New Ireland call-up Ronan Kelleher is against an American-style draft being introduced to Irish rugby as it would take away from the ‘tribal’ aspect of provincial rugby.
The Leinster hooker was speaking to Off The Ball thanks to Dove Men+ Care and was unconvinced that players would be happy to see a draft system put in place.
In a draft system, seen in some of the United States' top sports leagues, players have little choice in which side they play for.
Teams choose players, with weaker sides getting the pick of better players, in an effort to keep participating teams on a level playing field.
This system does not take into account where a player is from or who they may have supported when they were growing up.
As a result, the former St. Michael’s man was against a similar system being implemented in provincial rugby as it could deprive players of playing for their native provinces.
Ronan Kelleher pictured in the Aviva Stadium with Official Sponsors of Irish Rugby Dove Men+Care.“I just don’t really think that would work because the provincial system is kind of tribal. As in you want to play for your province.
“I grew up supporting Leinster and I saw the success that Munster had in the early 2000s but it never crossed my mind to play for Munster,” Kelleher said.
While such a system could benefit players who are down the pecking order in Leinster as they may be afforded more game-time in other provinces, Kelleher believed it would be an unpopular change.
“I always just wanted to play for Leinster. I think it would be difficult enough to tell a young schoolkid, or someone straight out of school, who has dreams of playing for his province to say, ‘No, you’re not playing for your team.
“You’re going playing in Leinster or you’re going playing in Munster, you’re going playing in Galway or Ulster either.’
“So, it would be very difficult, I think, to tell a young player that they can’t chase their dream,” Kelleher commented.
Here is the full exclusive interview with Ronan Kelleher:
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