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Stockdale follows Ryan's lead and agrees IRFU deal


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Jacob Stockdale has become the latest Ireland player to be upgraded from a provincial to an IRFU central contract since World Cup quarter-final elimination. 

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Bundee Aki agreed to terms in November to be upgraded to a central deal while James Ryan followed suit on Wednesday of this week.

Now, Stockdale has shaken hands on terms that will keep him on the IRFU’s books until the end of the 2022/23 season.  

The winger’s pathway to his three-year deal started with a 2017 Test debut against the USA before he went onto to star in the 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam. To date, he has scored 16 tries in 26 Test match appearances.

IRFU high performance director David Nucifora said: “Jacob has continued to grow as a player after bursting onto the scheme in his debut Six nations season.

“He has performed at a consistently high level for both Ireland and Ulster and has huge potential to develop further on the international stage.”

Stockdale added: “I’m delighted to have signed an IRFU contract. I’m involved with two ambitious squads and I know I will continue to develop as a player in both environments.

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“Things have been going really well at Ulster and there are exciting things happening in the Ireland set-up and the IRFU high performance centre is world-class. I look forward to performing on the field for both Ulster and Ireland.”

WATCH: The Rugby Pod sets the scene ahead of this weekend’s round two action in the Guinness Six Nations  

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Phantom 1 hour ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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