Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster believes Joey Carbery's future should be at Leinster but he understands the current situation the IRFU find themselves in.
Carbery's development at out-half has been hindered at Leinster by both Johnny Sexton and Ross Byrne and the youngster has played relatively little game-time in the pivotal role with the Rugby World Cup in Japan quickly approaching.
The current situation in Ulster means that there is an opportunity for Carbery to head north but Lancaster would prefer to keep him in Dublin.
"I've not been privy to conversations - obviously they've taken place with Leo and Ireland.
"As far as I know, Joey is preparing for a Champions Cup final and that's the way it is because it's such a big week for us.
"I understand both sides of the story - I can see it from all points of view. I've been in these kind of situations in England many times where you end up with a player and a decision to make and my belief has always been is that you put the player at the centre and do what's best for the player.
"How it plays out? I don't know if I'm being honest but it's certainly the furthest thing from our minds and, I'm sure, Joey's mind this week."
"It's difficult because these things inevitably come up towards the end of the season when the competitions are but I come back to the point I made that whenever I was in this position or involved in a player who had a decision to make, I always tried to say 'Right, what's got to be the best thing for the player? Not what's right for this party or that party - what's the right thing for the player?'
"And, as a consequence, I think Joey has developed brilliantly as a player at Leinster and I think this is where he should stay," he added.
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