The UAFC

Glasgow 22-10 Edinburgh in 1st leg of 1872 Cup.

shamalicious wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 3:28 pm Some interesting discussion on Twitter about central contracts being disproportionately awarded to Leinster players, and how this feeds into a cycle of them not having to pay for their best players, freeing up huge sums to pay for the likes of Snyman, which in turn breeds success, while other provinces have only 3 CCs between them. Thoughts?

What differences are there between a central contract and a provincial contract, is it just what pot of the irfu it comes out of?

Lurgan Lad wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2023 8:15 pm

shamalicious wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 3:28 pm Some interesting discussion on Twitter about central contracts being disproportionately awarded to Leinster players, and how this feeds into a cycle of them not having to pay for their best players, freeing up huge sums to pay for the likes of Snyman, which in turn breeds success, while other provinces have only 3 CCs between them. Thoughts?

What differences are there between a central contract and a provincial contract, is it just what pot of the irfu it comes out of?

Different pots, i.e Henderson is on a CC so not coming out of Ulster's salary costs etc. If they are on a CC, there will be restrictions re number of games / availability etc.

Benetton up to 3rd in table with BP win in Parma. Stormers win the North South derby v Bulls.

Neill_M wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 1:18 am Benetton up to 3rd in table with BP win in Parma. Stormers win the North South derby v Bulls.

All 3 teams would beat us full strength atm at home. Winning your home games is now critical in URC as are LBPs away.

Neill_M wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 1:13 am

Lurgan Lad wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2023 8:15 pm

shamalicious wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 3:28 pm Some interesting discussion on Twitter about central contracts being disproportionately awarded to Leinster players, and how this feeds into a cycle of them not having to pay for their best players, freeing up huge sums to pay for the likes of Snyman, which in turn breeds success, while other provinces have only 3 CCs between them. Thoughts?

What differences are there between a central contract and a provincial contract, is it just what pot of the irfu it comes out of?

Different pots, i.e Henderson is on a CC so not coming out of Ulster's salary costs etc. If they are on a CC, there will be restrictions re number of games / availability etc.

Thanks Neill. I can't imagine an international player not on a central contract would have less restrictions on the amount of minutes they can play compared to someone on a central contract?

Lurgan Lad wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 11:19 pm

Neill_M wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 1:13 am

Lurgan Lad wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2023 8:15 pm

shamalicious wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 3:28 pm Some interesting discussion on Twitter about central contracts being disproportionately awarded to Leinster players, and how this feeds into a cycle of them not having to pay for their best players, freeing up huge sums to pay for the likes of Snyman, which in turn breeds success, while other provinces have only 3 CCs between them. Thoughts?

What differences are there between a central contract and a provincial contract, is it just what pot of the irfu it comes out of?

Different pots, i.e Henderson is on a CC so not coming out of Ulster's salary costs etc. If they are on a CC, there will be restrictions re number of games / availability etc.

Thanks Neill. I can't imagine an international player not on a central contract would have less restrictions on the amount of minutes they can play compared to someone on a central contract?

If a player is on / near the Irish squad, there will be player management in place no doubt.

Neill_M wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 4:38 pm

Lurgan Lad wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 11:19 pm

Neill_M wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 1:13 am

Lurgan Lad wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2023 8:15 pm

shamalicious wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 3:28 pm Some interesting discussion on Twitter about central contracts being disproportionately awarded to Leinster players, and how this feeds into a cycle of them not having to pay for their best players, freeing up huge sums to pay for the likes of Snyman, which in turn breeds success, while other provinces have only 3 CCs between them. Thoughts?

What differences are there between a central contract and a provincial contract, is it just what pot of the irfu it comes out of?

Different pots, i.e Henderson is on a CC so not coming out of Ulster's salary costs etc. If they are on a CC, there will be restrictions re number of games / availability etc.

Thanks Neill. I can't imagine an international player not on a central contract would have less restrictions on the amount of minutes they can play compared to someone on a central contract?

If a player is on / near the Irish squad, there will be player management in place no doubt.

Thanks again Neill, to me central contracts are kind of subsidies to the provinces producing the most international players, with a bit of a caveat on when contracts are due and the degree of interest from teams outside Ireland of that specific player

A game for the ages in Limerick...... Weather was poor to be fair.

Also today

Cardiff 55-21 Dragons
Scarlets 11-25 Ospreys

Neill_M wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 10:53 pm A game for the ages in Limerick...... Weather was poor to be fair.

Also today

Cardiff 55-21 Dragons
Scarlets 11-25 Ospreys

Most interesting thing was discussion on CCs - DOC giving off ref imbalance and Heaslip trying to defend Leinsters excessive quota

Heaslip and Doc? Not exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer.

CIMANFOREVER wrote: ↑Wed Dec 27, 2023 12:28 am

Neill_M wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 10:53 pm A game for the ages in Limerick...... Weather was poor to be fair.

Also today

Cardiff 55-21 Dragons
Scarlets 11-25 Ospreys

Most interesting thing was discussion on CCs - DOC giving off ref imbalance and Heaslip trying to defend Leinsters excessive quota

https://x.com/rtesport/status/173973056 ... vsz5BFsfNg

Some of the conversations this has prompted on Twitter are also quite interesting. D’Arcy engaging with one Munster supporter involved in the Provincial State of Mind podcast and has stated ‘Leinster have a thriving schools system, privately funded. However Munster never invested in the main feeder to the professional game - the clubs’ and ‘I’d say it’s more to do with the poor academies in other provinces and port club game pathway.’ in amongst his comments on the debate.

The appointments for the United Rugby Championship fixtures in Round 9 have been confirmed and are available below.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30

Benetton v Zebre Parma
Stadio Monigo, Treviso – KO 13.30 IRE & UK / 14.30 ITA / 15.30 SA
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 28th league game)
AR 1: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) AR 2: Alex Frasson (FIR)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors
Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 76th league game)
AR 1: Jonny Perriam (SRU) AR 2: Finlay Brown (SRU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

DHL Stormers v Hollywoodbets Sharks
DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA
Referee: AJ Jacobs (SARU, 16th league game)
AR 1: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) AR 2: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

MONDAY, JANUARY 1

Connacht v Munster
The Sportsground, Galway – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 36th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU) AR 2: Keane Davison (IRFU)
TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)

Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby
Brewery Field, Bridgend – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 32nd league game)
AR 1: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) AR 2: Ben Breakspear (WRU)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)

Dragons RFC v Scarlets
Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 52nd league game)
AR 1: Gareth Newman (WRU) AR 2: Dewi Philips (WRU)
TMO: Wayne Davies (WRU)

Ospreys game in Bridgend (8,000 capacity), Swansea City using the big stadium. Over 30,000 tickets sold for game 2 of the 1872 Cup on Saturday.

Neill_M wrote: ↑Wed Dec 27, 2023 3:10 pm Ospreys game in Bridgend (8,000 capacity), Swansea City using the big stadium. Over 30,000 tickets sold for game 2 of the 1872 Cup on Saturday.

They’re only going to watch Mighty Mike in action.