The Counter Ruck: Is Ireland’s central contract system broken?

And do Leinster unfairly benefit from the IRFU paying their best players via national contracts?

Listen | 31:09
Leinster recently announced the signing of All Black Jordie Barrett who will join the club after the autumn internationals. Photographer: David Rogers/Getty Images)
Leinster recently announced the signing of All Black Jordie Barrett who will join the club after the autumn internationals. Photographer: David Rogers/Getty Images)

News of Leinster’s recent signing of All Black Jordie Barrett has split opinion. Is this a fair reflection of the dominant province flexing their muscle, or an unfair benefit of the IRFU paying their best players via national contracts?

Next season, 10 Leinster players will have their salaries paid by the governing body via central contracts, the other provinces combined have three. Is this a cycle of dominance, or a worrying portend of Leinster pulling ahead and destroying competitive balance in the provinces?

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to discuss the issue, how we got here and what can be done about it.

Produced by John Casey.