Luke Fitzgerald: IRFU’s special project player policy is simply wrong

Luke Fitzgerald has taken a vocal stance against the IRFU’s policy of recruiting ‘special project’ players to the detriment of native Irish players’ international chances.

The former Leinster centre was speaking in promotion of Sky Sports’ autumn coverage of Irish provincial and international rugby when quizzed for his thoughts on the policy, which has seen a number of foreign-born players capped for Ireland in recent years, including New Zealander Jared Payne and South African CJ Stander.

Specifically, Fitzgerald was asked how he would feel if he was wearing the boots of burgeoning stars like Leinster pair Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose in the context of them competing for a national jersey against the likes of Connacht’s Bundee Aki, who is set to become eligible to play for Ireland in the near future.