Humphreys: 'After next year there will be no front-row forwards coming in'

David Humphreys believes his decision to stop bringing non-Irish qualified front-row talent into the system is an important first step.

MORATORIUM ORDERED: IRFU performance director David Humphreys. Picture: Dan Sheridan, Inpho

David Humphreys has prioritised the development of Irish front-row forwards by ordering a moratorium on the signing of overseas hookers and props from next season.

The IRFU Performance Director was speaking in Durban on Wednesday as Ireland continued to prepare for this Saturday’s second and final Test against world champions South Africa, having lost the opening encounter 27-20 in Pretoria last Saturday.

Head coach Andy Farrell raised eyebrows when naming his 35-player squad for the series by selecting tighthead prop Tom O’Toole as his third loosehead option behind Andrew Porter and veteran Cian Healy despite never having played there for Ulster.

It was a selection that highlighted a perceived lack of depth in that position within Irish rugby. 

Although orthodox loosehead Jeremy Loughman was overlooked having been in the Six Nations squad, Farrell appears to have identified O’Toole as a solution having benefited from a similar conversion with Porter, now first-choice number one, ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.

Yet Humphreys, who succeeded David Nucifora in the IRFU high performance hot seat earlier this year, wants to reach a situation where all Farrell’s selections have racked up worthwhile game time in their chosen positions and he believes his decision to stop bringing non-Irish qualified front-row talent into the system is an important first step towards that goal.

“We all know that there are two of three positions where there has to be some depth,” Humphreys said.

“Since forever, since the game's been professional, there's been questions over how we're going to replace John Hayes.

“The way the Irish system is set up, players come through because we know we can block any foreigners coming into the game.

“I do believe we've got to... it's not about putting pressure on the provinces, but they also need to develop those props. They need to find ways to bring props through their system to ensure that they are competitive, both now and as they need to replace some of the more senior players coming through.

“So, there's every likelihood because of the challenge we do have in some of the front-row positions that from next year onwards there won't be front-row forwards coming into the game who are non-Irish qualified.

“We've got to find ways of protecting, because Andy can't go out and sign foreign players, so we have got to find ways to make sure that, yes we have a national responsibility but that starts with the provinces and the pressure will be on them: 'You have got to deliver those players to allow you to be competitive’.

“If they do that, because of the way our system is structured and the game time and opportunities, those players will develop and come through as international players."

The temporary ban on NIQ front-rowers comes at a time when they are already thin on the ground across the four provinces, though Leinster look to be signing French tighthead veteran Rabah Slimani to cover the loss of Samoan Michael Ala’alatoa this summer. 

The IRFU and Leinster have yet to confirm the move though Slimani himself and his Top 14 club ASM Clermont Auvergne have signposted the 34-year-old’s arrival in Dublin for next season.

“It's probably one that the discussion certainly pre-dates when I arrived,” Humphreys said of the Slimani deal.

“My own view is it's a short-term decision to bring him in to address a couple of issues in Leinster over the next 12 months. 

"Again, after next year there will be no front-row forwards coming into the Irish system until we have got the strength in depth we know needs to support Ireland in the medium to long term.” 

Humphreys was reluctant to discuss individual players, though O’Toole’s conversion comes after the departure from Ulster of Springbok loosehead Steven Kitshoff to rejoin the Stormers just a year into his two-year deal with the northern province.

Asked whether he would like to see O’Toole at loosehead for Ulster next season, the IRFU Performance Director said: “When we look at the Irish situation in a number of positions, we need players playing regularly who are going to be able to step up and perform at international level.

"There's no question that the conversations have been ongoing for some time about where the best position for Tom is for himself, in terms of him as a player maximising his potential, because that's what we want. Whether that's at loosehead or tighthead, that's going to be an ongoing conversation.

“As players have shown in the past, if you have an ability to play both sides of the scrum, that's a huge advantage for the player, for the province, and for Andy Farrell."