Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

The URC reaction to Jordie Barrett signing for Leinster

David Havili and Jordie Barrett react to a missed All Blacks opportunity. Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Jordie Barrett’s move to Leinster Rugby has been hailed as “awesome” and “brilliant” news for the BKT URC.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 57-cap All Blacks star will spend the second half of next season with the Irish province, coming on board in December.

He will provide a top quality option at centre, full-back and fly-half and serve as a real draw for fans across the competition.

Video Spacer

Chasing the Sun on RugbyPass TV | RPTV

Chasing the Sun, the extraordinary documentary that traces the Springboks’ road to victory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, is coming to RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

Video Spacer

Chasing the Sun on RugbyPass TV | RPTV

Chasing the Sun, the extraordinary documentary that traces the Springboks’ road to victory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, is coming to RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

Speaking on a BKT URC round table, former Ireland international Stephen Ferris said:

“It’s an awesome signing.

“I think he will be absolutely fantastic for Leinster.

“He’s a very durable player who can play anywhere really in the back line and slot in seamlessly.

“The experience and nous that he has, with such a young group of players that are coming off that conveyor belt down in Dublin, I am sure he will be working with a lot of those young guys.

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Lions
44 - 12
Full-time
Leinster
All Stats and Data

“He has got a little bit of Irish heritage from his family.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It’s awesome for him to spend a number of months here and for the URC audiences to see him play week-in, week-out for the time he is here.”

Giving his thoughts, Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt commented:

“I think it’s brilliant. Who wouldn’t want to come here and watch Jordie Barrett play?

“It’s good for Leinster and it’s great for the league. I think it’s a good news story.”

As for Barrett himself, the 27-year-old said:

“It’s going to be a great place for me to develop as a rugby player in a different environment where I’ll learn so many different things.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Ireland is a special place for the Barrett family. We’ve got so many great family connections in Oldcastle, in County Meath and throughout Dublin. To have an opportunity to go back and meet some family and friends and connections that were made 20 years ago is pretty cool.”

Leinster coach Leo Cullen added: “We’re delighted that Jordie has agreed to join us after New Zealand’s tour in early December, especially as he has chosen Leinster ahead of a number of other very attractive options.

“He is a fifty-plus cap All Black with an outstanding skillset who has been performing at the highest level of the game for multiple seasons now. He is keen to seek out a new experience at Leinster and I’m sure we will learn a lot from each other during his time with us.

“The Barrett family have strong connections with Ireland and Leinster in particular, so it’s a sort of homecoming for Jordie!

“I’m sure all our supporters will be really excited to welcome one of the best players in the world and see up close what he brings to the team.”

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

5 Comments
E
Ed the Duck 238 days ago

Says much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan.

Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!!

No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
OJohn 1 hour ago
Will overseas selection make the difference for British and Irish Lions?

The trouble with appointing a coach from one state that is not the Tahs, is that the p.... at the Tahs will start weedling away immediately on ways to undermine the non Tah coach.


It's what the private school toffs do. They have a born to rule mentality, even tho they are complete failures. That is why they will only tolerate Tah coaches or weak kiwis they know they can control. A kiwi on a million Australian dollars a year will do anything the largest franchise in Australia tells him to do. He's only here for the money.


That's why Ewen McKenzie was the ideal candidate, even tho Hooper and Beale still set out straight away to undermine him to get Cheika installed but the next best alternative is to have a group of coaches from some of the franchises, except the Tahs, (not the Western Force with kiwi Cron - who is hopeless), to keep the Tahs in their place. The Wallabies must also not have more than 3 Tah players in the squad. Otherwise they will start scheming again under instruction from the NSW administration. The Tahs have spent the last 20 years undermining the Wallabies to get more players than they deserved in the squad. Their NSW egos are more important to them than the Wallabies.


I can't see why a triumverate of Super Rugy coaches can't coach the Wallabies too. I could include MacKellar in there as well but he has shown himself to select on favoritism rather than ability based on the ridiculous number of sub standard Brumbies who got a game under Rennie. He's not much of a Queenslander but the Tahs will stab in the back in a flash too eventually.

74 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: Five things English rugby must fix in 2025 Mick Cleary: Five things English rugby must fix in 2025
Search