Reprieve for Connacht rugby in IRFU rethink on provinces

Connacht have had some notable victories in their time, but probably none compared to the one last night when the IRFU completed a rare volte face in the face of mounting public pressure by announcing that they would not be dissolving the western province.

Union officers had proposed disbanding Connacht's professional squad from next season onwards as part of new cost-cutting proposals in the face of a projected €4 million loss this season and €7 million next season.

The union's 22-man committee had been expected to vote on the recommendation on Thursday last week, but cancelled the meeting as plans emerged of a march by up to 2,000 rugby supporters which converged on 62 Lansdowne Road and handed in a letter of protest.

They had been expected to take a vote on the proposal at their scheduled meeting next week, but after a meeting of the IRFU's officers last night, the union issued a statement confirming that they would, after all, be contracting players in all four provinces.

Afterwards, they issued the following statement: "The Irish Rugby Football Union commenced a Strategic Planning process in August 2002, which has yet to be completed. The IRFU officers will be recommending to the union committee that on the completion of this process a draft strategic plan will be produced and there will be consultation with all the stakeholders of Irish rugby."

"Following this, decisions will be taken as to the future structure of domestic club rugby and professional rugby in Ireland and in the meantime the process of contracting players will continue as heretofore in all four Provinces."

In response, the Connacht Branch have called off their request for a special meeting of the full IRFU Council, which would inclued ten delegates from each province and would have been empowered to overturn any decision by the Committee to disband Connacht.

A groundswell of public support behind Connacht had grown at club level, and had the council rescinded any vote by the committee to disband Connacht, it might have made the positions of the IRFU officers and committee members untenable.

Furthermore, the Irish Rugby Union Players Association, which numbers all but four of the 120 players contracted by the IRFU, had threatened to strike had the union pressed ahead with their contentious proposal.

The IRUPA chief executive, former Irish international winger Niall Woods, warmly welcomed the union's rethink. "We're just delighted. It's definitely common sense and we're glad to see that the strategic process is continuing and that we are recognised as a part of that strategic process."

"This news is great for rugby in the country," added Woods, "and great for rugby in the west particularly, giving a chance for the game to develop further in Connacht."

Welcoming the decision last night Mr Leo Galvin, president of the, Connacht Branch said: "The Connacht Branch welcomes the recommendation of the officers of the IRFU to their Committee. In the light of this the Connacht Branch have decided to withdraw their request for an EGM of the Council of the IRFU. We look forward to playing our full part in the ongoing strategic review and to our continued participation in the Celtic League and Parker Pen Challange Cup."