Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has spoken over his concerns that Jonny Sexton’s move to the Top 14 could be the start of a French exodus for some of our top players.
Schmidt held his first training camp with an extended Irish squad at the weekend and the former Leinster coach has spoken over his fears that some of our top players could follow Sexton, with Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien, Conor Murray and Donnacha Ryan all linked to French clubs with their contracts out at the end of the season.
“I think you are always worried at this time of the year. You are always worried by the precedent that is now out there,” he told press after the two-day camp at Carton House.
“You are worried that that may well fire a bit more interest from the French market. At the time (of Sexton’s protracted negotiations last winter, Racing Metro president Jacky) Lorenzetti said ‘the Irish come over but they never arrive. It’s a fairly brief visit that they make and (then) they stay at home’. One didn’t, so maybe others will look elsewhere.”
One of the main concerns voiced over potential moves to the Top 14 is player welfare, something the IRFU has prioritised in recent years. In contrast to that, after a three week break following the victorious Lions campaign, Sexton has played seven games in six weeks for Racing Metro and Schmidt contends it is even more gruelling for forwards.
“I think they will be put off,” the Ireland boss said, “for Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and those sort of players, with the amount of collisions they are involved in during a game, would they benefit from seven games in six weeks?”
Uncertain times ahead for the IRFU.
