Clubs shouldn’t have to subsidise pro rugby, says O’Sullivan

AIL clubs are baulking at the prospect of financing overseas players on provincial contracts.

Newly-promoted Division One club UL/Bohemians is one of a number of clubs which believes it should not be sponsoring players who will be on provincial duty for most of the season.

Club president Martin O'Sullivan said: "When players come to Ireland on a provincial contract, clubs are asked to bid for their services as well and, in Munster at any rate, are asked to provide accommodation and transport for the individual.

"In the present climate, I don't think it's right for clubs with a large amateur base having to subsidise the professional game."

Neither, added O'Sullivan, is it right for the IRFU to dictate how the clubs should use ticket allocations for big games when they were all so dependent on securing sponsorship.

"It will cost UL/Bohemians over 400,000 to run the club this season and we don't pay players appearance money. We pay the players a small win bonus which is the same as it was last year in Division Two.

"We will actually break even this

season but it is a hard grind because we have had to work to put sponsorship in place and come up with a range of ideas to raise the money required to run the club."

O'Sullivan reckons that, like many other clubs, the Limerick outfit could not survive in the professionals era without a huge contingent of voluntary workers.

"We bought a site in Annacotty many years ago and some people told us we were crazy. But it is only five miles from the city and in the middle of a growing area.

"Nowadays we have up to 350 kids being looked after every weekend by up to 50 coaches and parents.

It has been an amazing transformation for the club and it has served us additionally well by linking up with the University of Limerick.

"I would like to think the efforts being made to promote the game is being recognised by the people who run it."

O'Sullivan, who played with Bohemians at the start and finish of his

senior career (1971 and 1989) with 15 years at Dolphin in between, is

enthusiastic about the future. Even though UL/Bohs lost the opening

fixture of the club's debut season in the top flight on Saturday, he believes progress will continue to be made.

"We have a solid base of young players, a decent academy in place, a

vibrant senior section and a good

female team as well. Our club these days is all about serving the community and not just about producing a couple of senior teams.

"A huge amount of work has gone into getting us to this particular stage and nobody is taking anything for granted about our future.

"It is really a question of being aware and moving with the times as the game develops.

"We are conscious that we will lose players along the way and are committed to developing them for Irish rugby.

"We haven't gone out to raid players from other clubs. Instead, we have developed them for the benefit of everyone.

"It is our long-term goal to

contribute a great amount to Munster and Irish rugby but we have to be

careful to look after the club as well."