Ireland have announced the signing of new contracts for four of their biggest stars just days after their Triple Crown success. These are all Ireland central contracts.
Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki, Josh Van Der Flier and Dan Sheehan have all signed new deals. These deals will keep them centrally contracted to the IRFU and their provinces until the end of the 2027/28 season.
Preparing for the 2027 World Cup
The World Cup in November 2027 will be on everyone’s mind in international rugby, and these four crucial players will be centrally contracted through that tournament and until the end of that season.
Ireland will be aiming for their best-ever World Cup, having never progressed past the quarter-final stage of the tournament. Securing the signature of these four Lions players will allow them to use the experience that they have to build the squad and team around.
Jamison Gibson-Park has been the undisputed number 9 for Leinster and Ireland since he took the mantle from Connor Murray. He showed his quality for Ireland with their Six Nations wins over England and Scotland.
Dan Sheehan has been one of the best hookers in the world in recent years. He was even described as the best hooker in Irish history by Keith Wood, who would be the number one candidate for most fans.
Josh van der Flier was voted Men’s Rugby 15s World Player of the Year in 2022. He has been a crucial part of Ireland’s back row for many years. There is a lot of competition for the places in the back row. This is something that has pushed van der Flier and the others around him to the top of their game in recent weeks.
All three of these players are centrally contracted but play for Leinster. Bundee Aki of Connacht is the only player outside of the capital province.
Aki for two more years
Bundee Aki was in a bit of a tricky place with this contract, as he is turning 36 next month and will be 37 at the beginning of the 2027 World Cup. He had been linked with a move to Newcastle Red Bulls. The emergence of Stuart McCloskey as a starting 12 has put pressure on his place in the Ireland team.
Aki was initially banned at the beginning of the Six Nations due to an incident between him and the referee when playing for Connacht.
Ireland central contracts: How they work
Since 2024, Ireland’s central contracts have been partly funded by the provinces. Before this, the IRFU covered 100% of the contract costs of these centrally contracted players; now, provinces pay 30%. This had a massive impact on Leinster, who have 11 of the 15 centrally contracted players in the province. The other provinces found it inequitable that Leinster were having these players fully-funded by the IRFU. Leinster could then use its revenue to attract more elaborate international signings.
