Douglas to return home after being granted Leinster release

"Leinster’s demands for compensation were not met". It wouldn't be the first time I took away the wrong message, but I imagine they didn't pay anything.

The ARU is dodging the bullet given the Cooper and Genia 'news.' Irish sources have said that the dealings have been with the ARU and not the Reds. Douglas and the ARU driven mostly by what Cheika wanted to get him back have both left Leinster in a bind with four weeks left till the season really starts to find a replacement and coin from his contract is needed to fund that player. Douglas was to be a key player in the RWC and 6 Nations periods with Irish representatives away and to help bring through new blood. Leinster have about 30 plus internationals in their squads if you include Wolfhounds and Under 20s. Locks as big as Douglas don't grow off trees here and mature later. Blokes like O'Connell are an exception. Leinster were probably initially looking at a full contract pay out with two years left in his contract which would have been around €450k. The ARU or whoever was paying on Douglas behalf weren't prepared to cough up that and Douglas came back explaining his situation which involved his situation. Leinster showed more apathy and reached an amicable pay out. Given what Douglas was earning, that he is about to start a family and relocate to Brisbane where he hasn't played professionally before I couldn't imagine that he would cough up the lot or a significant proportion of it. Given that it was mostly Cheika driven and he apparently has the money he should be assisting in the pay out. Guy Easterby the Leinster manager said a couple of months back when this making the news here that the new ARU overseas criteria was the ARU's business and if Douglas was selected for the RWC he had no choice but to release him but expected him back for the remainder of his contract. He probably knew after that Cheika and the ARU would play harder and Cheika was throwing curveballs out there saying that he was hearing that Douglas wanted to come home in the Australian press. Given how broadly the game is covered here it's not surprising that it made the Irish press. Leinster have their own supporters forums and I wouldn't be surprised that there would be some strong opinions on it. The ARU's financial situation is certainly known over here as well.

It does look like the big bucks transfer fee didn't go through. Probably a much smaller fee and has been covered by Reds or taken out of his Reds contract? Anyone know how long he's signing with the Reds for? If it was a $150,000 AUD fee they might have spread it over 4 years or something like that and knocked $37k a year off his pay. From that telegraph article that Jeznez linked: "Leinster were initially said to be asking for $370,000 in compensation to release Douglas but it is understood that figure came down significantly during negotiations. They said in a statement “a suitable agreement” had been reached to release him with immediate effect. Douglas is believed to have willingly taken a financial hit to make the move back to Australia happen. The ARU yesterday reiterated it had not paid any money toward Douglas’ compensation fee, either up-front or through an increased contract offer."

Hate going to the Telly to cite a source but: "The ARU yesterday reiterated it had not paid any money toward Douglas’ compensation fee, either up-front or through an increased contract offer." http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/kane-douglas-to-join-up-with-reds-and-wallabies-but-break-after-back-surgery-limits-world-cup-chances/story-fni2g0wi-1227455378813

An uncited source that speculates on what an agreement may have been. If there was a settlement it may have been paid by Douglas or the QRU rather than the ARU. The ARU have apparently re-stated they did not pay.

This article says to the contrary that an agreement between €150-200k was reached. http://www.the42.ie/kane-douglas-leinster-release-2232004-Jul2015/

Which is nonsense. Leinster have no replacements and Douglas had two left on his deal. He left Leinster in a bind so there should be money handed over.

If the‎ General Manager - Professional Rugby for the ARU says there wasn't a payment, I will tend to take him at face value until there is good cause to believe otherwise. That said, that reliable source of information Facebook is saying differently hence my belief is tempered by the qualifying statement. (Typical ARU favouritism paying out under the table extras so the Reds can bolster their locking options!!!!!)

massive IF there jez...

Although Boomer is citing a report below that says we paid nothing.

Great news if that is the case.

Would like to have retained PAE but have not seen anything from Pyle that would put him ahead of Douglas who unlike most of our locks, actually shifts bodies at ruck time.

Strong locking group - wish we had one of those four at the Tahs.

If he gets back to the form he was displaying for the Tahs before he went off-shore then I certainly will be. I'm also hoping that the new focus he has learnt of what NH sides expect from their locks stands him in good stead. First step is for him to recover from the injury, step two will be to return to form. Not sure what the timeframe on the first is so not sure what he'll be able to do on the second. Hopefully he is fit to play in the NRC and can try and make a case for himself from there.

No. The RUPA CBA stipulates the minimum percentage of revenue that the ARU must spend on player wages. I'd estimate that this is a situation (if there was any release fee) where they have now cut their liabilities below this figure, but remain legally obligated to spend more they their contractual requirements.

It says in the Tele today that Rob Clarke said the ARU aren't paying anything to assist Douglas back to Australia.

is this the sort of rubbish the extra levies on juniors is going towards? I have no problem if the release fee comes out of a players market rate payments, but it's far from acceptable if the junior are funding it

Can you imagine if the ARU paid for QC to stay in Australia? You're right about Coleman and Arnold, Jones, Timani and all the other players who stayed in Australia and toiled away loyally. Or even Hugh Pyle who left the country and won't have his way back paid by the ARU. Mumm played for Exeter. That powerhouse of second tier european rugby. Douglas is injured. Dennis is neither lock nor backrower. Jones and Timani played for a very unfashionable team and fronted up against WBs, ABs and Boks week in week out. Jones payed the most minutes of any lock. His stats are the best of any lock. He doesn't even get in the squad. Arnold got into the semifinals with the Brumbies. That was a good pack. They dusted the stormers. What does he have to do?

I'm absolutely in agreeance there, I rated Pyle over Douglas also. And if we get a tighthead injury then we are pretty light on there, PAE would be very handy. More so than that, his promise for the future is excellent, in a position where we are lacking. Considering the ARU were not willing to pay a somewhat similar amount to get Cooper out of his French deal, it really baffles. The only answer can be that they really rate Douglas, which means they're seeing something we aren't.

That's 100,000 Euro for every passable Test match performance Douglas has played to date. Imagine how much he'd be worth if he actually had a great game or two in there.