Scribblings, Salaries and Sub Academies.

All the provinces use sub-academies. These are typically for players who have just left school. You train like a professional athlete, participating in pitch sessions and gym sessions and may even be called into a first-team session. After the year and Ireland's U20s season concludes, contracts for academy players are typically handed out. This year, over 20 boys will participate in pre-season with the Leinster Sub Academy, and last season, Leinster welcomed nine new academy members. So, over half the players won't progress.

Okay, so then let's talk salaries. Starting this season, academies in the English Premiership will offer rookie contracts with a guaranteed fixed wage for the first two years. Rookie 1 (Under 19): €20,900 per year, and Rookie 2 (Under 20): € 23,200 per year. In France, there is a U18-23 league, where the Top 14 Espoirs average approximately €26,000/year and the Pro D2 Espoirs average around €23,000/year. In Ireland, academy contracts are approximately €15,000. Players may also receive bonuses for securing minutes in the URC, among other benefits.

Irish academy players are paid slightly less than players from these two countries. Still, the opportunity to train with some of the best players in the world, have access to quality coaches and play for and against some of the most successful teams in Europe is well worth it. The sub academy players aren't paid a salary. They might be given some expenses and kit, but that is the total.

I talked to Old Wesley teammate Tom Larke about his experience in the Leinster Sub Academy a couple of seasons ago.

1. What was the training schedule?

The training schedule was that we were in Donnybrook on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 7 until around one most days.

2. Did you play many Leinster A matches?

I played three A games throughout the year, which were good, but it would’ve been nice to have had more.

3. How well did you balance it with your studies?

Balancing the studies was quite challenging as I dropped out of college halfway through the year, but I definitely could’ve managed it with a bit more effort.

4. Would you have changed anything about your experience?

I don’t think I’d change anything about my experience, the trainings were tough and there was constant pressure there, but I think that’s what made it so good, you knew we were getting the best training there is.

It was great that Tom had an overall positive experience of the sub academy, regardless of leaving the pathway at that stage. The answer to the last question probably helps explain why so many boys are desperate to be in sub-academies in any form. He's currently playing in New Zealand this summer, putting the skills he honed during this time to good use. When researching payment for academies in Ireland, the sub-academy system appears somewhat mad compared to the English and French Models. Still, sub academies can provide further opportunities in the game, even if not in Leinster in this case. Therefore, it seems well worth the effort if you can afford the time and expense. Perhaps if all these players were paid academy contracts, it wouldn't allow for the squad to be as large, and as a result, the opportunities would be reduced.

In Ireland, if you are aiming to play professional rugby when you leave school, whether with a sub academy contract or not, you will likely be thrown in at the deep end and be playing men's rugby. To play Ireland U20s, you have to play in AIL 1A/1B, which, by this stipulation, suggests that the U20s league is not a good enough standard, as these are both men's leagues. During the last season, 80% of the Leinster top division U20s were played on Sundays, and there were no livestreams and limited highlights of games. To contrast this exposure with the Espoirs Finale: RC Toulon vs Union Bordeaux Begles, which had 66K views (YouTube) last month, or the BUCS Super Rugby final between Loughborough University and Hartpury University, which 23K people viewed (YouTube). The Men’s AIL final this year, Clontarf v Cork Con, had 9.7K views (YouTube), which is still not bad, but it demonstrates how many more eyes are on these youth leagues abroad.

If you were to examine the player development pathway in Ireland, you would likely see a flow chart or triangle explaining how players progress from U17 to U20 provincial teams, then to the sub academy, Ireland Under-20s, an academy contract, a provincial contract, and ultimately the national team. However, while this is true for many, you only have to look at the standout Lions from Ireland, such as Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Beirne, to see that this is not a smooth or solitary road. Ireland is probably more similar to South Africa, with four teams, than England or France. Still, a significant difference is that many experienced South Africans are often encouraged to go abroad. As Kitsoff explained, when moving to Ulster, he felt bad about staying at home, as he felt he was taking the opportunity away from a younger player. This could not be further from the truth in Ireland, as everything is geared towards encouraging experienced players to stay (from central contracts to tax breaks), so older players remain in positions and younger ones don't receive the exposure they could potentially gain. For young players 18-23 who have fallen out of the pathway, should it not be encouraged to go and play in England/France/New Zealand/Australia? It may even be beneficial for the provinces, as these players are Irish-qualified, gain valuable rugby experience elsewhere, and can return home to enhance the competition for places.

I was fortunate enough to secure development contracts with the Ireland 7s programme, for which I am hugely grateful. My rugby career doesn't merit a Wikipedia page, but the salary I earned playing meant I could keep myself afloat and provided me with security for the years I was there. I don't think I would have got the rugby opportunities I did if I stayed at home in Belfast. Countries are beginning to realise that stopping players from playing abroad may not be in their best interest, as Australia only this week relaxed the Giteau law, which previously prevented the country from picking younger players who had gone abroad. --- I wonder if players in other provinces feel similarly to Tom that the sub-academy year is well worth it---. Maybe the cataclysmic beginning of Rugby 360 in September 2026 will encourage senior players to explore options outside of Ireland, thereby affording more opportunities for younger talent in Ireland.