Bundee Aki met with Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt last week. With lucrative offers from French and English clubs potentially enticing the Pro12 player of the season away from Connacht, the IRFU have seemingly, albeit informally, begun the process of securing Aki on a long-term national contract.

The 26-year-old centre’s current deal ends in July 2017. He qualifies to play for Ireland, via the three-year residency rule, in October 2017.

Securing the New Zealander’s signature on at least a three-year deal, to take him past the 2019 World Cup in Japan, would break new ground for the IRFU as it requires negotiating with the player before he is eligible to be capped by Ireland.

David Nucifora, the IRFU performance director, recently stated the union was aware of the foreign interest in Aki.

“Obviously, we’ll be trying to keep the guy here to play his rugby in Ireland,” said Nucifora. “He’ll be that close to being eligible for Ireland, if that’s what his motivation is, if that’s what he’s driven by, then we’ll be working to help him achieve that.

“We are aware that other people are interested . . . If he is going to stay and his ambition is to play for Ireland, then I think the conversation that we have with him will be slightly easier than any other team might have with him.”

This may be a multi-layered contract. Firstly, it cannot technically be a national deal until October next year, so Connacht, perhaps coupled with private funding, may tie him up for one season before an additional two-year contract brings him through to the next World Cup.

Highest earners

Either way, the next contract would make Aki one of the highest earners in Irish rugby, alongside Jamie Heaslip and Johnny Sexton.

Sexton returned from two years in Paris this season after agreeing a national contract but also following private funding from Denis O’Brien.

Heaslip, sources revealed, is earning at least €1.5 million over three seasons following his new contract and an agreement with Bank of Ireland.

Connacht are believed to have suggested private funding in the hope Robbie Henshaw would reject overtures from Leinster. This could now, potentially, be made available to Aki.

Connacht outbid Munster to secure him on a three-year deal so should he agree a deal to become an Ireland international, it is expected that Aki would stay in Galway.

The province has already re-signed JP Cooney, Shane O’Leary and Danny Qualter, while flanker Rory Moloney has been promoted from the academy.

Regarding the addition of a more experienced, and possibly foreign, coach to the Leinster ranks, Nucifora stated: "I've said before that coaching is paramount. To get our coaching right to maximise the talent we have at our disposal in the playing ranks is huge. We've worked with all the provinces to put all the structures in place and we've got three very experienced coaches in Munster, Ulster and Connacht.

Valuable resource

“Leo [Cullen] looks like he stands out because of his inexperience but we’ve worked with Leinster in putting Leo into the position. He’s there now and we think he’s going to be a really valuable resource to Irish rugby as a coach for years to come.

“If Leo requires any assistance over time he knows he’s only got to ask and we’ll be there to help and give him that assistance. He’s doing a good job. It’s not easy coming into a head coaching position with such little experience because he is learning on the go and that can be tricky at times.

“He is developing and is going to develop into a really important asset for Irish rugby as a coach. Does he need help along the way? Possibly, but that’s up to Leinster and Leo to ask for that if they think that’s required.

“They have still got a talented coaching group. They might not be experienced but they’re talented.”