IRFU seek player resolution

IRISH rugby is banking on IRB intervention to avoid a repeat of this week’s debacle when four English-based players were refused permission to train with the national squad in Limerick.

In the build up to Ireland’s opening international against Canada at Thomond Park tomorrow week, Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers), Bob Casey (London Irish), Mike Ross (NEC Harlequins) and Roger Wilson (Northampton) were barred from travelling to Ireland for a week-long training camp by Premier Rugby Limited (PRL), the organisation run by the English clubs for the clubs.

Eoin Reddan, the Ireland scrumhalf, has a clause in a contract with London Wasps that allowed him to be released but the others, including front-line player Murphy, could lose out when the coach Declan Kidney culls the squad from 43 to 30 today.