Munster fans will have been relieved by the reports circulating on Monday, which suggest that Jack Crowley is going nowhere this summer.
The Ireland fly-half had been linked with a big-money move to Leicester, as he grapples with falling out of the starting XV with the national team amid the rise of Sam Prendergast.
Thankfully for Munster and Ireland, it appears Crowley is set to sign a new contract - crucially, however, it will be with the province, not on a central basis with the IRFU. Tadhg Beirne will seemingly remain the only Munster player on a central contract for 2025-26.
Neither Crowley nor Prendergast will be on central contracts next season.
Given Crowley is not a guaranteed starter for Ireland, the decision not to give him a central contract is perhaps understandable.
In holding out so long on offering a new contract, however, the IRFU have made a major mistake, according to Ireland legend Shane Horgan.
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Shane Horgan criticises IRFU handling of Jack Crowley
29 March 2025; Jack Crowley of Munster during the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Munster at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Horgan appeared on Monday's episode of 'Second Captains' and analysed Munster's dramatic win in Mayo over Connacht on Saturday.
Jack Crowley and half-back partner Craig Casey were both immense in the 'Test in the West,' building form as Munster look ahead to next weekend's Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle.
It seems Crowley will be rewarded with a new contract at Munster. However, Shane Horgan believes that the IRFU have made a mistake in not showing their appreciation for the fly-half.
Horgan drew comparison with prolonged sagas of the past involving Irish fly-halves, and suggested that Crowley may have felt more valued seeing offers allegedly coming in from overseas.
The thing that's maybe more serious is...was there a thinking in the IRFU that, 'We can get this guy a little bit cheap, or not on a central contract?' That might be a little bit more of what was at play. I'm glad he called them on it. He's right. You don't have long to play, he's crucial to Munster, actually in many ways he's very, very important to Ireland, and he should be rewarded.
The final thing on Crowley...I think it's a mistake by the IRFU not to try and support players and not have to go into that deep negotiation to get what you want. I'm not saying there's not always been negotiation but...he's a top player. He's one of Munster's top players. Is there not something about keeping that guy happy and showing that he's valued and he's important, not just to Munster but to Ireland?
It's all part of what performance is. We know there's the technical skills and fitness and all that. But I keep on saying it - another massive part of rugby is your head. A player who feels valued and is properly remunerated for what they provide to both of their teams, I think, is a better player for both.
It's the level of haggle. What you're hearing from across the water in France, and with firm offers going, 'This is the value,' and you're hearing less than half that value [in Ireland], that's an issue.
Number one, I'm sure he didn't really want to go. And two, he doesn't really want to do that negotiation in public. You do it because you have to but he doesn't want to do that.
It's hard to argue with Shane Horgan on this matter.
There is a fair argument that neither Jack Crowley nor Sam Prendergast should be on central contracts while they dispute the Ireland #10 jersey. However, the way Crowley has seemingly had to wrangle for a fresh contract with his province will have surely left a sour taste in the mouth.
Thankfully, Crowley appears to be going nowhere, but it has perhaps been more roundabout a process than it needed to be.
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