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Stockdale follows Ryan's lead and agrees IRFU deal

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

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. 

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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.

“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.

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“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.”

WATCH: The Rugby Pod sets the scene ahead of this weekend’s round two action in the Guinness Six Nations  

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J
JWH 2 hours ago
France outwrestle All Blacks in titanic Test for one-point win

I agree re-Barrett, he would be an excellent 6. Vaai he called him the squads Terminator! No use in shutting out other specialist 6s though like Frizell and Finau.


I don't think the Saders want Darry tbh, already have so much locking talent in Strange, Cahill, Hannah, and Barrett, with Gallagher returning after a spell at the Canes.


As for your ideas on SRP, I was thinking more expansion into the islands. Why just a Fijian team? Why not a Samoan and Tongan team as well? I think adding Japan could be cool, since they are in roughly the same timezone so not much jet lag. Only issue is that their seasons are reversed! Same with USA.


I think the best option is to keep to ourselves, with AUS, NZ, SAM, FIJ, and TNG. 5 teams for Australia (Brumbies, Reds, Tahs, Force, Rebels), 5 for NZ (Saders, Canes, Blues, Chiefs, Landers), and 4 for the PIs (Moana Pasifika, Drua, Tongan team, Samoan team).


If we expand into the PIs, we cut off a source of talent and entertainment from the Northern competitions like Top 14, and open a whole new market of people. Increase advertisment in Japan as well, since their in the same timezone, and we could be on track for a very good competition.


Plus, we would get gamedays like in America, one game queued up after another. Makes it a whole lot easier if you can just flick on the telly and BOOM theres the games. No need to plan out when things are, just get your mates around, flick it on in the background and chill with a cold beverage.

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