Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald believes Munster are not far from a return to the top table in European rugby.
Munster will play the Ospreys in the semi-final of the Guinness Pro12 on Saturday afternoon but they crashed out of Europe in the pool phase and it is competitiveness at European level that their supporters crave.
Fitzgerald, who has been in the job since 1999, believes the squad is headed in the right direction under head coach Anthony Foley.
Speaking to RTÉ's Against The Head, he said: “We’ve had a huge transition in our own team over a number of years and I think we’ve done really well to be competing at that level.
"I would like to think we are on the upper curve of that change in our team and in our squad.”
There has been conflict between national side and provincial set ups at various times over the last number of years with Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor the latest to find fault with the system, however Fitzgerald believes the IRFU’s handling of the top level game has been good.
He added:“People need to realise there have been huge changes in Irish rugby and the IRFU have managed the whole professional rugby area really well in my opinion.
"I think our top players, all our players, are paid on as high a level as their competitors in Europe and elsewhere.”
Looking ahead, Fitzgerald is convinced that Munster are close to a return to the highest level.
“What do we have to do? We have to keep doing what we’re doing better, produce better players ourselves and try and add that one or two top class non-Irish eligible player to our squad but I don’t think we’re as far off as people think we are.”
New signing Francis Saili is one of those high-profile non-Irish qualified players and Fitzgerald believes the 24-year-old, twice capped by the All Blacks, will be a good fit.
“We had a number of Skype and telephone interviews with Francis. He was happy that he could settle here with his partner or any family.
"It did take a period of time and there were a number of negotiations but I could honestly say they weren’t dominated by monetary issues and I think he will be a great addition to the squad.”
