IT’S THAT TIME of the year again and Leo Cullen is preparing himself for weeks of transfer speculation as several of his players enter the boardroom to thrash out talks over new contracts.
At least half a dozen Leinster players are out of contract at the end of the current campaign and negotiations are set to begin as the province look to keep hold of their prized assets.
But the lure of big-money offers from France and England are becoming increasingly difficult to resist and both Sean O’Brien and Ian Madigan admitted this week they would be open to the option of moving abroad.
“It’s just the time of the year,” Cullen said at yesterday’s press conference. “Every year there’s going to be half a dozen guys who are out there and you know it’s part of the business.
“That’s just the reality, guys coming off contracts and when you have really good players, there’s going to be interest from elsewhere and you just go through the process all the time and we want to retain the best guys we have.”
Madigan has been named at inside centre for this evening’s Guinness Pro12 clash against Ulster but his future at the RDS remains uncertain after being linked with a move to either Bristol or Harlequins.
The Ireland international admitted it would be difficult to leave Leinster but is weighing-up his options while his agent is currently gauging which clubs would be interested in his services.
With a crucial period of the season coming up, off-field distractions are the last thing Cullen wants but he’s resigned to the speculation over the next few months.
“We’re not really in a position to comment on those negotiations but we want to keep hold of our best talent,” the Leinster head coach replied when asked about certain individuals.
“All the time it’s going to be out in the public domain that guys are out of contract and there will be interest because they’re good players.
“During the World Cup period, it’s almost as if it all ceased because everyone was focused on that but once guys come back, it’s all out in the open a bit more.
“That’s just reality, it happens every year with various individuals.”
Cullen himself left Ireland to spend two seasons with Premiership club Leicester Tigers and while he would never discourage a player to move abroad, he said the physical demands can take their toll.
Rob Kearney echoed those sentiments and insisted one of the key reasons why players have previously rejected the advances of some of the Top 14 heavyweights is because of the IRFU player welfare protocol.
Kearney signed a new three-year contract with the IRFU this time last year and is tied down at the eastern province until June 2018 – but he does admit the whole process is tedious for players, fans and media alike.
“It’s a tough one to comment on,” he says. “As Leo said, it’s part and parcel of the game. It’s probably tedious for you lads and it’s tedious for us as well. It’s just the nature of it.
“Moves away can do people very good, like JJ [Hanrahan] who is thriving over there at the moment and he’s doing quite well. It happens in every sport right across the world and it’s no different for us.”
For now, however, Cullen hopes the focus remains firmly on matters on the pitch, starting this evening.
