Schmidt bites back as McCarthy transfer row festers

The IRFU last night confirmed Leinster coach Joe Schmidt’s assertion that the province followed all the correct protocols in its bid to secure the services of Connacht lock Mike McCarthy.

The Irish international will join the European champions next summer and his imminent loss triggered a hard-hitting reaction from Connacht CEO Tom Sears who claimed that their Irish rivals had persistently targeted the 31-year old and that the switch was not in the best interests of Irish rugby.

“I know he used the word ‘disappointed’ a lot and I’m pretty disappointed in the way the misinformation is being passed around,” said Schmidt yesterday. “To claim that we have been persistently pursuing Mike McCarthy is just false. We have not persistently pursued Mike at all.