SUPPORTERS of college teams are in many ways the true connoisseurs of the game. They live for the expansive flowing game, dashing outhalves, footballing number eights, pacey wingers, in short the tradition of open, attacking rugby.

Unfortunately there is a cost. It's well known that supporters of college teams are more prone to coronary illness, and can suffer bouts of depression and elation in variable quantities, the only constant being a state of extreme agitation.

Indeed this was probably the reason for the sparse attendance at UCD's Division Three game against Bangor at Belfield on Saturday. College have remained true to their traditions, and as a consequence have experienced the highs and lows of promotion and demotion over the last couple of seasons. Their support peaks on the day of the Colours Match and after that it's all downhill.

In the '93/94 season a team featuring Greg McConkey, Killian Keane, Kevin Spicer, Darragh O'Mahony, Hubi Kos and Kerry Mark McCarthy, to mention just a few, won promotion to Division Two. That year UCD won 11 of their 12 matches and when they sealed promotion with a very comfortable win over Corinthians, the `Yerawaddie' echoed around The Bowl.

Then came the low. Although younger players like Dennis Hickie, Dennis Finn and John Ryan came through, College were probably still a few players short.

UCD, like all college teams, has always struggled to hold on to players, who often viewed their period with the team as a transitionary phase on the way to their `home' club. The advent of the professional game has exacerbated the difficulties, as UCD now have to contend with the monied clubs.

UCD president, Paul Devlin is in no doubt that holding on to their players is their biggest problem. He reckons that the club has lost 16 players from last year's panel. UCD can buy their players a couple of post-match drinks and after that it's pride in the jersey. Devlin estimates that it costs about £60,000 per annum to run the club. On Saturday the gate was £43.

Because the club has no bar, various fund-raising events, such as the Sports Awards dinner and their subvention from the colleges authorities are critical. At the moment the club is seeking a sponsor.

While club captain Denis Finn sees no problem with a player moving on to greater things after he has finished college, he would like to see all undergraduates in the university turning out for College.

If UCD is not overly endowed with material wealth it has an embarrassment of riches on the coaching front. John McClean, current coach to the Leinster schools, Derry Daly and Joe Shine are all involved with the under-19s and under-20s. Billy Murphy is manager of the first team, while Paul Barr is coach. He is assisted by Lee Smith, who is Development Manager with the International Board, and is now based in Dublin.

Smith was Director of Rugby in New Zealand from 1988-96 and rates the people involved in the club very highly. "These people compare very favourably to people who would have a much higher profile back home."

Smith was involved in setting up an academy in New Zealand for the most talented young players. "We got all the New Zealand under-19 and under-21 selectors to select the best 35 players. We then narrowed that down to 20. We started in '95, it continued the next year, and we will have a full complement of 60 players next year. The carrot for them is a Super Twelve contract at the end of three years.

Smith and Barr believe UCD could, with its excellent facilities, facilities, establish its own academy, awarding scholarships to talented players who would receive complete training as well as a modest living allowance.

But what of the immediate future? Paul Barr says that if the players could sustain their challenge for the full 80 minutes they could be dark horses for promotion. On Saturday Bangor were left chasing shadows as College ran in six tries and won 35-9.