the eastern province’s defeat at Bath last weekend.
The 26-year-old’s contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) expires at the end of the current season and English side Bristol are reportedly interested in his services.
And while Madigan insists he is ‘weighing up his options’, the Ireland international says he will open negotiations with Leinster shortly and even hopes his future will be decided by Christmas.
“At the moment, I’m just going through the process of weighing up my options,” he said.
“I’m still waiting for Leinster and the IRFU to get back, but I think the way it is now, you have to look at all your options as a professional sport. I’m doing that at the moment, waiting for my agent to come back to me on what interest is out there.
“Then we’ll go from there. I’ll weigh up the pros and cons of staying here, the pros and cons of going elsewhere, the ambitions of the other clubs.
“The opportunities to play in the 10 position, or the 12 position, and the style of play of Leinster going forward, and the style of play of other clubs that would be of interest.”
Although well-financed Bristol would have the resources to offer Madigan a lucrative offer, he insists money isn’t the only motivating factor with the club’s Championship status a potential stumbling block.
“I certainly wouldn’t be looking to play in the Championship,” he continued. “If you did decide to move to a club like Bristol, you’re taking a massive risk in them not getting promoted.
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Madigan, Sean O’Brien and Eoin Reddan spoke at the launch of the Life Style Sports “We Are Many, We Are Leinster” campaign last night. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“That would definitely factor into my decision, if I was considering going there. Having been in such a fantastic club like Leinster, you’re used to competing and winning competitions. That’s the way I’ve always been.
“I play sport to win competitions, and to win medals. That’s why I’m in this business.”
Madigan, who signed a three-year deal with Leinster back in August 2013, has found game time at out-half limited since Sexton’s return from Racing Metro and operated in the full-back position against Wasps.
Additionally, he has yet to feature in midfield for the province this season with Luke Fitzgerald, Ben Te’o, Fergus McFadden and Noel Reid all seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.
With speculation linking Robbie Henshaw with a move to Leinster, Madigan admits times have changed since he signed his last contract.
“It’s very different to three years ago,” he continued. “Times do change, I’m only 26, I’m still looking to developing as a player and that’s something that I’m always thinking, can I keep growing at Leinster?
“Certainly, there’s brilliant coaches there, we’re still attracting the best players in the world with the likes of Johnny coming back, Isa [Nacewa] coming back.
“That plays a huge part in it, you’ve got Joe Schmidt guaranteed to stay on as Irish coach, we’ve had brilliant success in the last few years winning two Six Nations and going well in the World Cup so – well reasonably well in the World Cup, it was very disappointing to lose to Argentina.
“It would be very hard to turn your back on that. I’m very happy where I am, but when your contract is up you have to go through this process that’s the way the game has gone now and unfortunately it’s become quite public.
“You’d like to just go through the process privately and get to your decision and then talk about it after that. Having it thrashed out in the media, ‘he might go here, he might go there’ it’s far from ideal that’s just the way the game has gone now.”
“The finance is always an aspect,” Madigan admitted. “If you’re a guy in the academy and you’re earning 300-400 quid a month, it’s a big move for you to go on to a development contract and earn 1,500-1,600 quid amonth.
“That’s the biggest life changing time you will go through, going from earning nothing to to earning 1500 quid. It’s always playing on your mind at the time – am I getting value for money?
“But the money isn’t a massive factor for me. Looking at a club like Leinster can I keep improving, players testing me every day, coaches testing me every day?
“In clubs elsewhere you looking at what the coach is like, what their ambition is what’s their style of play and what players are you going to be playing with. Your market value is what it is. Like everything in life if it’s too good to be true it often is.”
The return of Sexton has meant game time at out-half has been limited so far. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Madigan made his Leinster debut against the Dragons in May 2009 after progressing through the province’s ranks.
He was forced to settle for a role at inside centre last season with Jimmy Gopperth holding the No 10 shirt under Matt O’Connor.
He appeared in all five of Ireland’s World Cup games, with the highlight being an inspired performance against France after coming off the bench.
With the player and his representatives set to enter the boardroom in the coming weeks to thrash out talks, would he consider a move to another province?
“I think you’d be naive to rule it out,” he said.
“The IRFU probably want to keep as many players in Ireland as possible. If you are within Ireland you are giving yourself the best possible chance to be picked for the national team.
“The further you move away, the further you’re hampering your chances of being selected for your country. So it’s something you have to consider to keep that option open.”
Ian Madigan, Sean O’Brien and Eoin Reddan spoke at the launch of the Life Style Sports “We Are Many, We Are Leinster” campaign that celebrates and rewards the inspirational Leinster supporters. Shop the range now at www.lifestylesports.com/leinster.
Ian Madigan: I'm waiting on my agent to come back to me on what interest is out there
IAN MADIGAN ADMITS he has a number of variables to consider before deciding on whether his future lies away from Leinster after reports this week linked him with a move to England.
Madigan faces a battle with Jonathan Sexton for a starting berth at out-half and was the only unused replacement during the eastern province’s defeat at Bath last weekend.
The 26-year-old’s contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) expires at the end of the current season and English side Bristol are reportedly interested in his services.
And while Madigan insists he is ‘weighing up his options’, the Ireland international says he will open negotiations with Leinster shortly and even hopes his future will be decided by Christmas.
“At the moment, I’m just going through the process of weighing up my options,” he said.
“I’m still waiting for Leinster and the IRFU to get back, but I think the way it is now, you have to look at all your options as a professional sport. I’m doing that at the moment, waiting for my agent to come back to me on what interest is out there.
“Then we’ll go from there. I’ll weigh up the pros and cons of staying here, the pros and cons of going elsewhere, the ambitions of the other clubs.
Although well-financed Bristol would have the resources to offer Madigan a lucrative offer, he insists money isn’t the only motivating factor with the club’s Championship status a potential stumbling block.
“I certainly wouldn’t be looking to play in the Championship,” he continued. “If you did decide to move to a club like Bristol, you’re taking a massive risk in them not getting promoted.
“That would definitely factor into my decision, if I was considering going there. Having been in such a fantastic club like Leinster, you’re used to competing and winning competitions. That’s the way I’ve always been.
“I play sport to win competitions, and to win medals. That’s why I’m in this business.”
Madigan, who signed a three-year deal with Leinster back in August 2013, has found game time at out-half limited since Sexton’s return from Racing Metro and operated in the full-back position against Wasps.
Additionally, he has yet to feature in midfield for the province this season with Luke Fitzgerald, Ben Te’o, Fergus McFadden and Noel Reid all seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.
With speculation linking Robbie Henshaw with a move to Leinster, Madigan admits times have changed since he signed his last contract.
“It’s very different to three years ago,” he continued. “Times do change, I’m only 26, I’m still looking to developing as a player and that’s something that I’m always thinking, can I keep growing at Leinster?
“Certainly, there’s brilliant coaches there, we’re still attracting the best players in the world with the likes of Johnny coming back, Isa [Nacewa] coming back.
“It would be very hard to turn your back on that. I’m very happy where I am, but when your contract is up you have to go through this process that’s the way the game has gone now and unfortunately it’s become quite public.
“You’d like to just go through the process privately and get to your decision and then talk about it after that. Having it thrashed out in the media, ‘he might go here, he might go there’ it’s far from ideal that’s just the way the game has gone now.”
“The finance is always an aspect,” Madigan admitted. “If you’re a guy in the academy and you’re earning 300-400 quid a month, it’s a big move for you to go on to a development contract and earn 1,500-1,600 quid amonth.
“That’s the biggest life changing time you will go through, going from earning nothing to to earning 1500 quid. It’s always playing on your mind at the time – am I getting value for money?
“But the money isn’t a massive factor for me. Looking at a club like Leinster can I keep improving, players testing me every day, coaches testing me every day?
“In clubs elsewhere you looking at what the coach is like, what their ambition is what’s their style of play and what players are you going to be playing with. Your market value is what it is. Like everything in life if it’s too good to be true it often is.”
Madigan made his Leinster debut against the Dragons in May 2009 after progressing through the province’s ranks.
He was forced to settle for a role at inside centre last season with Jimmy Gopperth holding the No 10 shirt under Matt O’Connor.
He appeared in all five of Ireland’s World Cup games, with the highlight being an inspired performance against France after coming off the bench.
With the player and his representatives set to enter the boardroom in the coming weeks to thrash out talks, would he consider a move to another province?
“The IRFU probably want to keep as many players in Ireland as possible. If you are within Ireland you are giving yourself the best possible chance to be picked for the national team.
“The further you move away, the further you’re hampering your chances of being selected for your country. So it’s something you have to consider to keep that option open.”
Ian Madigan, Sean O’Brien and Eoin Reddan spoke at the launch of the Life Style Sports “We Are Many, We Are Leinster” campaign that celebrates and rewards the inspirational Leinster supporters. Shop the range now at www.lifestylesports.com/leinster.
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Ian Madigan Leinster Staying Or Going?