DAVID HUMPHREYS insisted that Irish rugby needs a strong Leinster – and the rest of the provinces must catch up.
The IRFU’S High Performance Director is in Portugal this week as Ireland – under interim coach Simon Easterby – prepare for Saturday’s Six Nations opener with England.
As his title suggests, all top level action in the men’s and women’s game falls under his remit from provincial coaching appointments to even what overseas players can be signed.
And one major issue that keeps coming up for the former Ireland No. 10 is the growing gap between Leinster and their Irish rivals Munster, Ulster and Connacht.
That is evidenced in Easterby’s squad in Quinta do Lago; 22 of the 36-man panel are with Leinster and it was 23 before Tadhg Furlong’s withdrawal.
The production line is also Leinster-heavy with 17 of the 31-strong Under-20s side coming from the province too.
Humphreys acknowledged: “I’m slightly reticent to bring up stats but in the squad of 100 players that were on our U18s, U19s, and U20s this year, 50 of those were from Leinster.
“50 percent from one province is too much, our system isn’t working properly but it’s a credit to Leinster.
“So what we’ve got to try and do is reduce that reliance on Leinster across all our squads.”
Supporters of Munster, Ulster and Connacht would highlight the backing that the IRFU given Leinster with nine of the 12 centralised contracts players being Dublin-based.
But eight of those nine are homegrown – the exception being Robbie Henshaw. Ian Henderson, Bundee Aki and Tadhg Beirne are the three non-Leinster men on IRFU deals.
And Humphreys insisted that rather punish Leinster for success, it is about the other three catching up as he wants to see all four Irish provinces in the latter stages of the Champions Cup.
He continued: “Everyone around the world of rugby is looking to what Leinster are doing in their system to produce the players and the success they’ve had.
“For me, it’s about making sure that Leinster remain where they are.
“We want Leinster winning Champions Cups, we want Leinster in finals of the URC, as we want all the provinces, but at this minute time, that’s the level they’re competing at.
“So it’s much more a case of maintaining Leinster where they are, but making sure the support that goes to the other provinces allows them to continue their progression and move.
“Rather than compare the other provinces and say, Leinster have got this, the other provinces haven’t got that, it’s what’s right for each of those provinces and that’s very much going to have to be driven by them.
“They’re the ones that are working in the schools and the clubs and at the grassroots, so it’s about trying to put a longer term…as part of our strategic plan is we’ve talked about winning teams.
“Of course, it’s Ireland teams but it’s also about getting our provinces back and what’s right for one isn’t necessarily right for all four.
“We have to ensure the provinces close the gap to where the current difference with Leinster is.”
The new Performance Director also clarified that there are no firm rules on overseas players signing now, as the IRFU will review all provincial requests on a case by case basis.
Currently, Leinster are in talks about keeping hold of French man Rabah Slimani and Springbok RG Snyman for next season.
But Humphreys also highlighted the need for Irish players to be playing and acknowledged that more could move on loan as Harry Byrne has done this month to Bristol Bears.
And while he insisted that no Irish players playing abroad will be considered for the national team, he insisted that Byrne is an exception as he remains contracted to Leinster.
