{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/64ef6d9e5464d50011bafece/662139cbd03d070012bdbd1a?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Is Ireland's central contract system broken?","description":"<p>News of Leinster's recent signing of All Black Jordie Barrett has split opinion. Is this a fair reflection of the dominant province flexing their muscle, or an unfair benefit of the IRFU paying their best players via national contracts? </p><p><br></p><p>Next season, 10 Leinster players will have their salaries paid by the governing body via central contracts, the other provinces combined have three. Is this a cycle of dominance, or a worrying portend of Leinster pulling ahead and destroying competitive balance in the provinces?</p><p> </p><p>Gordon D'Arcy joins Nathan Johns to discuss the issue, how we got here and what can be done about it.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Produced by John Casey.</p>","author_name":"The Irish Times "}