Celtic plan would be a disaster for Irish clubs

NOT that anyone would notice, but the AIB League resumes on Saturday with a full series of matches.

Over the past 12 months, I have had an opportunity to attend a number of AIL fixtures, both at first and second division level. While I was conscious of the demise in the club scene over the past few seasons, I hadn’t realised the extent to which the public had lost interest in our premier club competition.

There was a crowd of less than 500 at the recent Shannon v Constitution game in Thomond Park. Five years ago this fixture would have attracted ten times that number. While everybody accepts that the provincial scene is the best route for professional rugby in Ireland, due cognisance must be given to the role the clubs have played in producing players.