Grant’s back-to-basics plan for Young Munster

YOUNG MUNSTER coach Tony Grant plans a two or three-year back- to-basics programme to lead the club back to the summit of Irish rugby — and help Munster and Ireland in the process.

Grant was at the helm at Clifford Park for more years than he cares to remember, including the 1993 season when the club sensationally won the AIB League with victory over St Mary's College at Lansdowne Road.

Now, after a six-year break, he is back more determined than ever to bring the club up from the second division. He makes no bones about his back-to-basics philosophy and has enlisted the help of two other former club stars, Pat Cross and Francis Brosnihan, to strengthen the club's future. "The club scene has fallen into disrepair throughout the country only some have suffered more than others. Not enough time and energy was given to the game at this level, and it is the duty of all concerned to ensure that our club structure survives and prospers for the benefit of the clubs and the various provinces."

Grant revealed there had been a clean-out of imported players from Young Munster. "It's great to see young players emerging into the provincial structure, but they must be given a proper grounding in the tougher aspects of the game, and we intend to give our guys the opportunity to learn their trade the hard way.

"We have been lucky to attract guys like Ian Dillon, Anthony O'Herlihy and James Carey back to the club because they will bring a great deal of experience with them. I reckon we face into the new AIB league programme with a fairly competitive pack but an inexperienced enough backline. We have a very enthusiastic bunch of players. When the squad came together in June, come of the players were taken a little aback by the intensity of our training methods, the long periods of scrummaging, rucking and mauling practice and they suffered a lot in the first six weeks.

"They fully realise now that all this hard work was necessary to give them a grounding in the tougher side of the game."

Grant's comments on the domestic game were endorsed this week by new Cork Constitution director of rugby Paul Derham, who believes much more attention has to be given to the club structure by the IRFU.

Derham reckons many clubs are fighting for survival and he holds strong views that "elite" players should be subjected to a grounding at club level before being thrown into a representative structure.

"The well-being of rugby has to be looked at. I have seen very talented young players introduced, without much experience, into club games and they have struggled against lesser players with a better grounding."

The AIB Leagues begin today and champions Ballymena are at home to UCD. Cork Con, with former player Brian Walsh part of the coaching team, take on Dungannon at Temple Hill, while St Mary's College and

Garryowen clash at Templeville Road.

Young Munster play Terenure at Lakelands, while in Division Two, the Cork derby between Sunday's Well and UCC at Musgrave Park should attract interest.