IRFU MAY STILL PURSUE ‘FIFTH PROVINCE’

THE IRFU could get a ‘fifth province’ up and running in two years’ time, claims performance director David Nucifora.

The Aussie (right), who steps down in the summer, insists the fruitful player development programme must continue at full speed but previously said the issue is giving young players opportunities.

There are concerns that there will be a bottleneck for talent coming through with back-to-back U20 Grand Slam winners pushing to be accommodated by the provinces.

“It’s something I feel they should never ignore,” said Nucifora in relation to the possibility of setting up another club to cope with the numbers coming through.

“There was talk of that when London Irish unfortunately folded. If we had taken that opportunity then, if it was possible to do – there were lots of complications around that – would we be ready to hit the ground running then and there? Probably not but sometimes you have to take opportunities before the timing is perfect.

“If we keep producing the way we are at the moment, in another two years we will have the firepower to be able to, I think, probably produce another team.”

Meanwhile, Nucifora insists Ireland’s new captain doesn’t have to be a player who will go all the way through the next World Cup cycle.

Peter O’mahony is one of the favourites to succeed Johnny Sexton but, at 34, it is unlikely the Munster star will still be playing in four years.

And Nucifora admitted: “Maybe over the next 12 months they might need something different than what you’re going to need over the next two or three years going into that World Cup.”