IRFU put a stay on decisions

EXPECTATIONS of skin and hair flying at last night's 123rd Irish Rugby Football Union annual general meeting in Dublin, failed to materialise as the potentially controversial discussions over player contracts, stadium development and restructuring of the All Ireland League (AIL) were deferred. A restructuring of IRFU committees however, was passed at the meeting.

The potentially explosive debate over the AIL will have to wait until a working committee, headed by former Lions and Irish international Noel Murphy, finalises a report on July 3rd. That report will then be discussed by the Union and a decision made on July 18th as to what changes may take place.

Blackrock's Niall Brophy, who was elected president after Bobby Deasy's one year tenure, stated that: "The AIL for this season is in situ. Dates are fixed and everything is in place." He did not, however, go on to debate what changes might be possible for the coming season after the July meetings.

The Lansdowne Road development plan and the possible development of the Newlands site in Clondalkin were only briefly discussed at the end of the meeting and no concrete plan is yet in place. Tom Kiernan, who is heading the group, stated that a report will be in place by September and that several avenues, including a possible development at the Phoenix Park, are still being discussed.

"With a potential investment of around £100 million it is necessary to explore every avenue before we make a final decision," said Kiernan.

The issue of player contracts at interprovincial and international level will be detailed in the coming weeks but outgoing president Deasy declared that they "promise to be enticing for our best young players."

The new Union structures in place comprise three new committees - a rugby committee, comprising international and domestic sections, a finance and commercial committee and a marketing committee, who will each report back to the Union committee.

Despite a payment of £510,897 from the FAI for the use of Lansdowne Road for soccer internationals, it was also reported that the Union's 1996-97 gross income was down from £5,579,923 to £3,835,891.

This was due primarily to the recent tour to New Zealand (£280,000), the AIL (£1 million), payments to clubs (£750,000) and player/coach payments (£1,998,634).