Too early to panic but Joe must get RWC show back on the road in Cardiff

It wasn’t the choice of venue for this season’s Guinness PRO14 final that caught me by surprise when it was announced last week. It was the date. Cardiff City Stadium will host the decider on June 20 next, three weeks later than normal.

Considering that Ireland’s wider World Cup squad assembled on June 16 in preparation for the opening RWC game against Scotland on September 22, this season will extend to 369 days for some, should their province make it to the last day of domestic competition. Some nod to player welfare that.