Leinster rugby team has been making waves in the news lately with their powerful presence in Irish rugby. Recently, they won their quarter-final match against La Rochelle by 40-13, in a game that attracted a full house and might have seen them earn upwards of €1 million. In contract news, Dan Sheehan followed Caelan Doris in accepting a national contract with the IRFU. The team then announced that Jordie Barrett would be joining their ranks on a half-year contract from December next year, set to finish at the end of the 2024/2025 season.
Later in the week, Leinster announced that Tyler Bleyendaal, the highly esteemed former Munster player, would replace Andrew Goodman as attack coach next season. Leinster, who are battling for the top spot in the URC table, confirmed this before the team left for South Africa to play their first double-header against the Lions.
As part of their redevelopment plans, the club revealed they would be relocating to the Aviva Stadium for the next season. At this time, they might also stage a few matches at Croke Park as the RDS Arena is under redevelopment to increase capacity. Additionally, they made plans for ticket sales for the upcoming season public, which includes existing season ticket holders, those on the waiting list and then general public sale.
In ticket sale news, Friday saw the EPCR declare that there were no more tickets left for the Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster and Northampton on May 4th after about 40,000 tickets were snatched up within hours of becoming available to purchase. As this is an EPCR match, Leinster won’t profit personally from the sell-out at Croke Park, however, their presence in the semi-finals and their home ties in the 16th round and the quarter-finals have generated a lucrative season for the province.
Jamison Gibson-Park is poised for elevation to a national IRFU contract, a slightly overdue move that will take Leinster’s tally of national contract holders to 10 next season. His roster mates will include Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, and Hugo Keenan.
In monetary terms, this leaves Leinster, the province with the wealthiest purse, with 10 athletes fully paid by the IRFU, while the other provinces, such as Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne and Iain Henderson, only have one player each covered entirely by the IRFU.
Framed in this way, it might seem that the provinces of Connacht, Munster and Ulster are at a disadvantage, particularly as Leinster, with its capital city benefits including superb feeder schools, has the capacity to enhance its team by securing players such as RG Snyman and Barrett.
However, it’s crucial to underscore that while many global teams, in a variety of sports, enjoy similar privileges by virtue of being in the capital city, Leinster maximises these benefits more effectively than most. The other provinces could benefit significantly by adopting Leinster’s approach to talent spotting and player development, whether in terms of in-depth data analysis and comprehensive research within the province, or sourcing players and coaching staff overseas. The case of Gibson-Park, who likely wouldn’t have ever represented the All Blacks if he’d stayed in New Zealand but is now the main contender for the Lions’ number nine jersey, illustrates the point perfectly.
Of course, there have been a few grumblings amongst Leinster’s supporter base, but the fact remains that the appointment of Barrett represents a smart move by a club that, under the stewardship of Leo Cullen, seldom makes any missteps.
Capable of playing in six different positions in any series of games, Barrett is also a skilled goal-kicker. Standing at 6′ 4″, akin to his brother Scott, his flexibility could even allow him to play in the backrow. The Barrett brothers, children of Robyn and Kevin, owe their skills and character to their parents, including Kevin’s coaching. Nonetheless, given a choice amongst the three Barrett brothers, Leinster might have opted for Jordie.
The recent addition of Snyman to the Leinster team, joining forces with Ryan and Joe McCarthy, lessens the need for Scott’s skills. Jordi, the youngest of the trio, stands out not just for his versatility but also his combative spirit – a quality that serves as an inspiration to younger Leinster players.
A formidable defender and a skilled attacker, there’s a sense of certainty that Barrett always enters any physical confrontation confident of triumph. Peculiarly, arguably his most significant influence on the game was his role in preventing Ireland from reaching a World Cup semi-final when he stopped Rónan Kelleher from grounding the ball during a crucial quarter-final.
Despite the likelihood that the talented younger players such as Ciarán Frawley, Jamie and Andrew Osborne, Rob Russell, Tommy O’Brien, Liam Turner and others, may miss out on game time, the wealth of knowledge to be gained from Barrett is a more than adequate compensation.
This was also the case when Leinster’s local players practiced together with stars like Isa Nacewa, Felipe Contepomi, Chris Whitaker, Rocky Elsom, Nathan Hines, Brad Thorn, and Scott Fardy.
There’s no doubt that Barrett will bring insider knowledge from his time with Leinster, as did Rassie Erasmus and his team of wandering ‘Boks from Munster, and as Snyman will do. However, the rugby IQ exchange must be mutual and the fact that Leinster and Ireland are captivating rugby enthusiasts worldwide is a testament to their success.
Another noteworthy aspect of Barrett’s joining is the global attention it has garnered, further cementing Leinster’s elevated status internationally. Set to leave RDS for Aviva, Barrett’s entry will undoubtedly drive ticket sales. Ultimately, if he and Snyman contribute to securing another star on Leinster’s jerseys, their recruitment will be deemed a worthy investment.