Time for Irish rugby to introduce NFL-style draft system

Is a change in mindset required if Ireland is to ever realise its full potential in professional rugby?

By 1987, I was fortunate enough to have achieved all that I could achieve in amateur golf in terms of representative honours. I had represented Cork, Munster, Ireland and Great Britain & Ireland. The time was now right to turn professional. Casting away the safety harness, from that moment on my career was going to be determined by myself.

It’s very easy to have a romantic notion about professionals in any trade. To be the best, they have to constantly make tough decisions in demanding circumstances.