Provincial moves, which would you like to see?

When David Nucifora was made Irish Rugby Football Union's high performance director, there was speculation thathis role would involve getting players contacts sorted sooner and also encouraging players to move to other Provinces to gain more gametime, if there are other players ahead of them at thier home Province.

On the first front job well done so far, on the second, will we see this come into place this summer?

So the question is who do you think should move and to where?
Also which players should be brought back and where should they moved too?

First quest its important to note, thats its think should move, as no Province will want to lose a player to a rival, but we have to think about this without Provinical bias and for whats best for the player and Ireland.

Personally looking at it, Ulster have Marshall, Olding and McCloskey.
and Prob can't keep all 3 happy, in my view McCloskey offers something different to Olding and Marshall, and should stay with one of those two, and I believe it is Marshall that will be lost.

Muster have now got, Tyler Bleyendaal and JJ
Leinster have D'arcy and Madigan
in all honestly with D'arcy's age I think Leinster would benefit from him more.

In return though Ulster need Back rows and if losing an Internation player should get one in return, Kevin McLaughlin or better Rhys Ruddock would be ideal.

James Hart in Grenoble has been getting good reviews and I think would do well as a back up at any province. Leinster with Reddan and Boss getting older may require an experienced option most,

Chris Farrell has also done well with Grenoble this season and earned himself a 2 year contract.

Hart may be a good signing for Leinster but he signed a long term contract with Grenoble last season.

Henshaw to Leinster.

Kingshu wrote:Personally looking at it, Ulster have Marshall, Olding and McCloskey.
and Prob can't keep all 3 happy, in my view McCloskey offers something different to Olding and Marshall, and should stay with one of those two, and I believe it is Marshall that will be lost.

Muster have now got, Tyler Bleyendaal and JJ
Leinster have D'arcy and Madigan
in all honestly with D'arcy's age I think Leinster would benefit from him more.

In return though Ulster need Back rows and if losing an Internation player should get one in return, Kevin McLaughlin or better Rhys Ruddock would be ideal.

Nope,they are our 1st and 2nd choice at 6,I think Murphy or Ryan to Ulster would be a better fit for both teams.They are both able to play a few positions although both are really no.7's where SoB will (hopefully) come back ahead of them,we also have Dan Leavy coming through in that position and he is considered to be the next superstar in the making.

Be careful though. People across the water talk of the 'natural' Provincialism that exists in Ireland, and most of them admit it's a strength rather than a weakness. They envy it.

You have to try to manage players in a small area with few teams of course.  You also have to try to motivate potential players to stay in the country and benefit one of the Provinces rather than leave for foreign shores and benefit outside teams.

But you also have to seriously be aware of the certain benefits of our 'Natural' Provincial breakdown, respect how strong those emotions can often be, be aware of the dangers of over-diluting that sense of place and loyalty that can drive our Provinces.

If the 'transfer' market becomes too fluid within the regions, if you have a bunch of Munster and Leinster players up in Ulster or a bunch of Ulster and Leinster players down in Munster, that would logically perhaps make sense in terms of team dynamics and keeping our best players in Ireland - but the sense of Provincialism could be diluted in the minds of the players and turn them into cold hearted drifters, playing for money and future 'Ireland' hopes.

Nothing wrong with money or 'Ireland' hopes in the minds of good players, but a big part of their 'bite' as players is a genuine deep loyalty to their Provinces, families, followers.  

Thread carefully.  I'd especially ask an outsider like Nucifora to travel carefully and seek out a lot of voices to get things right.

If he could get a decent coach for Leinster it would be much appreciated.

Golden wrote:If he could get a decent coach for Leinster it would be much appreciated.

God, O'Connor was on Against the Head there recently and I felt guilty - as I always do when I criticise coaches and then realise how human they are.  i'm sure he's a lovely man but the poor guy just doesn't seem to have the Head Coach drive that separates the background men from the glory seekers.  
Maybe he has high ambitions for himself but I just don't see it in his personality.  I don't know what Leinster were looking to improve on when they brought him in but the Head Role isn't suiting him in such a ravenous climate that Pro12 is increasingly becoming; nor in such a Province that liked it at the top and doesn't like how casual the trip downward appears to be.
Yes, we need a new coach.  I hear McKenzie is out of a job???   He turned down Ireland before he was asked, maybe we could give him a chance to turn down Leinster too.

Dont want to see too much of it happening. On occasion if it suits the player and the province then fine but if its a "forced" move then I wouldnt like it.

No choice ME. I hear Nucifora is called Lucifora by his staff. He wants to make a point about who is boss now. So POC and Murray to Ulster. Get used to it - they'll close out their Provincial careers as Daz players.

POC will be crocked after the world cup...they can have him then...not sure he will improve his french up there though.

SecretFly wrote:Be careful though. People across the water talk of the 'natural' Provincialism that exists in Ireland, and most of them admit it's a strength rather than a weakness.  They envy it.

You have to try to manage players in a small area with few teams of course.  You also have to try to motivate potential players to stay in the country and benefit one of the Provinces rather than leave for foreign shores and benefit outside teams.

But you also have to seriously be aware of the certain benefits of our 'Natural' Provincial breakdown, respect how strong those emotions can often be, be aware of the dangers of over-diluting that sense of place and loyalty that can drive our Provinces.

If the 'transfer' market becomes too fluid within the regions, if you have a bunch of Munster and Leinster players up in Ulster or a bunch of Ulster and Leinster players down in Munster, that would logically perhaps make sense in terms of team dynamics and keeping our best players in Ireland - but the sense of Provincialism could be diluted in the minds of the players and turn them into cold hearted drifters, playing for money and future 'Ireland' hopes.

Nothing wrong with money or 'Ireland' hopes in the minds of good players, but a big part of their 'bite' as players is a genuine deep loyalty to their Provinces, families, followers.  

Thread carefully.  I'd especially ask an outsider like Nucifora to travel carefully and seek out a lot of voices to get things right.

+1

Nucifora needs to be very careful how he meddles. I think the provincial coaches would be well aware of much its worth (I've read Mick Dawson commenting on how valuable such provincial loyalty is). Someone should ask him to have a look at how Wales and see how lack of loyalty to their regions is working out in Wales.

The only way it will ever work is if the players want to do it. For instance, if Henshaw was forced to move to Leinster, how much loyalty would he have to Leinster when his next contract comes up for renewal?

Golden wrote:If he could get a decent coach for Leinster it would be much appreciated.

It won't be Robbie Deans anyway. Nucifora and himself destest each other.