Top clubs could form breakaway league after IRFU decision

TOP Irish clubs could make a radical challenge to the Irish Rugby Football Union at a meeting in Dublin tomorrow.

Wed, 25 Feb, 2004 - 00:00
Barry Coughlan

Sources suggest the challenge could be as strong as setting up a breakaway league in the aftermath of the recent decision to downgrade the All Ireland League.

The IRFU officially unveils the club blueprint for the future in Dublin today but that will be followed by an emergency meeting of the first division clubs.

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CourtsRugbyAIB LeaguePlace: DublinPlace: GlasgowPlace: Sports GroundPlace: CardiffPlace: MeadowbankPerson: Michael BradleyPerson: Bernard JackmanPerson: Adrian ClarkePerson: Mike McCarthyPerson: Andrew FarleyPerson: Paul NevillePerson: Tom CarterPerson: John O'SullivanPerson: Shane MoorePerson: Conor McPhillipsPerson: Donnacha O'CallaghanPerson: G DuffyPerson: R HendersonPerson: A HorganPerson: J KellyPerson: B JackmanPerson: G LongwellPerson: M McCulloughPerson: N McMillanPerson: M. McHughPerson: M. MostynPerson: D. YappPerson: S. MoorePerson: C. McPhillipsPerson: E. ElwoodPerson: C. O'LoughlinPerson: D. McFarlandPerson: B. JackmanPerson: A. ClarkePerson: M. McCarthyPerson: A. FarleyPerson: P. NevillePerson: T. CarterPerson: J. O'SullivanPerson: J. FogartyPerson: F. BoirouxPerson: D. BrownePerson: M. SwiftPerson: M. WallsPerson: D. HewittPerson: T. RobinsonPerson: J NortonPerson: J Mc WeeneyPerson: C WarnerPerson: F ContepomiPerson: B BurkePerson: M LeekPerson: B O'MearaPerson: P CoylePerson: G HickiePerson: S BrophyPerson: C PottsPerson: B GissingPerson: D DillonPerson: N RonanPerson: V CostelloPerson: J MoranPerson: D BlaneyPerson: A KearneyPerson: S CrawfordPerson: B O'RiordanPerson: J DowneyPerson: G BrownPerson: E ByrnePerson: D MolloyPerson: D HegartyPerson: A McCullenPerson: N BreslinPerson: L CullenPerson: D HickiePerson: K LewisPerson: J LynePerson: N TrestonPerson: E MillerPerson: D QuinlanEvent: RBS Six NationsOrganisation: IRFUOrganisation: Irish Rugby Football UnionOrganisation: ConnachtOrganisation: GlasgowOrganisation: ItalyOrganisation: EnglandOrganisation: IrelandOrganisation: WalesOrganisation: HarlequinsOrganisation: MunsterOrganisation: UlsterOrganisation: Edinburgh
<p>BLOW: Ulster captain Iain Henderson pensive after being shown a red card against the Stormers at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile</p>

Iain Henderson hit with three-game ban, misses Ulster's Challenge Cup final in Bilbao

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