Ireland’s reliance on project players is coming home to roost

Ireland’s reliance on project players is coming home to roost

For all the derision that Eddie Jones drew for describing replacements as “finishers”, he always ferociously defended the rebrand. “Maybe you guys have to start reporting differently,” he once said, with that impish grin. “Come into modern rugby. Join us, boys. Rugby has changed, it’s a 23-man game.” On the evidence of some striking revelations from the first round of Six Nations matches, where the teams who suffered were those denuded of squad …

Ireland and Scotland Overloaded on Project Players – Now the Consequences Are Unfolding – EUROP INFO

Ireland and Scotland’s recent surge in recruiting high-profile project players has stirred both excitement and concern within their rugby circles. Once hailed as a bold strategy to elevate team performance and secure international success, the approach is now revealing unforeseen challenges. As critics argue the reliance on imported talent threatens long-term development and cohesion, both nations are facing a reckoning that could reshape their …