Jack Crowley has had to play in the shadows of Sam Prendergast in this Guinness Six Nations championship, but a hefty offer from the Leicester Tigers has now put the out-half in a healthy bargaining position with the IRFU.
Reports emerged on Tuesday afternoon that the Munster 10 is being courted by the Premiership side, who are ready to spend big as they scramble to replace Handre Pollard, who is returning to South Africa this summer. A figure of just over €700,000 (£600,000) per year has been floated in the English press.
The 25-year-old is into the final months of his current deal with Munster, which he signed in 2023, and is a nailed-on starter for his province. However his Test status has been the focus of constant debate in recent months following the promotion of Sam Prendergast to the starting 10 shirt for Ireland.
Prendergast has started all four games for Ireland in this Six Nations, and played the full 80 minutes in three of those, with Crowley making substitute appearances at full-back and centre in the wins over Scotland, Wales and the defeat to France. The 22 minutes he's played at out-half in this championship came in the opener against England, where he was key to Ireland powering their way to a 27-22 win.
If there are frustrations on his part that he hasn’t been fully valued by the IRFU, this Leicester offer is sure to test his will, and it would likely take a strong central contract from Irish rugby to keep him.
It’s put the IRFU into an uncomfortable situation, albeit one that they have played a big role in putting themselves in.
As it stands, 14 players will be on central contracts with the union next season, with 11 of those based at Leinster; Connacht pair Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki, and Munster’s Tadhg Beirne the exceptions.
Speaking ahead of the Six Nations, Irish Rugby performance director David Humphreys (above) admitted there is "definitely a risk" that supporters around the country could become disillusioned around the lack of representation in the Ireland squad from players around the country.
Social media isn't always the best barometer, but it’s a loud and influential one, and based on the early reaction to the prospect of Munster and Ireland losing Crowley to the Premiership, the IRFU would be closer to alienating a chunk of their fanbase, never mind leaving them feeling disillusioned.
Munster supporters don’t have exclusive rights on that disillusionment, but their frustrations have been the most high profile in recent seasons. Jean Kleyn’s lack of international recognition saw him return to the Springbok shirt, and it's easy to join the dots between his status as a non-Irish qualified player and RG Snyman’s move to Leinster.
More recently, Antoine Frisch was on the fast-track to being a cult-hero at Thomond Park, before Ireland missed the boat to cap him, and he returned to France.
From both a rugby and optics perspective, keeping him in Ireland is a must, even if it means having two out-halves on central deals, and paying over the odds to do so.
From a rugby point of view, losing him from the Irish system just wouldn’t make sense. Even if they view Prendergast as their long-term starter, putting all of their chips in on a 22-year-old would be a major risk.
Of course, Ciarán Frawley and Harry Byrne will both be on the scene next season, but at 27 and 25-years old, both remain unproven at Test level.
In terms of the optics, the PR disaster of Crowley departing would likely leave the union spending a central contract’s worth on a crisis management firm to deal with the fallout.
While most Irish fans – not just in Munster – reacted to Tuesday’s transfer rumour with worry, it was interesting to see the majority of the Leicester supporters take the news with a grain of salt, wary of their club being used as leverage by a player and agent to get the best deal they can.
Nobody knows Crowley’s intentions at this stage, and while some of the more hyperbolic social media analysis would suggest that he’s been treated like dirt for being forced to wear 22 rather than 10 for Ireland, it’s hard to believe that the Cork man is feeling so sorry for himself.
Remember, this is the same player that muscled his way up the depth chart behind Johnny Sexton in time for the Rugby World Cup, and his performances since losing his starting place with Ireland in November paint the picture of someone who has reacted positively to the challenge laid before him.
If he decides to make the Leicester move, it’s likely the money is the main reason for it, rather than the notion he has no international future with Ireland. And who could blame him? Rugby is a fickle business, and careers can be short.
It might also just be a power play from an agent. But it would be a big risk to call that bluff.
Watch Italy v Ireland (from 1.15pm) and France v Scotland (from 7.30pm) in the Guinness Six Nations on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player this Saturday.
Follow a live blog of both games on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, and listen to live commentary of Italy v Ireland on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
