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15th July 2016
06:09pm BST

Each province will get €250,000 in additional funding next season. That will not be enough to stem the flow at the Munster Branch, which is said to owe the union €9.4m. That figure is down from the €10m figure that was reported as outstanding in early June. A statement from the IRFU reads, in part:
'The increase of almost €6m in player and management costs arises, in large part, from the necessity to provide against operational amounts due from the Munster Branch, in light of their current financial difficulties, together with the aforementioned additional funding for all four provinces and various other items.'SportsJOE has contacted Munster Rugby for its take on the current situation. As of yet, a response has not been forthcoming. Ulster Rugby, meanwhile, have fully repaid the union for the loan they got to revamp Ravenhill. Giving up naming rights - it is now called Kingspan Stadium - helped a lot in this regard. Munster's Musgrave Park is now Irish Independent Park. Thomond Park may have to follow suit, if a sizeable sponsor can be located.