LEINSTER RUGBY HAVE denied reports that they are looking for an exception to be made by the IRFU in order to keep hold of Isa Nacewa.
The New Zealand-born full-back’s contract is up next season and, despite stating that he wishes to end his career in Ireland, will have to depart the province under the the IRFU’s new player succession strategy.
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Under the proposed move, which is set to begin in 2013, Leinster would not be permitted to offer new deals to existing non-Irish eligible (NIE) players.
An article in this morning’s Irish Independent led with the headline ‘Leinster vow to fight IRFU in bid to keep Nacewa’ and claimed that the Heineken Cup champions want the union to loosen measures so they can prolong his stay.
However, Leinster have since released a statement on their website denying the report.
Contrary to a headline in a national newspaper on Tuesday morning, Leinster Rugby wish to clarify that we are continuing to work alongside the other provinces and the IRFU regarding the player succession programme…” the statement read.
“We are disappointed that the headline states that the province ‘vows to fight’ the IRFU and that the province ‘want the union to make an exception for (Isa) Nacewa’ when this is disingenuous and inaccurate. We remain hopeful that there will be a positive outcome which will benefit both the provincial and the national games.”
Leinster dismiss claims that they 'vow to fight' for Nacewa
LEINSTER RUGBY HAVE denied reports that they are looking for an exception to be made by the IRFU in order to keep hold of Isa Nacewa.
The New Zealand-born full-back’s contract is up next season and, despite stating that he wishes to end his career in Ireland, will have to depart the province under the the IRFU’s new player succession strategy.
Under the proposed move, which is set to begin in 2013, Leinster would not be permitted to offer new deals to existing non-Irish eligible (NIE) players.
An article in this morning’s Irish Independent led with the headline ‘Leinster vow to fight IRFU in bid to keep Nacewa’ and claimed that the Heineken Cup champions want the union to loosen measures so they can prolong his stay.
However, Leinster have since released a statement on their website denying the report.
“We are disappointed that the headline states that the province ‘vows to fight’ the IRFU and that the province ‘want the union to make an exception for (Isa) Nacewa’ when this is disingenuous and inaccurate. We remain hopeful that there will be a positive outcome which will benefit both the provincial and the national games.”
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IRFU Isa Nacewa Leinster player succession strategy restrictions