Rugby

Leinster can't force Joey Carbery to turn down Ulster

IRFU reportedly gave Leinster an ultimatum to chose between Carbery and Ross Byrne

Joey Carbery: As Sexton’s heir apparent and with a World Cup in 18 months, Schmidt’s concern is how Carbery can develop as an outhalf given his lack of game time in the role at Leinster. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

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Johnny Watterson
Tue Apr 24 2018 - 06:00

Leinster have made it clear that any movement by a player to another province is a decision that will be taken by the player alone.

Regardless of what the IRFU or performance director David Nucifora would like to happen, players ultimately make the decision about what club they wish to play for.

The clarification comes after the IRFU reportedly gave Leinster an ultimatum to chose between outhalves Joey Carbery and Ross Byrne following their decision to revoke the contract of Ulster and Ireland outhalf  Paddy Jackson.

Leinster have three players in the position, Johnny Sexton, Carbery and Byrne, while Ulster are thin with just Johnny McPhillips and scrumhalf John Cooney stepping in when required.

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Schmidt and Nucifora visited Leinster’s training centre last week prior to their semi-final match against Scarlets to inform head coach Leo Cullen that he would need to make a choice between the two players.

“They regularly meet and discuss what they need to discuss,” says Leinster forwards’ coach John Fogarty. “Players are being managed. That’s an ongoing thing.

“The fact is we need these players here, we’re not keeping them here. Ultimately the players will make the decisions – what they want to do. There’s no one who’s going to be kept or held, or pushed. That just doesn’t happen.

“I have no knowledge of the meeting,” added the Leinster coach. “I just know this happens regularly. Ireland and the provinces will meet regularly to discuss players, future success of players and so on.”

The IRFU and provinces control contracts and whether to issue them or not. The IRFU and Schmidt also control who is selected for Ireland and can apply pressure on players to stay in the country under threat of not being selected.

Past departures Tadhg Beirne and Ian Madigan and more recently Simon Zebo have been cut out of the Ireland squad because they moved outside the jurisdiction, while Jordi Murphy decided that he would move north, play for Ulster next season and keep his Irish hopes alive. Prop Marty Moore has come to the same decision.

The bone of contention all year has been how much pitch time Carbery has been getting in the outhalf position. As understudy to Sexton at both Ireland and Leinster his pitch time at 10 has been limited in both teams with most of it in Leinster coming at fullback.

As Sexton’s heir apparent and with a World Cup in 18 months, Schmidt’s concern is how Carbery can develop as a pivot playing in such a regime.

“I understand...” says Fogarty. “Joey came into our system as a 15-year-old and he’s developed and gone on to play for the A’s, our senior side, and he’s gone on to play for Ireland.

Eight starts

“I don’t think there’s a problem with Joey’s development. He came in as a 15-year-old kid, now he’s playing for Ireland and what age is Joey, 22?

“ Joey is a successful and talented player and he will continue to be wherever he is. I think right now he is still developing, he’s learning and developing all the way along.

“This is something that I won’t be discussing with Joe or David or Leo, this is what Leo and Joe and David will be discussing regularly. Last week, next week and the week after.”

Carbery has had eight starts this season with Leinster, seven of those have been at fullback. He has played only once at outhalf from the start of the match – against Benetton Treviso a couple of weeks ago.

However, Leinster will make the case that they are not just competing against the other provinces, but also against the well-resourced French and English clubs, their European final against Racing, who could afford to leave twice world player of the year Dan Carter on the bench last Sunday, a case in point.

“I was told Jordi was going to Ulster,” says Fogarty. “I don’t know the process. He wanted more game time. Ultimately that’s what he wanted to do because he wants to play for Ireland.”

Leinster have used 53 players this season. Not all are happy. But Carbery is a particular Schmidt concern.

“As I said,” says Fogarty. “Ultimately the player is going to make the decision.”