Clubs aim to win two games in one outing!

THE AIB League kicks-off this weekend, and there is a fascinating aside to one of the eight Division One games.

The game at Temple Hill involves Cork Constitution and newcomers UL-Bohemian, and for the first time in history on a league day the teams could be forced to play extra-time.

No, there isn’t a bizarre change in the rules; it’s because the game doubles as a Munster Senior Cup and has to be decided on the day.

The cup tie was fixed for last week, but because UL Bohs had organised an away fixture against Oxford University, it was put on hold. The Limerick club requested a postponement and Constitution agreed to the double-up.

The result at the end of 80 minutes will stand as far as the AIB tournament is concerned, but not for the ODM Munster cup, where extra-time will be played in the event of the draw.

The newcomers, who have flitted between Division one and two in the last four seasons, will pose a danger to the more experienced Cork side, according to director of rugby Paul Derham. Derham, a former Munster and Ireland A representative, believes the university teams hold the key to an improvement in Irish club rugby.

Reminding us that four years ago there were no university representatives in Division one, he pointed out: “There are now three, UCD, Dublin University and UL Bohs. Factor in UCC, who only just missed out on a promotion spot, and I guess University rugby is in pretty good shape,” he said.

Derham is convinced the rise of rugby at that level is hugely positive for the game in Ireland: “The facts are that age profiles in club rugby have been lowered by necessity. Therefore, the universities have been able to compete in a much more positive way over the last few years.

“OK, some of the clubs are not getting the run of signings as early, but the emergence of the university teams has meant that players are involved in the game that much longer after leaving school.

“The longer they’re involved, the more likely they are to stay in the game and that’s very positive from an overall perspective.”

There should not be any feeling of jealousy within the other clubs: “Eventually, the clubs will benefit even more because players, once they leave university, will move on to play with other clubs in greater numbers, and they’ll be more experienced as well.”

Derham is positive about recent developments in Irish club rugby, such as the introduction of an All Ireland Cup competition this season, but believes there is still room for improvement.

For instance, he cites the fact that Cork Constitution have to play two AIB League games on the same days as Munster’s Heineken Cup matches with Sale and Castres.

He’d like to see better planning. “We all realise that provincial and Irish rugby comes first, that it’s impossible to avoid clashes all the time.”

“But,” he said, “it’s also important that there should be some give on certain weekends so that clubs can call on players not involved with their provinces. That would mean a bit of latitude to play club games maybe on a Sunday, after provinces had fulfilled their fixtures. What we don’t need, at any rate, is a blind conflict of fixtures. It’s something that more thought has to be given to.”

Nevertheless, anything that can raise the profile of the club game in Ireland is welcome, said Derham.

“The national cup came about after a suggestion from the clubs. It should be a huge success,” he said.