‘It’s in the IRFU’s interests to have a successful Munster’

Having announced a projected deficit of €1.95m for the year ending June 30, Munster Rugby are now preparing to have their financial decisions scrutinised like never before by the IRFU and its performance director David Nucifora.

While relations between province and governing body are reported to be positive and there are early signs of promise in the way soon to arrive director of rugby Rassie Erasmus might work with Nucifora, the IRFU and its most influential professional figure will demand oversight of an organisation in economic decline since the turn of the decade.

Munster have earned some credit sorely lacking on the balance sheet by their clarity and transparency in flagging last February what was expected to be a deficit for 2015-16 of €2.2m after a second consecutive season of struggles on the pitch which saw head coach Anthony Foley’s inexperienced team fail to reach the knockout stages of both the Pro12 and Champions Cup.