Michael Field

I wonder, it's probably two things.

Probably harder to get your hands on kind of foreign talent, I think, coming into a World Cup year, which I think is fair to say.

And the other part of that is, I do wonder if there's a bit strategically going on in the background whereby they're kind of saying, well, let's get like, where does 70 or 80% of the revenues in Irish rugby come from?

They come from the national team and the national team doing well.

The only contradiction is the James Lowe situation, but maybe they find a way around that if they think they need him in the World Cup squad.

But is it better to have more Irish players

playing week in, week out for the Irish rugby team coming into a World Cup.

And that's a yes, guys.

Even if the provinces suffer a little bit in terms of quality.

Now, I think it's a big risk to take because you always want the provinces to be as competitive as possible.

But is there something in that?

Is it better to have more Irish guys?

And I think it is.

So I wonder strategically if they said, you know what, we're going to... Sorry, I said, harder to get guys, but it's better we have more Irish guys playing week in, week out.

Let's do that.

And we take the hit.

you know, this year in terms of, you know, maybe bringing in some star quality.

Do you think there's anything in that?

Is there a world, Cian, you might assume, is there a world where Lowe could, that he could still be selected in the World Cup squad?

Or do you think that's a non-starter now?