Payne is upgraded to two-year IRFU central contract
IRELAND centre Jared Payne yesterday landed a contract jackpot, upgrading from the threeyear deal signed with Ulster in May 2013 to a far more valuable IRFU central contract through to June 2018. The New Zealander’s contract doesn’t enjoy the same longevity agreed recently by David Nucifora with Cian Healy, Robbie Henshaw, Keith Earls, Conor Murray and Sean O’Brien — the quintet all contracted to the end of the 2019 World Cup in Japan. However, Payne’s surprise upgrade illustrates how well thought of the 30year-old is within IRFU circles since becoming eligible for the national team in 2014 under the three-year residency rule. Nucifora, whose January holiday at home in Australia led to contract talks dragging on into the Six Nations, explained: ‘Jared has illustrated his ability to compete at the highest level and be an important leader and decision maker for Ireland and Ulster.’ Despite this seal of approval, the IRFU high performance director’s decision to invest heavily in Payne won’t be as widely acclaimed as other recent contract agreements. The Ireland centre’s defensive game is respected, Payne again shining on the back foot during last Saturday’s defeat to France. However, he remains a midfielder whose best position is arguably at full-back where he lines out with Ulster, as his Test level attacking prowess has been limited in his 12 appearances for his adopted country. Payne’s signature means there will be 15 players on IRFU central contracts in 2016/17 as veteran tighthead Mike Ross, who signed a one-year extension in December 2014 through to next June, has lost his central deal and will switch to a provincial contract with Leinster in the summer. The 15 central deals (seven Leinster now that Henshaw is joining, and four each for Munster and Ulster) are split between seven forwards and eight backs with Johnny Sexton’s the most lucrative length-wise, as he was the only player given a four-year deal. Ten are on three-year contracts, with four now on two-year agreements. Jamie Heaslip, Andrew Trimble, Devin Toner and Donnacha Ryan will all be facing contract renewal talks next winter.