Game in danger of bypassing its future

IN THE aftermath of Ireland’s comprehensive victory over Wales last weekend, the national side can look forward to Twickenham with confidence.

Whether the same can be said for the game as a whole in this country is a matter for debate.

Confirmation last week that the IRFU committee voted by a majority of 18 votes to six in favour of a return to provincial leagues for its clubs was disappointing to say the least. For some time I have been concerned about the quality of players coming through to the professional arena.

With a high percentage fall-out rate, the four provincial squads are required to find at least five new professional players annually. Under current structures we are struggling to fill those vacancies. With the demotion of the club game, it will become even more difficult.

In certain positions, there is a severe shortage of talent emerging. Nowhere is this more evident than in the front row. The Irish management have been lucky that Marcus Horan is the only prop forward so far unavailable for the Six Nations.

Simon Best is on the reserve bench for his country, when he is not first choice for his province. Best is a promising young player who badly needs exposure at the top level.

However in recent times he has been denied that, given that Ulster now field a full Sanzar front row of Robbie Kempson (South Africa), Matt Sexton (New Zealand) and Rod Moore (Australia), none of whom are available to Ireland.

In addition, hooker Paul Shields, capped at full level for Ireland, is also deprived of valuable game time and experience.

Likewise Munster, because of the demands placed on Horan and John Hayes, have been forced overseas to supplement their front row. In the Celtic League, Simon Kerr (Australia) and Gordon Mcllwham (Scotland) occupy the loose head and tight head positions respectively. This trend is doing nothing for Irish rugby.

The other area of major long-term concern is out-half. While Ronan O’Gara and David Humphreys have battled for the ownership of Ireland’s number 10 jersey over the last four seasons, no young pretender has emerged on the scene to challenge them. The situation has been further complicated by the fact that Leinster has offered a long-term contract to Felipe Contepomi (Argentina).

It is frustrating therefore to see former Leinster squad member Andy Dunne performing so well for Harlequins this season. He, along with Gavin Duffy and Ben Willis were picked up at a reasonable cost to the London club at the end of last season. Given the wage cap in the Zurich Premiership, and the comparative value that Harlequins have got, you can be assured more English clubs will come scouting.

So we are losing players with two or three years professional experience when they would have a valuable role to play in the Celtic League and possibly the Heineken Cup.

As a result, inexperienced club players are lining out in the league and being exposed.

While basking in the glory of Ireland’s success last weekend, it went somewhat unnoticed that for the first time ever all four Irish provinces were defeated in the Celtic League. This is more than a coincidence.

As a result of these defeats, Ulster is probably the only Irish province with any serious chance of winning the Celtic League. Yet there are a further nine rounds of games remaining. But for the long-awaited debut of Christian Cullen, one suspects there would be very little interest in Munster’s remaining league campaign.

God only knows what Leinster have to look forward to.

All of this was hugely predictable when we agreed to enter the expanded Celtic League last season.

The competition is simply too long. While the format was agreed initially for a two-year basis, it is imperative that the IRFU seek to renegotiate with immediate effect. As for the Celtic Cup, it should be scrapped.

As far as the League is concerned, with nine rounds remaining, only four sides remain in contention. This shows the inadequacy of the existing arrangement. Two sections with a semi-final and final would result in fewer games and keep more teams in contention for longer periods.

As for the revised club structure, the new format will not be introduced until the season after next.

From the clubs’ perspective, I am sure we have not heard the end of this debate. Many compromises have been required to facilitate the evolvement of the professional game here.

In most cases the club game has suffered.

The dilution of the national club competition will now ensure the professional game could suffer in equal measure.