ROBBIE HENSHAW HAS renewed his central contract with Leinster and Ireland for an additional two years, through to the end of the 2027/28 season.
Henshaw, now 31, made his senior Irish debut against USA in 2013, and has been capped 77 times in total.
Henshaw is one of five players – along with Conor Murray, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson and Peter O’Mahony – to win five Six Nations titles with Ireland.
“It is a great boost to secure my long-term future with the IRFU and I am delighted to get this deal concluded ahead of a busy period”, said Henshaw.
“It is a huge privilege to play rugby in Ireland because we are so well looked after, from coaching, facilities, sports science and player management perspectives. It’s also an incredibly competitive place to play rugby, and,even though we have enjoyed some success in recent years, there is great hunger within Irish rugby to continue driving forward. I believe that my best days are to come and I am excited to continue my journey here in Ireland.”
“Since breaking into the senior international squad 11 years ago, Robbie has been a consistent presence in one of the most competition areas of the Irish backline”, added IRFU high performance director David Humphreys.
“Robbie is a consummate professional and a popular figure who continues to set the bar high. His performances during the recent Autumn Nations Series suggest that there is even more to come and I am delighted that he will continue his playing career here in Ireland and with Leinster.”
Henshaw follows Leinster teammates Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, and James Ryan along with fellow centre Bundee Aki in signing new central contracts with the IRFU this month.
Love Robbie but not sure this is a great idea. We have massive competition in the centre and he’s already over 30 and not a great injury profile. Maybe these contracts should include a part payment to the club provided they bring through a younger player in the same position. In robbies case osbourne or tractor ( i know he should be playing 10 ) and say for bundee part pay gavins wages or bump his contract. Reward and develop and the same time.
@chris mcdonnell: central development contracts?
@chris mcdonnell: I think you are forgetting that the player has a say in all of this too…that’s why they’re called contract negotiations. If you do not pay enough you lose the player to France. Henshaw is still an integral part of the Irish squad and one of the best in the world in his position. This is a great bit of business for the next couple of six nations championships
@anthony davoren: will he even be fit for the next couple of 6 nations championships? he has an awful injury profile. poor value for money if you ask me.
@Niall English: Agree. Way too much loyalty and sentiment involved in theses contract “negotiations”. Lads into their 30s, past their best, poor injury profiles etc etc. We need to learn to become more ruthless otherwise we will be left behind again come the World Cup.
@Niall English: the same could have been said about sexton. Always injured but worth ha omg around for when he is fit. People seem to think that these players will just hang around if you don’t give them a proper contract. The amount of experienced class players we would lose would be detrimental to Irish rugby and the provinces. They have a short career and would have to go where the money is. Essentially by your logic Henshaw, Furlong, Van Der Flier, O’Mahoney, Gibson Park, Aki, Lowe, Bealham, Henderson should all be cut loose. Jesus where would we be then and who would replace them. Experience in rugby is invaluable
@anthony davoren: with Henshaws injury history, he wouldn’t last a month in France. Imagine employing him to play 26+ games a season
@Niall Boyle: True. Rewarding lads for what they have done in the past and because they have experience does not make good business sense. If they are playing well and consistently available for selection, that’s the most important thing, surely. This idea of rewarding “experience” just for the sake of it is nonsense.
@Niall Boyle: carberry is there
@anthony davoren: and has played 7 games out of a possible 14
@Niall Boyle: it’s nice that you’re so concerned about Henshaw’s health and safety. True blue
@anthony davoren: but I would cut all of the players you mentioned as vast majority of them with either be retired or over the hill come next world cup.
@chris mcdonnell: There definitely needs to be a more refined central contracting system. Maybe a step down approach for any players over 30 and it won’t feel like a demotion because it is the policy. All the way back to Jamie Heaslip there have been central contracts that were not held by first choice players. The central contracts are starting to feel like a reward based retirement plan rather than an effective way to keep talent in Ireland.
@Paul Ennis: @chris mcdonnell:
I really like the concept of partially funded IRFU contracts. This would be fairer on the provinces and also give a good indication to lads to more be competitive. Also, declining investment with age seems reasonable.
@Con Cussed: Please The42 an edit button for Christmas?
@Ray Ridge: stop focusing on world cups. That’s one competition every 4 years. Anyway Aiden he is early 30’s not mid, no need for hyperbole.
There must be more Leinster players we can give central contracts to!!!
@James Dowling: I’m a munster fan but I can’t think of another player who is up for contract renewal in the other provinces that deserves this more
Why can’t everyone on leinster get a central contract
@Liam Collins: I don’t get this attitude. It’s not leinsters fault that munster (who I support), ulster and connacht neglected underage coaching and developmental pathways for years so are now slowly digging their way out of a mess of our own making. From a munster perspective, aside from Beirne non of the players deserve a central contract but over the next few years I’m hoping lads like edogbo, ahern, quinn and gleeson develop to the point where they get central contracts.
@scott casey: Based on his form in the Autumn internationals I’d say Craig Casey deserves 1 ahead of an aging Henshaw. Iain Henderson would be another I’d replace with a younger player. He too is often not fit and not a regular starter.
@TL55: irfu announced a few months back that henderson is coming off his central contract so it’s very likely ulster won’t have a single centrally contracted player. Craig casey has made a big jump since summer tour to SA and has definitely jumped ahead of Murray at international level and for the 1st time was putting pressure on JGP. However, aside from first centre, I don’t think any 2nd choice player (which casey is at present but will hopefully change over next 12 to 18 months) has been given a central contract
@TL55: There are lots of scrum-halfs coming through at the moment and I think the IRFU should wait and see how the scrum half’s at Connacht and Munster develop before throwing a central contract to anyone. Here I’m thinking of Matthew Devine, Ben Healey and Paddy Patterson. I’m not sure how Nathan Doak has developed this season.
@Con Cussed: with the new kick laws, kicking scrum halves might become popular again so doak could be given a chance this summer
@Liam Collins: Munster fan here, he deserves it lad, leave the bias out of it. World class player at centre.