Sport on television - If it’s not broken don’t fix it

MINISTER Eamon Ryan cannot have been the only one surprised by the passions stirred by his suggestion that Six Nations and Heineken Cup rugby might be designated free-to-air events for television.

Just as our more pessimistic commentators warn that the lights could go out at any moment, one of the most aggressive reactions to any Government proposal was one about sport on television.

This says more about us than is comforting.

Like virtually every other proposal made today its author — rather than its intent — has a huge impact on how it is received. Unfortunately, our Government is so mistrusted and wounded that more or less anything it suggests gets a negative reaction. The idea, good or bad, falls through the credibility gap.

Mr Ryan’s proposals have to be considered as he will, if he clings to office long enough, make the definitive ruling about which events are designated free-to-air.

The Irish Rugby Football Union, by a considerable distance the country’s most successful professional sporting body, vehemently oppose the minister’s proposals.

They suggest that they will strangle the golden goose that produced four Heineken cups, a Grand Slam and four Triple Crowns thrown in for good measure. The golden goose that enlivened and united Munster supporters, Leinster supporters, Connacht supporters and Ulster supporters to a degree that could not have been imagined when the Heineken Cup began 15 years ago. The golden goose that spread considerable joy and engendered justifiable pride in a country that right now needs both more than at any time in its recent history.

The IRFU convincingly argue that it would mean that the likes of the wonderful Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Jonathan Sexton, Donnacha Ryan and Cian Healy will join so many of their contemporaries by becoming economic emigrants.

Irish rugby would not be able to match rewards available in France or England. It is impossible to disagree with that argument.

The national team is different. Though it is hugely important commercially unless you have the right birth certificate you cannot represent Ireland. The Irish team is as much about nationalism as it is about business and because of this all Ireland’s Six Nations games should be available to all Irish people.

The same principle cannot, however, be applied to our four professional provincial teams.

Beguiling as it may be to imagine that they are part of a Corinthian tradition they are not. They are ruthless professional organisations whose success depends on the depth of their pockets rather than any accidents of geography or birth. To suggest otherwise is romantic amateurism.

Even Toulouse needed mercenaries to win their record fourth title last Saturday.

Irish regional teams need this infusion too and, as they stand, Mr Ryan’s proposals would put those talents beyond our reach, condemning us to a future very much like our past. Beaten and thrashed time after time. As our present shows this need not be but it might be.

Unless Mr Ryan’s proposals represent a guaranteed improvement on today’s arrangements the status quo must prevail and the IRFU must be allowed make the best possible commercial arrangements.