Yesterday, the IRFU confirmed that the contracts of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding had been revoked with immediate effect. In the aftermath, several reports emerged of English and French clubs interested in both players- Jackson being linked with Clermont while Olding has been linked with Exeter Chiefs.
The union made the announcement via this statement.
The Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby have revoked the contracts of Patrick Jackson and Stuart Olding with immediate effect.
In arriving at this decision, the Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby acknowledge our responsibility and commitment to the core values of the game: Respect, Inclusivity and Integrity.
It has been agreed, as part of this commitment, to conduct an in-depth review of existing structures and educational programmes, within the game in Ireland, to ensure the importance of these core values is clearly understood, supported and practised at every level of the game.
Today numerous outlets have reported on the intricacies of this deal. Per the Sunday Independent, both Jackson and Olding will be financially compensated with Jackson expected to "walk away with a financial settlement close to his contract value."
The Sunday Times also reports no formal disciplinary procedure was carried out, just a severance negotiation.
The amounts within this agreement are set to remain confidential but both players are believed to be on contracts between €100,000 and €300,000, with Jackson earning a higher figure.
Both contracts had been due to expire in June 2019.
Last Friday a protest was held outside Ulster's stadium while several sponsors including Bank of Ireland and Vodafone voiced concerns over conduct issues raised during the trial. In the aftermath of the IRFU's announcement, both players released statements.
