"We're open minded on the matter of private investment in any of the provinces but we would still want overall control, " said the IRFU's chief executive. "We need to have control of the players, above anything else, to ensure that our system works. The national team is the focal point of Irish rugby, not just in an emotional sense but also financially. Income from the international side funds the rest of the game. If the national team is compromised, then the whole system is in trouble.

But in saying that, we'd still be willing to listen to anybody who comes to us with an offer of partial investment."

During the summer, the Scottish Rugby Union, who previously funded the country's three professional districts, sold Edinburgh to a private consortium to alleviate debts and Browne admits the IRFU will be monitoring the situation across the water.