GAVIN CUMMISKEYtalks to the IRFU's Philip Browne about injury worries and contract negotiations

TWO PRESSING issues were put to IRFU chief executive Philip Browne yesterday: injury and contract negotiations.

The growing concerns about the protection provided to Irish players, in some cases from themselves, in the wake of an independent survey commissioned by the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (Irupa) which revealed over 40 per cent of contracted players felt they have been pressurised into playing while injured, is being examined by the union’s medical committee, Browne revealed.

“It requires trust and it requires honesty on a whole lot of levels, and we have read some of the articles by some players where they haven’t told doctors exactly what they feel or if they are in a condition to play,” said Browne.

“That is another issue. We have to deal with all those issues – the playing side, the medical side and the coaching side – there are three parties here, and we have to make sure that the players get the best possible treatment and medical service. That is the most important thing.”

Retiring players receive a full medical and one-year insurance cover to have rugby-related problems treated. Browne noted this does not occur in most other countries, but it would continue to be done by the IRFU medical committee and not independently.

“We have a medical advisory committee and we are quite happy – and I have said this to (Irupa chief executive) Niall Woods – to have a doctor nominated by Irupa to sit on that committee which will effectively help steer policy in relation to the whole medical side,” said Browne.

He also confirmed that the IRFU medical committee, headed by Dr Conor McCarthy, will make necessary changes where they are deemed necessary.

“The bottom line is that we have known about this for some time in that Niall Woods has given us some access to some of his survey and our medical director has had access to that.

“We have prided ourselves on the medical system that we have. What we do is continually tweak it. That is what we are doing at the moment and we will tweak it again in light of some of the feedback that we have had.

“Not having seen the questionnaire, it is hard to actually comment on it.

“We will work through our medical director with the medical profession and with the players and the provinces to make sure that we have the best possible medical system in place. I think out medical system is pretty robust and had, by and large, delivered in the past and will continue to deliver.”

Meanwhile, on the issue of player contract negotiations, Browne indicated the increased role of agents may play a role in the departure of Irish players overseas. At present, Jonathan Sexton and Jamie Heaslip have yet to sign new contracts.

“The reality is I can’t predict we are going to secure every player. We make offers that we think are fair and reasonable and at the end of the day it’s up to the players – or, in particular, their agents, who seem to have a major influence on the whole issue – it’s up to them to decide if they are going to accept the offers or not.

“As the game develops, so the role of agents has developed. What that tends to do is in some cases it’s in the agents’ interest to make sure the players move, because at the end of the day there is more value for the agents in doing that.

“We would hope the players would take a longer-term view of things and take a look at the bigger picture.

“From our point of view, and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s really important for us that our international team is based here in Ireland.

“We can protect them, we can make sure they have the benefit of rest when rest is required, it means we can give them the benefit of personalised strength and conditioning when it’s required.

“It allows us to make sure our national team peaks at the most appropriate points of the season. The majority of our income is derived from international rugby and it would seem to make perfect sense that we would continue with that policy.

“But at the same time we have to be sensible about it. We can’t bankrupt the IRFU.”

On the related issue of Fionn Carr, Ian Keatley and Seán Cronin announcing their intention to leave Connacht for other Irish provinces just weeks after the IRFU announced a plan to breath new life into the western province, Browne stated: “There are two players moving from Ulster (Mark McCrea and Niall O’Connor) into Connacht, so the reality is movement does take place and has always taken place between the provinces and the market ultimately will dictate.

“We are delighted to see players go to Connacht. That is what we want.

“When players reach a certain stage they have to decide what is best for their career and whether that involves staying in Connacht or moving to another province, and we have seen that in the past.

“If a player reaches the end of his contract he is a free agent and he can do what he likes.”