JORDIE BARRETT’S shock move to Leinster caught a lot of rugby fans off guard this week.
The New Zealand star will join Leo Cullen’s side in December on a short-term deal.
There was excitement from Leinster fans but also confusion as very little people would have seen this one coming.
Barrett had reportedly turned down a big money offer from Japanese side Toyota Verblitz and now he has explained why he went with the Irish giants.
Barrett told NewstalkZB: “(Money) is certainly a serious component.
“For different individuals, that can be at the top of the tree or somewhere a little further down.
“I put my development and my experiences, and my thinking of coming back and trying to be a better rugby player and a better All Black and a better Hurricane, right at the top of that tree.
“That took priority over all the other options I had.
“My eyes were only ever heading towards Japan and having a wee stint there.
“But Leinster put an offer forward, and basically just the prestige of their club and what they’ve done in the past and the direction they’re heading in the future really stuck out and excited me.”
It has busy week for Leinster even aside from the huge Barrett news.
It has also been reported that Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is set to sign a central contract with the IRFU.
This will make him the 10th Leinster player on such a deal, compared to just one each from Munster, Connacht, and Ulster.
Leinster were not finished there, with former Munster player Tyler Bleyendaal set to join as a new assistant coach.
The 33-year-old will replace Andrew Goodman who is taking up a role as Ireland backs coach – taking over from Mike Catt – at the end of the season.
Then, on Friday, all tickets for their Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints sold out in the space of 36 hours.
Reflecting on the week that was, former Ireland and Munster star Donncha O’Callaghan said it was the most financially flexing we had ever seen.
He told RTE: “It was an incredible week.
“It was the most financially flexing week we have ever seen by any team in world rugby, to be completely fair, and I think it’s great.
“We are now having the conversation that we know about for the last 15 years.
“Leinster have got funds, They are able to dig deeper than not only Irish provinces but other teams around the world and to their credit.
“Both on the pitch and off the pitch, they are running their business like nobody else but it does come at a disadvantage to not only the other teams around the world but, more importantly, the other Irish provinces.
“It is trying to get the balance in that in terms of fully crediting them for what they have done on and off the pitch.
“They are what everybody else should aspire to be but just speaking on behalf of a Munster fan, it is an economy that we could never reach.
“We haven’t got that type of financial backing or support or demographic.”