RUGBY NEWS ROUND-UP:THE LOST Magners League weekend just past is to be made up during the Six Nations. The fixture logjam caused by the worst Irish winter since 1982, which forced a blanket postponement of fixtures, along with the Connacht versus Leinster match on January 2nd, must be made up either on the Heineken Cup/Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final weekend (April 9th-11th) or during the international window.
“We’ll see how teams progress in the Heineken Cup because obviously that might free up some ERC weekends for us,” said Celtic Rugby director David Jordan.
“The other option would be to play through the international windows so, clearly, some teams would rather play with full-strength sides so if we can utilise some ERC weekends then they might consider doing that.”
With Leinster and Munster due to be still involved in Europe next April, while Ulster and Connacht will probably be contesting the Challenge Cup quarter-finals and considering the new play-off system in place in the Magners League, a sooner rather than later approach seems the likely outcome.
The next scheduled round of Magners League fixtures is February 19th, which is a week after Ireland’s trip to Paris and a week before going to Twickenham, so no frontline internationals will be available for selection.
There is also a full campaign of Ireland under-20s fixtures, further depleting the options of provincial coaches.
Scotland come to Croke Park on March 20th, leaving an opportunity to reschedule Glasgow’s match against Leinster at the RDS Showgrounds as a curtain-raiser for that international weekend.
“If matches take place during the Six Nations weekends there is the option of a Thursday (night game) so there is no clash,” Jordan continued. “This is only a personal opinion but Scotland are over at Dublin this year but maybe the Glasgow-Leinster match can be played on that Friday night.”
Despite going into this Saturday’s game against Brive having not played since December 26th, Leinster coach Michael Cheika is content with the European champions’ preparations despite their last two matches falling victim to the weather.
“I am not worried about it,” said Cheika. “In fact, we will take the positives out of the sort of situation we have been in before.”
Cheika already fielded a second string/Academy side for the 30-14 defeat away to the Dragons after the November internationals and it proved the correct management of his squad as Leinster picked up full points in round three and four against the Llanelli Scarlets.
“It is a long season and the break has provided the chance for our players to freshen up ahead of two huge Heineken Cup matches.”
Jordan was also asked when a decision will be made public regarding the proposed entry of two Italian teams into the Magners League next season. Consultancy firm Deloitte conducted a feasibility study last year to determine whether it would be beneficial to include two manufactured Italian franchises in an expanded competition.
“The discussions are ongoing. We have no defined date (for the Celtic board to vote on Italian clubs entry) but clearly we have to be mindful about planning for next season. There will come a point in time if matters aren’t resolved then it will not happen next season. There is no decision made yet.”
Meanwhile, The IRFU have released a revised fixture list for the AIB League following the cancellation of last weekend’s club games.
The schools’ committee of the Leinster Branch have postponed the first round of the Vinnie Murray (Senior) Cup scheduled to begin on January 13th. They will now take place on Wednesday, January 20th.
