LAST UPDATE | 27 Jan 2021
CONFIRMATION OF EIGHT new two-year contracts in Ulster over the past two days has been very welcome as difficult negotiations continue in Irish rugby.
With over 50% of all pro players due to be out of contract this summer, this is an extremely busy window for the provinces and the IRFU, who had put a pause on all contract talks until his month due to the financial worries caused by Covid-19.
Some players are already sorted and over the line, but others face a struggle to get the contract extensions they feel they deserve.
Many players in the four provinces are being asked to take pay cuts amidst the financial uncertainty, others are struggling to get more than a one-year contract, while some won’t even get offered an extension at all and will have to consider retirement. The already fickle nature of professional sport has been magnified by Covid-19.
As we wrote in our Rugby Insiders newsletter for members of The42 two weeks ago, it’s understood that Covid-related clauses are being inserted into some deals. These clauses could result in further pay cuts if crowds aren’t back in stadiums by 2022.
Of course, some of the bigger names and emerging stars of Irish rugby will do just fine for themselves in this contracting window but it is a very tough time for many professional players.
“There’s a lot of crazy contract stuff at the moment,” says Munster lock Billy Holland.
“It’s a tough time for guys. There are guys who don’t know what their futures hold in a couple of months’ time so it is a difficult time for a lot of players.
“They’re under a lot of stress and strain, particularly for younger guys. I’m 35, it’s a little bit different, but for young guys with their whole career ahead of them and there’s so much uncertainty and not many places to go to, it’s a very difficult place to be.”
Holland is one of those whose current contract expires at the end of this season and says he hasn’t decided yet whether he wants to play on into the 2021/22 campaign. He hopes to sit down with Munster, as well as his family, in the next month to discuss what the future holds.
The Cork man knows he is at the tail end of his career but he feels major empathy for those who are struggling to keep performing out on the pitch as they worry whether they will have a career beyond this summer.
“We do talk about it and we are very open about it in terms of the stresses and strains,” says Holland when asked if the Munster players discuss these things.
“There are guys playing at the weekend and they’ve been told ‘we don’t know if there’s something there for you’. That’s a difficult place to be.
“You can just be there to listen to fellas and help them but my situation is so different. I’m 35, my career certainly isn’t behind me, but I’m at the far end of my career, so there’s no point in me saying to a 25-year-old, ‘Ah, you’ll be grand’ because that may not be true.
“I know that Munster want to keep the squad we have, but financially it might be a different situation. It’s just tough on guys, it really is.”
Johann van Graan recently underlined that Munster are hopeful of retaining the “majority” of their players, with many of the senior squad out of contract this summer.
Munster assistant coach Graham Rowntree remembers how tough contract negotiations could be when he was playing but acknowledges that it is even more difficult in the current climate.
Rowntree is happy to reassure players but says Munster head coach van Graan is doing a good job on that front anyway.
“You’ve got to put everything in context, not let things get on top of you, but Johann’s great at that,” says Rowntree. “Johann’s in constant dialogue with these guys, a very open and warm character that he is and he’s vital in this.
“I fully back what he’s doing but the guys, I’m not feeling any of that anxiety in terms of what they’re doing day-to-day. They certainly seem to be keeping control of it nicely at the moment.
“There’s a lot for them to be thinking about but I feel for them. It’s bubbling in the background but I’m not seeing any anxiety spilling over into the working day and they’re lucky, they’ve got a great man they can speak to at any moment, any minute of the day about it in Johann.”
First published today at 06.00
Seems a stand up bloke to go too, and it’s a tough time for an industry that needs tv deals and fans to keep the party going. Can see plenty of lads around the league moving here and there due to not enough funds in the kitty to share around.
@Scott Crossfield: True but for the same financial reasons the options may be considerably less than previous years.
Pro sport incomes will recover but 2021 & 2022 are likely to be lean times for many players renewing contracts. Many clubs may have no option but to cut player numbers.
Imagine being an academy player out if contract at the end of this season. They’ve barely had a chance to play in the last year.
Would it make sense for the clubs to offer 5 or 10 year season tickets paid monthly /quarterly or even once a year. Factor in this year’s as a no show but just in case we do get crowds into the grounds. That way you’d get income from the fans which in turn can help with players contracts
Ulster doing a good job getting a lot done early, some intresting rumours about Coetzee replacement too. Doubt everything will come to pass but if so Ulster will have an even better squad next season. No one come replace Coetzee like for like, he is the best no 8 playing in Ireland.
@Kingshu: who’ve you heard about the Coetzee replacement? I was half hoping that Ulster would pick up Hamish Watson but he’s signed on again in Edi
@Jim Demps: Doubt the IRFU would let any of the provinces sign a player from a Six Nations rival, unless they’ve retired from international rugby.
@Jim Demps: Leone Nakarawa be rumoured. Contracts finishes in June with Glasgow.
@Zealot: he’d be a nice signing alright. I also saw Jordan Taufua has been released by Leicester although it’s rumoured he’s off to France.
@Jim Demps: indeed, brings experience and ballast. Covers 2nd row and back row. Would definitely suit Ulsters game plan. Not a like for like replacement for Coetzee. Ulster’s back row would need to up workrate and share ball carrying.
@Kingshu: I would be surprised if Nucifora allows an overseas player to come in. Unless of course he is not being paid by the Union!
@Jim Demps: There appears to be 3 players that moves are being made for to replace Coetzee. it’s well know that Jack Willis is of irish desent and the IRFU made an offer last year (he was reportly impressed with the Ulster set up) but decided would prefer to stay and try for England, appears his younger brother Tom is being made the same offer. We’ll see if he takes it. Its also known Nuficora wants a Leinster BR to move, always thought Deegan the most likely, but Conan appears to be the name popping up and makes more sense. At 28 needs to be playing regularly, and has fallen behind Dorris at Leinster. The big name signing is a internationally capped Racing metro player, not a NZ or SA national and can play Lock and BR, and isnt Ryan.
@Kingshu: ya I’d say picking up Conan or Deegan is most likely and if ye can add another first team back rower then that’s a good bit of business. Good time to be picking up guys with the amount of contract negotiations going on
@Kingshu:
A number 8 who is a ball carrier is required and in these tough times I don’t see any overseas signings I think somebody like Paul Boyle being a good fit and maybe also deegan.
I think all squads will have to cut their numbers and will be promoting youth who are obviously on less of a wage
@Mark Smith: It appears the provinces and Ulster are budgeting that there will be no fans untill Sept, its only if there are no fans after then that there will be issues. They still have the same budget for now and have lined up a big name replacement for Coetzee. However he may be the only NIQ in the Ulster squad next year. There isnt a need for a NIQ in the backs so cannot see Faddes being kept on. Carter may or may not stay, but the new signing covers lock so that may be where the money is saved. I think Ulster would like to keep Mathewson another year while Doak gains experience, (he and Casey will be fighting it out for the Ireland shirt in a few years, he is very highly thought off), just remains to be seen if IRFU allow Mathewson that extra year and if he wants it himself.
@Kingshu: working out the budgets the provinces are only really missing out income from matchday attendance, they still get TV, prize money etc. Each province is getting about a £3.5m grant. For Ulster with over 150,000 people coming in the last full season works out about £20 per person. Connacht on the other hand if given an equal grant may be making more money this season. With only 66000 fans last full season that grant works out over £50 per person. While the average person in the sportsground may spend £50 or more I very much doubt Connacht get £50 in profit, per person. The grants this year cover the shortfall its only if it goes past Sept and there are no further grants there will be an issue. For the IRFU the CVC money comes at just the right time to tide them over.
@Kingshu: For Coetzee’s replacement. Ulster have the money they budgeted for him (he wasnt a cheap player) plus the money the Bulls paid for his early release. His early realease fee would have been what Ulster valued him worth for a year (at least one years wages) plus the extra cost of finding and recruiting a replacement. If Ulster were planning a new 3 year deal it means the new signing could be offered one and 1/3 more what Coetzee was offered. Or a 2 year deal at 1.5 Coetzees deal without effecting the budget. So we can expect it to be a big name :)
@Kingshu:
Finlay was good at scrum half for the u/20’s last season as well.
Very nippy and good pass
@Kingshu: just because they had originally planned to spend a budgeted amount on Cotzee, and then picked up a release fee on top of that, doesn’t mean that all that money can/will be used to fund a replacement. Clearly there are significant income shortages and budget cuts in other areas so whatever they may save (or gain) from Cotzee’s early release will probably be absorbed in helping the organisation stay solvent.
@Kingshu:
@Kingshu: just because they had originally planned to spend a budgeted amount on Coetzee, and then picked up a release fee on top of that, doesn’t mean that all that money can/will be used to fund a replacement. Clearly there are significant income shortages and budget cuts in other areas so whatever they may save (or gain) from Coetzee’s early release will probably be absorbed in helping the organisation stay solvent.
@Kingshu: just because they had originally planned to spend a budgeted amount on Coetzee, and then picked up a release fee on top of that, doesn’t mean that all that money can/will be used to fund a replacement. Clearly there are significant income shortages and budget cuts in other areas so whatever they may save (or gain) from Coetzee’s early release will probably be absorbed in helping the organisation stay solvent.
Poor mites
What’s the ballpark salary of someone playing first team rugby with the likes of Munster and Leinster? Kind of had it in my head that all these lads are millionaires anyway so could take a lean year handy enough!
@Johnny Rotten: Centrally contracted players earn somewhere between 350k and 600k so a provincial contract would be a fair bit less I’d imagine.