Shannon sweat over IRFU reaction

ALL-IRELAND league champions Shannon will be sweating over the next few weeks awaiting a possible reaction from the IRFU to this week’s ban imposed on an under-age coach from the club.

Shannon were recently fined €25,000 and warned as to the future behaviour of officials from the club after senior members were found guilty of inappropriate and abusive behaviour towards international referee George Clancy following an AIB League game in Limerick.

The IRFU also imposed a six-point AIB League deduction on the club but that was suspended on the proviso there would be no further misbehaviour charges brought against the club or its members.

Unfortunately, within a matter of weeks, a member of the club’s under-age coaching personnel allegedly assaulted a young player from Bruff following an on-field incident and the matter was deemed serious enough to involve the Garda Síochána.

The Munster Branch met this week and banned the coach for a total of 16 months from any activity in the coaching, management or selection areas of any rugby in the province.

They also insisted that if the individual wanted to continue his involvement involved in rugby he would not be allowed any links with the under-age game.

A Munster Branch source confirmed yesterday the matter was now out of their hands; if Shannon are to pay the price by losing AIB League points, he said, that would be a matter for the IRFU.