Limerick rugby official says IRFU ‘are failing club game’

OUTGOING Garryowen FC President Eoghan Prendergast has accused the IRFU of ‘failing the club game’ and has called on the country’s rugby clubs to work more closely together to ensure they negotiate a hugely challenging period in their history.

Prendergast, who completed his term as Garryowen FC President this week, fired a parting shot at the Union, claiming it was not doing enough to assist clubs who are endeavouring to produce the next generation of professional stars in a difficult period economically.

Prendergast also believes that, ‘unfortunately’ the benefit of winning an AIL title for the majority of clubs doesn’t justify the amount of time and effort competing clubs spend on fund-raising to cover their expenses over the course of the season.

He also thinks that Ireland should look to New Zealand as the example of how all levels of the game, club, provincial and national level can work together for the betterment of the sport. He called on the country’s clubs to work together more closely to protect the long term position of clubs in Irish rugby. While that was understandable in previous years, given the very traditionally competitive nature of club rugby, he believes the issues facing all clubs in relation to player development and finance were so serious that a concerted effort by clubs – working in genuine partnership with the IRFU – would be in interest of all levels of the game here.

“I’m not convinced that there is a real willingness amongst some elements within the IRFU to genuinely make space for clubs, and that is partly the case because these particular people haven’t come through clubs and don’t appreciate the amount of work that goes on there, and how best that work should be harnessed,” Prendergast said.

“There is no issue in my mind with having a three-tier system in Ireland, provided that all tiers work closely in partnership.

“Garryowen still has long and close links with people in New Zealand, like Andy Leslie, John Mitchell, Murray Kidd and Brent Anderson who either coached or played with us. When the game went professional, the New Zealand Union committee stepped aside as they saw it in the interest of the game. They felt they were not best suited to run the game in the professional era. However, within a few years, those same people were behind a move to restore the place of clubs as they saw the Super 10 and national side suffering because of the gap that had arisen between clubs and Super 10, which in turn affected the national side. I don’t ever see that act of self sacrifice happening in the IRFU, but I would welcome an introduction of experienced rugby people who would have the objectivity and ambition to ensure that all layers of the rugby pyramid work to support each other to deliver the players and results we all wish for, the higher up you go.

“The Super 15 sides in New Zealand regularly meet each other, with the national coaches, under the auspices of their Union. They are competing with each other, but they are also working together.

“The IRFU are continuing to fail the club game by denuding it of their best players, and in many cases then not using them regularly. I cannot understand how it is better for a contracted player to be doing weights in a gym on a Saturday rather than playing for a club.”

Prendergast also believes that the satisfaction clubs take from winning the All-Ireland League, especially for previous winners, has been diminished in recent seasons. “Like any club, we are delighted to win any competition and will compete to do that, but given the amount of fundraising you have to do to fund a club side to win an AIL, it really doesn’t have the same level of significance any more,” Prendergast said.

“I acknowledge that when you haven’t won one it is a great honour and objective, I’m annoyed and saddened that the AIL has gone down the list in terms of IRFU priorities.

“It is a big honour to win it, but you don’t get your players noticed any more at provincial level, you don’t get a better calibre of playing coming into the club and you don’t get sponsors coming into you as a result.”