Fighting back: Joe Schmidt
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Leinster boss Joe Schmidt has hit back at claims that the province have persistently targeted Connacht players after signing Mike McCarthy.
Connacht chief executive Tom Sears was quoted on Wednesday stating that Leinster have frequently targeted players from the Galway province.
"We have been aware of Leinster's interest in Mike for some time. It is disappointing they have persistently targeted Connacht players in recent years, particularly when often not in the best interest of Irish rugby," said Sears.
Fionn Carr, Jamie Hagan and Sean Cronin have all made the move to Dublin in recent times, with McCarthy the latest to join after impressing for Ireland during the November Internationals.
"To claim that we have persistently pursued Mike McCarthy is just false. We had not persistently pursued Mike at all," said Schmidt to The Irish Times.
"I know that if you contact the IRFU they will say that we abided by all protocols. And those protocols set down are very, very clear.
"To be honest I haven't spoken to Mike about any motivations. I had a very brief phone call when he said he was interested and the protocols had been ticked off and I just said to him I was delighted. That's the only contact I've had with Mike.
"[We are] massively disappointed [with the claims], because we have done everything by the book. Mike is certainly not the only Connacht player who has expressed an interest to come to Leinster. That's a natural thing to a degree where there is one team that is consistently performing at the top end.
"We would believe that we have helped Connacht build that team by helping them qualify for Heineken Cup [by winning it] which has got a lot of people excited. I've got the utmost respect for Connacht in the way they have acquitted themselves in the Heineken Cup with a fantastic win over Harlequins and the win last week over Biarritz."
Comments
Biggyfint says...
@boksmashoffice I blatantly said Leinster have the best academy and rugby is weakest in Connacht. All rugby players in Ireland are centrally contracted. Why didn't Ruddock go to Munster. Ehhh I don't know probably because he's crap and the idea of Munster siging a Leinster forward would be too insulting to most Munster fans. This signing whose Leinster for mefeiners that they are. Theyve shafted us over again. McSharry will be next. Apparently there was interest in Henshaw. Even 19 yr old connacht born and bread are not off limits.
Posted 17:01 15th December 2012
melkdave says...
Nothing really new here ,Leinster and Munster have raided Connacht since the IRFU decided Connacht wasnt one of the favoured .The list is quite extensive of players going from Connacht to the big 2 over the years.I cant understand why Connacht only gets half the funding of the other irish teams for a start??Ulster also suffered in the past iirc.It just seems that the IRFU want Connacht just to be a feeder team for the others atm,and i wouldnt be surprised if McSheery was the next one to go in early 2013.Its one reason i dont really rate Leinster or Munster as great sides,they have had just to much help from the IRFU imo,and havent realy done it on their own back.Dont get me wrong they can play and play a good style ect.Its just i cant help thinking if the WRU told its players the best must play for team X ,wouldnt that team have done aswell as Leinster or Munster or even better in the HC over the years??
Posted 05:18 15th December 2012
Andrewinkorea says...
@ Biggyfint, McCarthy is not centrally contracted. You're simply wrong. Why is Rhys ruddock still a Leinster player if the IRFU moves people around? He had numerous chances to join Munster but he CHOOSE to stay like Mike CHOOSE to leave
Posted 01:31 15th December 2012
boksmashoffice says...
@ Biggyfint: I don't understand what your issue is. The lad want to play top level rugby week in week out and wants to have a winners medal on his mantle piece. I don;t think Connacht will ever be able to offer that. The only reason you guys are in the HC is because Leinster it 2 years. This has improved your revenue streams. Do you really think you have the best academy system? Surly these lads playing and training with better players will improve Irish rugby? I am a saffa and don't give a flip about leinster.
Posted 23:59 14th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I say to a mate "you persistently try to score my girlfriends" and he answers "I did not persistently try to score... Doris" well... Guilty. But whose the loser?
Posted 18:04 14th December 2012
TVaddict says...
You know what's funny, McCarthy is English born. Good to see another English lad helping to prop up another celtic country. ;)
(To those who have been annoyed by this comment please be aware that it was meant ironically, thank you)
Posted 16:38 14th December 2012
BiggyFint says...
@rukrym The contract offered to McCarthy by Leinster was the same as the one offered by Connacht. Finances weren't the issue so your point is invalid. Leinster have many supporters and lots of money and lots of players all of these points are valid. The point being stop leeching off other provinces. Oh yea and the next time a Leinster supporter wants to criticize Connacht for bringing players in from outside the province why don't you take a look at your own team sheet once in a while. Some people have more chromosomes than sense.
Posted 15:29 14th December 2012
BiggyFint says...
@Andrewinkorea you are correct sir. I retract my statement and hope it will be struck from the record. However if you are suggesting that in a system were players are centrally contracted that the IRFU has no influence or prior knowledge of transfers then sorry mate your blue magic has you in a fairy world. This is sickening and indicative of this country. The IRFU need to clarify exactly what there vision for Connacht is going forward. Leinster don't make the rules for European rugby so forgive me for not bending over backwards to thank you all for Connachts participation in the HC. When Ulster qualify us for the competition next year how many of our players will we be sending North? The last two season in the HC were a huge opportunity to build the game in Connacht and a lot has been done but against this backdrop of being constantly undermined I wouldn't blame people if Connacht Season ticket holders think about spending there money else where. We will soldier on. With players like Henshaw and Marmion coming through the future is bright despite the intentions of our overlords in Dublin 4.
Posted 10:46 14th December 2012
BiggyFint says...
McCarthy has been a great servant Irish rugby and I haven't heard a single Connacht supporter wish him I'll in the future. Leinster supporters in general have there heads so far up there asses that they see the rest of the country and Connacht in general as a back water. Carr, Hagan and Cronin were regects with questionable futures in the professional game ahead of them. Connacht took them made something of them and were shafted in return. It's an utter disgrace that the province with the strongest academy is consistently undermining the province were rugby is weakest. I'd like to hear a coherent argument why the fact rugby is weak and developing in Connacht means Leinster have the right to consistently undermine its development. 90% of Leinster supporters (mainly those from outside the pale) know that in order for Ireland to have any aspirations of winning a WC down the line we need four provinces contributing players to the national side. All Leinster have done is marginally improve there own hand while weakening the growth of rugby in this country as a whole. Connacht born and bread is the way forward and the talent we have coming through is a testament to the great work being done in spite of rather than because of the demi Gods that are Leinster. The foreign players rule that is coming in will only put further pressure on Connachts Irish talent.@Leinster_goy your a pathetic human being. Turnip patch? I don't come from a farming background you egotistical lowlife. I'd like to see how long you'd live without the food that is produced for you though.
Posted 10:07 14th December 2012
Andrewinkorea says...
@ PR - The Irish teams are not called "regions" - that's the name for the Welsh teams. Leinster is a province.
@ BiggyFint - I see you didn't bother to check your facts either. Ulster finished with 20 points as a best runner. Had Quins won, they'd have topped the group and Toulouse (on 18) would have been eliminated. Ulster were through, regardless of what happened in Galway because Gloucester had beaten Toulouse in Kingsholm. Also, the IRFU can't "block" the move. Ever hear of EU employment laws? If you'd like to know more information about how illegal that is, read yesterday's Irish Independent. McCarthy's contract is expiring, so the IRFU can't block him looking for alternative employment.
Stop bringing lies to this house.
Posted 06:16 14th December 2012
boksmashoffice says...
Lads come on now. Connacaht is a a feeding team for the big 3 in ireland. Anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. Just because a few Connacht heads are in government lets not get too big headed. On a serious note surly its good for Irish rugby that Mccarthy will be playing top level rugby week in week out.
Posted 19:14 13th December 2012
rukrym says...
@leinster_goy
"Turnip patch" haha love it!
Have to say the claims of Connacht supporters that the IRFU should have somehow blocked the move are just ridiculous. It's a free market.
And to be honest I'm a bit tired of their self-image as the mistreated poor cousins of Irish rugby. The reason Leinster, Munster and Ulster have more funds is because they supplement the funding they get from the IRFU with their own revenue from ticket sales, merchandising and private investment. Go to the RDS any weekend and there'll be 15,000 people there to watch Leinster regardless of the opposition. If Connacht can't put bums on seats then that's their issue, not the other provinces'.
Posted 18:56 13th December 2012
Theshaw says...
Your a legend leinster_goy I think your great!
Posted 18:48 13th December 2012
papachinzo says...
Moan Moan Moan, no one cares. Fact is; players have the right to choose where they play. besides McCarthy, Carr and Hagan all joined Connacht from other teams, its not like they came through their academy...
Posted 18:38 13th December 2012
Jarhead says...
Another typically idiotic/braindead post from a Connacht Supporter.
Connacht would be nowhere without the other provinces and in particular Leinster over the last few years. They have NEVER qualified for the Heineken Cup off their own achievements. They also couldn't have beaten Harlequins if Leinster hadn't qualified them for the competition.
In addition to the extra revenue streams Leinster have opened up for them, it is a fact that they wouldn't have kept players such as McCarthy if they were not in the Heineken Cup. Cronin et al agreed to leave BEFORE they'd ever "qualified" for the Heineken Cup. In addition, they wouldn't be able to sign the likes of Dan Parks etc. without being able to offer Heineken Cup rugby (again thanks to Leinster).
Posted 18:33 13th December 2012
leinster_goy says...
@BiggyFint
nobody forced McCarthy to make the decision. he's 31, playing like the clappers, just broken into the international set-up...do you begrudge him his right to a higher wage, an improved chance of silverware and a better life for himself, his wife and kids?
look at it this way: if you were working on your local turnip patch and just about getting by, and then you got an offer from a neighbour who runs a more profitable turnip patch that produces bigger, juicier turnips, would you scoff at the opportunity? of course not. that's how the market economy works
Posted 18:12 13th December 2012
BiggyFint says...
You give with one hand and take with the other. Schmidt is the Leinster coach and so is only concerned Leinster and that is as it should be. The IRFU should have blocked this move in the interests of Connacht and Irish Rugby as a whole. His response drips with arrogance. Lets not forget if it wasn't for Connacht beating Harlequins last year Ulster would not have made it out of there group and so progress to the HC final. What difference would this have made to the rise of Ulster? Who's to say. How many times have you heard Eric Elwood quoting this fact? The comparison of Connacht taking leinster rough stones or regects and Leinster taking Connachts best is not and equal one. This whole situation stinks and the IRFU need to clarify exactly what there vision for Connacht is going forward. Having our province reduced to a feeder club is beyond insulting. The people of Connacht deserve a lot better.
Posted 16:56 13th December 2012