It's fair to say outside of Leinster there wasn't too many happy campers when Jordie Barrett was announced as Leinster's new signing for next season.
Coming just hours after the IRFU announced that Dan Sheehan will be Leinster's ninth centrally contracted player, more than double the amount the other provinces have combined. The savings from the Sheehan deal could not have hindered Leinster's efforts to sign the All Black.
Ulster have had to say goodbye to key players like Billy Burns and Steven Kitshoff after this season due to financial issues, Munster have lost Snyman and now potentially Antoine Frisch because of IRFU's foreign player policy and Connacht could potentially have their players cherry picked from the other provinces to cover their gaps.
All three provinces would say these issues could be avoided if the IRFU had a more even spread of centrally contracted players over the four provinces.
Interestingly, it's not only non-Leinster Irish provincial fans who are unhappy with Leinster's signing of Barrett.
Fans Outside Of Ireland Are Unhappy With The Barrett Move
Fans from other URC teams have been up in arms, claiming Leinster's latest recruit signifies that the competition is not an even playing field. With the Welsh regions struggling to keep any playerrs and having their budget slashed again ahead of next season, it's hard for their fans to see how they can compete with the likes of Leinster.
It's okay bro you can just say you like money https://t.co/rHtTki9bEn pic.twitter.com/wWEQTkndtn
— Squidge Rugby (@SquidgeRugby) April 15, 2024
What is the point? Seriously, I mean, what is the point in being alive? https://t.co/BEMFSrrgCS
— Andrew Forde (@andrewfrugby) April 15, 2024
Blimey. Fair play to Leinster for pulling this off but it’s just not a level playing field is it? Lucky buggers. https://t.co/R7N1nw2p2o
— Jamie Phillips (@JNPhillips4) April 15, 2024
Meanwhile in England some have likened this move to Saracens' dominance in England and Europe in the late 2010s that won three Champions Cup in four years. Sarries - like Leinster - had a plethora of homegrown talent like Maro Itoje, Jamie George and Owen Farrell and at the height of their powers they signed Will Skelton and picked up the likes of Elliot Daly from their Premiership rivals.
Ireland plus Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman being coached by Jacques Nienaber is going to have to go out after the wat€r$hed.
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) April 15, 2024
Fully aware the RFU chose another model.
Imagine peak Saracens with Farrell, Itoje, Jamie George, Billy & Mako Vunipola all on central contracts. Freeing Saracens up to get Beauden and Eben.
What a club
— Linebreak Rugby 🏳️⚧️🚂✊ (@LinebreakRugby) April 15, 2024
The key difference between Leinster and Saracens of course is the salary cap. The URC doesn't operate with a salary cap. Ultimately Saracens were relegated from the Premiership because they bent the rules of that salary cap. but it's fair to see why English fans would be annoyed that Leinster are allowed to do this while Saracens lost a generation of players.
With an even more stacked team for next season it looks like it'll be a very daunting task on paper for anyone to take down Leinster next season.
READ ALSO: Jordie Barrett Turned Down Hugely Lucrative Move In Order To Join Leinster
