While Leinster's domination of Irish rugby has helped the IRFU achieve more success over the past decade than ever before, it seems that the gap between the blue side of the country and the other provinces is only increasing every year.
Munster did enjoy more silverware than Leo Cullen's side last year, but the differences behind the scenes between not only Ireland's two most successful provinces - but all four- is setting off alarm bells for a lot of fans.
In recent days, Leinster's strength in depth has increased again with the announcement that 57-time All Black Jordie Barrett will join on a short-term deal in December.
Former Munster out-half Tyler Bleyendaal will also join the side as attack coach for the 2024/25 season, while they have also captured the signature of RG Snyman from Munster.
Along with the pull of playing for arguably the best team in Europe, Leinster's finances are undoubtedly attracting the best of the best, but it seems the IRFU's contract structure is contributing a playing field that is far from even.
Leinster to benefit from 10th IRFU contract next season
Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times reported on Wednesday that Jamison Gibson-Park is set to be offered a central contract at the end of the season. With the news that Dan Sheehan has signed a central contract this week, this means that 10 of Leinster's frontline players will have their wages paid by the IRFU.
The other three provinces will have just one player each being paid from the national system.
Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahony have been taken off the central contract system, and Tadhg Beirne will be the only Munster player on a national contract.
The only other non-Leinster players benefitting from the system are Bundee Aki and Iain Henderson.
That means that the province won't have to pay Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Doris, Gibson-Park, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan next year.
Leinster will argue that their academies have developed the majority of these players, and this core have delivered so much recent success to the Ireland team.
The current contractual system is in place to help provinces with producing established Irish internationals, to manage their workload with an eye to international games and to keep them playing on home soil.
Interestingly, Thornley reports that a review of the system is set to take place by the IRFU over the coming months, ahead of the arrival of David Humphreys as Performance Director.
SEE ALSO: It's Not Only Fans Of The Other Irish Provinces Who Are Unhappy With Jordie Barrett Move
