IRFU appointment pays dividends

The news that Ireland rugby players — Felix Jones, Dave Foley, Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne — have committed their futures to Irish clubs by signing contract extensions six months ahead of schedule (Irish Examiner, December 3) is a credit to the new contractual renegotiations implemented by the Irish Rugby Football Union (who are the central contracting body).

In April, the IRFU wisely appointed David Nucifora as the newly-created performance director. Mr Nucifora assumed his role in June.

Mr Nucifora has ensured that key players remain committed to playing rugby in Ireland (the fuss-free renegotiation of the contracts of internationals, Rob Kearney and Tommy Bowe, as well as the negotiation of Jonathan Sexton’s return to Leinster, next year, are cases in point) by agreeing contract extensions (where applicable) well in advance.

This is an improvement on the fraught to-ing and fro-ing and ‘who blinks first’ mentality that had characterised the previous, last-minute approach to contractual renegotiations.

Mr Nucifora makes it his business to know how the players are thinking, long in advance of the expiration of contractual arrangements and this has contributed to a much smoother, and more amicable, pathway for all concerned and has helped the provinces and the national union to work together.

John B. Reid,

Crannmór

Knapton Road

Monkstown

Co Dublin