Irish rugby’s top dog rolls back on penal ‘NIQ front-rower rule’

“But we’re still very conscious that developing front-row forwards is a huge priority for us."

IRFU performance director David Humphreys spoke to media yesterday at Ireland's training camp in Portugal, ahead of their opening Six Nations game against England on Saturday.

Naturally, much of the talk centred around the ever-increasing gap between Leinster and the other three provinces.

Former Ireland and Ulster out-half Humphreys reassured journalists that it is a top priority for the IRFU to progress Connacht, Munster, and Ulster, without diminishing Leinster's success.

Back in July, Humphreys announced that a rule preventing the provinces from signing NIQ front-rowers would be put in place, to help fix depth issues with Ireland.

He said: “So, there’s every likelihood because of the challenge we have in the front-row positions that from next year onwards there won’t be front-row forwards coming into the provinces that won’t be Irish-qualified."

However, this would only increase the gap between Leinster and the other four, given the Blues' vastly superior production line.

Thankfully, Humphreys has rolled back on these comments, and said that NIQs will be signed off on the usual case-by-case basis, with no set rule.

He cited the short-term signing of loose head Dian Bleuler for Munster - who has had a big impact in their recent upturn in form - and Leinster's purchase of Rabah Slimani, who will be allowed to re-sign with the province.

Humphreys said: "Those are the conversations you’d have.

“You can see the impact that they’ve had, seeing the fact that from a development point of view, you certainly – with the number of players who have played in the national squad, the number of nationally contracted players, they have not been in any way a brake on player development, or young player development."

“It [the proposed ban] started a conversation, we all recognised that front-row succession was something that Andy Farrell was very concerned about.

“Even in the course of the last six months, with someone like Thomas Clarkson coming through, some of the real concerns have eased.

“But we’re still very conscious that developing front-row forwards is a huge priority for us.

“The nature of high performance, yes of course you’re going to set some restrictions and guidelines to give people some parameters in which to work. But as we showed in November, when there’s pressure in a particular province, then Dian Bleuler was allowed to be signed because, from a performance point of view, we had to be flexible and adaptable. That’s very much how I see it.

“We are very much committed to developing our own front-row forwards, but as the system evolves and players develop, there’s definitely ongoing conversations.

“At this stage, there’s no set restrictions on who they can and can’t sign."