Munster Cup in jeopardy
The former cup winners, who have produced such famous players as Tom Clifford, John Fitzgerald and Peter Clohessy, declined to appeal a Munster Branch decision to disallow them a replay date of their first round game against champions Shannon last week.
Instead, Young Munster, struggling to field a team for the match last Saturday, decided to accept the Munster Branch refusal and exit the tournament.
In a time of trouble for many Irish clubs, Young Munster sought a postponement on the basis that they were unable to provide required cover for the front row.
The club had a number of injuries and one player was on holiday. They applied to the Munster Branch for a postponement, notified opponents Shannon of that, but the request was turned down.
A spokesman for Shannon admitted yesterday that his club had nothing to do with the refusal. "All we knew was that Young Munster’s request was declined in the middle of last week and we were told that we had a bye into the next round."
The Munster Senior Cup has recently become less and less important in the national calendar and that will be greeted with great regret amongst the rugby community.
Already the major clubs are at loggerheads with the IRFU about the state of the club game in the country and there will surely be more serious discussions with the governing body in the days, weeks and months ahead, in advance of and during the forthcoming AIB League which begins this weekend.
Elsewhere, Leinster captain Leo Cullen is facing an operation this week which will end his season.
Coming just after he failed to nail down a place in Ireland's World Cup squad, the news that he faces a tricky shoulder operation and six months on the sidelines was not very welcome.
Cullen has all but thrown in the towel on his ability to struggle through another season without the required medical intervention to solve the problem.
“There is never a good time to have an operation and, by doing so, it will rule me out for six months. Hopefully though, once it heals I will be ready for the road again.
"This problem has probably been with me since my school days, but I took a bad knock when playing for Ireland against Samoa during the summer and that sparked off my present difficulties.
“I suppose I put it to the back of my head because I wanted to challenge for a World Cup place, but with that opportunity gone I've really had to think about the future.”
Cullen believes that there is plenty of time for teams like Leinster and Munster to recover. “Remember we play 22 games in this competition and we've only put five behind us. There is still a lot of rugby to be played and the respective squads will be much stronger for the second half of the programme.
“I think the table as it is this week could have a false look about it. Anyway, even at this stage there is very little between the teams. Everyone seems to be beating everyone else and no one team has pulled way clear, so I would be pretty optimistic that the Irish teams can make a charge later on.”
EUROPEAN RUGBY CUP Ltd are working with Frankie Sheahan and his representatives to ensure he is allowed play for Munster against Bourgoin in December.
Anti-doping laws, unique to France, could be cited to stop Sheahan playing in the country, even though a two-year ban imposed in June was significantly reduced on appeal. Sheahan was subsequently cleared for selection on Ireland's World Cup squad.
There are still suggestions, however, that the French might dig their heels in and refuse to recognise the outcome of the appeal.
Up to now, the CPLD, a body responsible for monitoring and implementing anti-doping laws in sport, have only acknowledged the fact that Sheahan was originally banned for two years.
A campaign has since been launched to recognise the final outcome and ensure the player will be allowed line out for Munster. ERC are actually co-operating with Sheahan's representatives behind the scenes.
“We don't have an issue with Frank Sheahan and are doing what we can to help.
“The IRB, Six Nations Committee and ERC, have signed heads of agreement with the French as to the required procedures and that agreement has worked well in the past.
“Right now, the only issue is a French law situation,” according to ERC Chief Executive Derek McGrath.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
