As part of his role, Humphreys – who has 72 caps for Ireland and led Ulster to the European Cup in 1999 – says he wants to return all four Irish provincial teams to the “highest summit in Europe”.
Leinster, Munster and Ulster have all qualified for the play-offs of the Investec Champions Cup this season, while Connacht have reached the last 16 of the second-tier Challenge Cup.
But while Leinster have played in each of the last three European Champions Cup finals (losing all three), Ulster have not appeared in a play-off since 2012, Munster have missed out on the tournament since winning the tournament in 2008, while Connacht have not qualified since the European Champions Cup. Season 2021-22.
Leinster also provides the majority of players for the Irish national team, with 23 of Easterby's 36-man squad from Leo Cullen's Six Nations selected.
However, Humphreys does not believe such an imbalance would be “detrimental” to Irish rugby in the long term.
“For me, it's very simple: it's not about taking anything away from Leinster,” he said.
“It's no business in the world to look at the strongest assets and say 'we have to take some' to do something else.
“For me, it's about making sure Leinster not only maintain their place in European rugby, but go on and win some European cups, they've been very close.
“For the long-term success of Irish rugby, four competitive counties, we have to get to this point.”
During his time as Director of Rugby at Ulster, Humphreys recruited prominent Southern Hemisphere players such as Ruan Pienaar, Johan Müller and John Afua.
With New Zealander Jordie Barrett impressing in the early stages of his loan spell at Leinster, Humphreys says there is “huge value” in creating overseas internationals playing alongside home-grown players in Ireland.
“For me, the model is: top quality international players playing alongside top quality Irish players.
“This to me is not a solution but a way to ensure that Irish rugby becomes stronger at all levels of the game.”
