Stockdale follows Ryan's lead and agrees IRFU deal

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. 

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.

The IRFU have a number of players in their contract cross-hairs, and a number of players that might no longer be@heagneyl looks at the current central contracts landscape #IREvWAL #SixNations 🇮🇪https://t.co/7GZwD8kUS5

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 5, 2020

“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.

“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.”

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