Ireland risk losing Jack Crowley as Leicester Tigers launch ‘audacious bid’ to fill Handre Pollard’s void
Leicester Tigers have ‘launched an audacious bid’ to sign Ireland and Munster fly-half Jack Crowley, according to reports.
Crowley started all five of Ireland’s Six Nations matches last year, filling Johnny Sexton’s void in the number ten jumper.
He retained the role for the two Test matches against the Springboks in South Africa in July but it was in the autumn when things changed as Sam Prendergast made his Test debut against Argentina.
Tigers swoop for Crowley
The Leinster playmaker has since become the first-choice starter for Ireland and has got the nod in the number ten jersey for all of the Six Nations matches so far with Crowley coming off the bench.
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Crowley is weighing up his options and Leicester have positioned themselves to swoop.
The Tigers will bid Handre Pollard farewell at the end of the season with the Springboks star returning to South Africa to rejoin the Bulls.
Pollard will not only leave a void but free up a large chunk of the salary cap with fellow fly-half Jamie Shillcock set to join French club Brive.
Needing to recruit a fly-half, the Daily Mail reports that the Tigers held talks with Crowley in Dublin amid uncertainty about his plans beyond the end of the current campaign.
The report does add that there is a suspicion that Crowley is merely using Leicester’s interest as leverage to negotiate improved terms with the IRFU.
There is doubt that Crowley would benefit from a central contract with most going to Leinster players, as Tadhg Beirne is the only Munster player on that kind of contract for next season, with?Connacht pair Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki being the other exceptions.
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Irish players do benefit from competitive salaries and careful management, by remaining in Ireland, but a lucrative contract in the Premiership could persuade Crowley, who would also likely put his international career on hold.
Current selection policies do not outright restrict the coaching team from selecting players based outside of Ireland, but previously they have been overlooked. Simon Zebo was in fine form for Racing 92 but was not picked by then-head coach Joe Schmidt. Johnny Sexton was selected during his time in Paris.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are still searching for Michael Chieka’s replacement. Having reportedly failed to recruit Graham Rowntree and Franco Smith, the report adds that the latest indications are that the Tigers have settled on Paul Gustard as their preferred candidate.
The former England defence coach is currently in charge of Top 14 strugglers Stade Francais. According to the report, he has moved ahead of Stuart Lancaster in the pecking order.
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