Staunton demands overhaul of club game

Young Munster club coach John Staunton has called for a revamp of Irish club rugby to stop the amateur game slipping into an abyss.

A frustrated Staunton called on the Munster Branch to reinstate the provincial senior cup as a showcase tournament and the IRFU to organise competitions to allow all clubs and supporters retain an interest throughout the season. He bemoaned the fact the Munster Senior Cup had lost its appeal because it was played off so early in the season and suggested there had to be an immediate rethink about how the domestic game is run.

“We all know the situation with the exodus of players out of Limerick. It’s very hard to manage an amateur game in a professional era. It’s next to impossible,” he said.