IRELAND HEAD COACH Joe Schmidt has moved to clarify the IRFU’s overseas player selection policy by insisting the likes of Ian Madigan are still on the radar, but limited availability reduces their chances of being picked.

Ian Madigan and Marty Moore. Source: Inpho/PA

Schmidt also reiterated that the union are ‘incredibly keen to support the provinces’ and selecting foreign-based players over those plying their trade at home would undermine the IRFU’s contract system.

The issue has come into sharp focus this week following the omission of Madigan from Ireland’s Six Nations squad and the decision to call Ian Keatley into the panel after Johnny Sexton was ruled out of Saturday’s game against Scotland.

Madigan has fallen down the international pecking order since his move to Bordeaux Begles last year and despite being drafted in for the summer tour of South Africa, he knew his international career would be put on hold with a switch to France.

Schmidt described the situation as a ‘real frustration’ because even if he was to select Madigan, the out-half’s availability wouldn’t be under IRFU jurisdiction and he would return to his club in-between Six Nations fixtures.

When asked about the inclusion of Keatley, who has seen limited game time at 10 for Munster having been understudy to Tyler Bleyendaal this season, in the matchday 23 for Saturday’s game at Murrayfield, Schmidt said the policy on selecting overseas players hasn’t changed.

“No it hasn’t [changed]. Ian Keatley’s time at out-half is not too much different to Ian Madigan’s,” he said this afternoon at Carton House.

Schmidt speaking at today’s team announcement. Source: Gary Carr/INPHO

“Ian had an injury and was out for about four weeks. He’s been mixing up starts and coming off the bench like he did two weeks ago against Ulster. Ian couldn’t train with us last week.

“We only trained on the Tuesday and then the Thursday and Friday. Thursday, Friday, he was preparing to come off the bench for Bordeaux against Clermont. I mentioned those training windows earlier on. I think the other thing is we’re incredibly keen to support the provinces.

“I think one of the big things that keeps them here is the player management and they know they are closer to the front of the queue in the competition to play for their national team.”