The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) will reportedly review their contracting system with a 10th Leinster player to be offered a central contract.

Next season, Leinster will have 10 of their frontline players’ salaries paid for by the IRFU, while Connacht, Munster and Ulster will have just one player a piece on central contracts.

More central contracts for Leinster

As reported by the Irish Times, the review is scheduled to take place before IRFU performance director David Nucifora hands over all his responsibilities to his successor David Humphreys.

With 10 of Leinster’s best players’ salaries being paid for by the IRFU, the Irish province have been able to recruit the likes of Springbok lock RG Snyman and All Black utility Jordie Barrett ahead of the new season with Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou also linked to Leo Cullen’s side.

Springboks legend insists Leinster yet to get ‘full value’ from Jacques Nienaber

Currently, Leinster have seven players that are centrally contracted for the 2023/24 season, namely Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan, but that number will grow next season, with Dan Sheehan and Caelan Doris’ deals already confirmed.

Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is also set to be upgraded to a centrally contracted deal ahead of the 2024/25 season, and while Leinster’s stars continue to be rewarded, Munster has seen their number of IRFU contracts go from three players to just one.

Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray have both signed extensions at Munster, but the salaries will be split between the province and the IRFU. That means just Tadhg Beirne will be on a central contract.