No more signings says Munster chief Fitzgerald

Limerick Leader rugby correspondent Colm Kinsella talks to Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald in the wake of the province’s exit from the Heineken Cup.

MUNSTER RUGBY have no plans to make any additional high profile signings before the start of next season, according to the province’s chief executive officer, Garrett Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald explained that the province’s quota of non-Irish eligible players for next season has already been used up. Munster have already confirmed the capture of centres Casey Laulala, from Cardiff, and James Downey, from Northampton, for next season.

Garrett Fitzgerald explained: “The number of overseas players you can have is reduced for next season. You can only have four non-Irish eligible for next season plus a project player. We have Doug Howlett, the two props (Wian du Preez and BJ Botha) and Casey Laulala. James Downey is coming in as well, but he is Irish eligible.”

The Munster chief executive said it was natural for supporters to fear that Munster were showing signs of falling behind Leinster and Ulster in the provincial pecking order.

“I am sure Leinster and Ulster had that fear (of falling down the provincial pecking order) for ages. If you talk to Leinster they will tell you that when Michael Cheika set about getting Leinster where they are, he learned from what Munster were doing,” Garrett Fitzgerald pointed out.

“Ulster would say the same to you. You have play to the best of your ability every time you go out.

“I think Leinster obviously have a huge advantage in terms of the size of their population and the structures they have in their schools rugby in the province. The whole recessionary period in the country itself doesn’t exist in parts of Dublin at all. So from a business and money point of view, the use of the Aviva Stadium for certain games during the year has put them in a much stronger financial position than the other provinces in the country.

“There is always the fear that you are going to be the third province, the fourth province, etc. That is part of the challenge of going to work every day. It is the same in every business, whether you are in banking, insurance of newspaper businesses, for instance. You have to meet that challenge every day you go to work.”

Garrett Fitzgerald said that while supporters placed a huge emphasis on the team being successful in the Heineken Cup each season, from a business point of view, the RaboDirect PRO12 remained hugely important from a financial point so view.

Garrett Fitzgerald said: “There has always been a perception in Munster that the Heineken Cup is everything. If you look at the business end of the whole organisation, our domestic league is the most important business part of the season.

“We have 11 home games in the RaboDirect PRO12 and three, or a maximum of four, home games in the Heineken Cup. It is hugely important for us financially and business wise and the RaboDirect PRO12 is more rewarding for us long-term.

“We are very disappointed not to progress beyond the quarter-final stage of the Heineken Cup even though it is improvement on where we were last season with a side which is evolving.

“The injuries during the Six Nations and World Cup period has had an effect on team performance certainly. You would like to have your team for last weekend together for a week or two beforehand which wasn’t possible.”