Connacht rugby reprieve on the cards

CONNACHT rugby has won a stay of execution in the latest twist over the future of the province’s senior squad.

IRFU chiefs agreed yesterday that the Connacht question would be subsumed into a major strategic plan and would not be dealt with in isolation next month, as was feared.

In a statement last night the Union said that only following this process would decisions be taken on the future of domestic club and provincial rugby. The IRFU added: "In the meantime, the process of contracting players will continue as heretofore in all four provinces."