There's an aspect of the latest, vexed round of contractual negotiations between the IRFU and Ireland's leading players which perhaps aptly demonstrates how steadfastly opposed to professionalism the Union are, how reluctantly they have embraced the concept and, most pertinently off all, how ill-equipped they are to deal with it.

Remarkably, one of the conditions which an Irish home-based player must agree to in signing a renewed international contract, is that he must remain with the club he is currently a member of. In other words, if Andy Ward wanted to move up a division or two from Ballynahinch, or Reggie Corrigan wanted to move up a division from Greystones, then they are prohibited from doing so if they undertake an Irish full-time contract.

There are a quite a number of interesting ramifications arising from this Union policy. Even on a moral basis it is a questionable diktat. Why shouldn't a player move clubs if he so desires? To effectively deny him this right, or give him the alternative of not being professionally contracted to the Irish squad, reeks of moral blackmail.

On a legal basis, it is surely even more dubious a policy to deny such freedom of movement in a professional sport, all the more so in light of the Bosman ruling. Almost certainly a player and/or his representatives would have a strong legal case were he so inclined to make it.

It is also, curiously enough, diametrically opposed to Warren Gatland's stated desire for a stronger and more elitist first division club structure, whereby the cream rises to the top and the best players are more concentrated - in turn increasing playing standards. Is it in Andy Ward's best interests as a rugby player that he remain with Ballynahinch? Ditto Reggie Corrigan. If Corrigan feels that a move to a first division club would make him a better player, why shouldn't he be allowed to do so?

As it so happens, Andy Ward has pledged his continuing loyalty to Ballynahinch, and that's very commendable. But what is the point of keeping the top 20 or so Irish-based players at their existing clubs? Just to preserve the status quo? To look after the interests of smaller clubs, even if it means keeping a player at a club he no longer wants to stay with, when he might also feel that a move will make him a better player, if also a better paid one?

And the ramifications go on. In effect, the Union are placing an embargo on clubs buying the top 20 or so Irish players. If, say, a club identified inside centre as their key problem area, and the pickings are slim outside of the contracted Irish squad, the hidden message is go deal with a southern hemisphere agent, trawl through a few CVs and videos, and buy there. But don't buy Irish.

Nor would Irish clubs have the scope to lure home English-based Irish players. This is because one of the conditions for English-based players who might be inclined to return to Ireland and sign an international contract is that they must rejoin the Irish club they left.

Thus, say, were an Irish international inclined to come home and become fully contracted to the Irish squad, he would be obliged to rejoin the club he left. Think about it, Paul Wallace could only join Garryowen, even if he wanted to set up home in Dublin. Eric Miller would have to rejoin Old Wesley.

Apparently, one Irish international based in England who is keen to return home has already rejected this contractual obligation. He is intent on joining a club other than the one he left in Ireland two years ago, not least because he and his wife want to live in a different city. It'll be interesting to see how that case pans out, and whether he will be a notable absentee from the list of fully contracted Irish squad members when it is announced for next season.

THERE is another, resulting imbalance arising from this policy. Take all the English-born, second generation Irish players who have been lured to wear the green through the Exiles system. (And recall, it was only a few short years ago when the Union announced the revival of the Exiles as if it was the best thing since sliced bread). Those players would be greeted with open arms by the Union should they decide to ply their club game in Ireland, yet unlike Irish players who left these shores in the last two years, they would be entitled to join any club they want. How can one group of players have such unrestricted freedom of movement, while another group cannot? It doesn't stack up, morally or legally.

The suspicion lurks in all of this that some powerful Union officials are wearing their IRFU cap, but also their club tie, and are utilising their positions at the top table to safeguard the interests of their clubs. A portion of the provincial contracts were announced last week, but still there's no sign of the contracted Irish squad for next season. Negotiations are not going well, primarily for many of the above reasons. And even in their direct dealings with the Union, English-based players are being told it is their `duty' to come home.

Players have no such duty. It's a free world. It is true that players are self-interested. They and their agents are trying to get the best deals possible for themselves. Then again, this is the way of the professional era.

It is also the way of the professional era that the strongest clubs flourish and that the best players are contracted to a few, elite clubs. Were it to happen, then the First Division of the AIL would have a higher standard. No less than in their stubborn opposition to the advent of professionalism, to try and stem this inevitable tide makes the Union resemble Canute.

There is a further irony in all of this in that it was the Union who effectively financed elite clubs in Connacht and Ulster, namely Galwegians and Ballymena. Those two clubs are nearer to having full-time professional squads than any other clubs, and most of it is funded through the Union by way of provincial contracts. Perhaps the Union's current contractual conditions are a response and a reaction to that. But the die has been cast, and they helped to cast it.

The biggest irony of all is that the IRFU themselves are turning English-based players off the idea of coming home. In all of this, the Union are rigidly keeping their hands on the controls of power and the cheque book. By comparison, when faced with the advent of professionalism, the New Zealand rugby union employed a top lawyer and recently retired All Black (Jack Hobbs) who had no affiliations to anybody or anything, and he signed up 150 players in a fortnight.

That's how it should be done. Call in the professionals.