Former Ireland international rugby full back Geordan Murphy feels the IRFU rule which requires prospective Ireland international to stay with the provinces as "unfair".
With the exception of Jonathan Sexton, who spent two years at Racing 92 and simultaneously played for Ireland, Irish eligible players who move to France or England are not considered for international duty.
Speaking to Off The Ball after the case of former Leinster academy player Tadhg Beirne, who has been starring for Guinness Pro 12 champions Scarlets, Murphy, who spent his club career in England with Leicester Tigers, is not a fan of the system.
"He's living his dream and he's playing fantastically well in the semi final and the final," said Murphy of Beirne.
"I don't know how long his contract is at Scarlets but I'm sure there will be avenues back for him. He's done the right thing. He's gone there, he's living and now it's a choice for him that he's got to make and it's tough and I don't envy him and I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. But at least it's a chat and a conversation with Joe Schmidt if he's genuinely in his plans and then potentially where he'd want to play if he came home."
Murphy then touched on the strict nature of the current rules.
"It's massively unfair but that's the way it is. Unfortunately that's the way the IRFU have made their laws and rules and you just have to deal with it. Do I like it? No. Do I think [Beirne] will like it? I don't think so. He should have the right and the choice to play wherever he wants to and it shouldn't be able to affect his selection," he said.
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