Reddan confident Irish provinces will rule Europe once again

Leinster and Ireland scrum-half Eoin Reddan believes it is far too early to predict that the days of the Irish provinces dining consistently at Europe’s top table are over, despite a worrying run of results in recent months.

Munster and Ulster will play their last games in the inaugural Rugby Champions Cup next weekend after disappointing pools, while Leinster could yet qualify as Pool 2 winners, one of the three best runners-up or join their neighbours in making for an early exit.

Not since the 1996/97 season has Ireland failed to present a representative for the knockout stages and 2007/08 was the last time only one of the provinces made it out of the group stage, with Munster ultimately going all the way.