Bandon cleared up for cup match

FOLLOWING confirmation from its insurance company that the club's public liability cover will provide member to member protection, Bandon RFC has decided it will contest tomorrow's Munster Junior Club Challenge Cup semifinal with Nenagh Ormond.

Bandon, one of the oldest clubs in the country, took a decision in midweek to cease all rugby activities until the club's insurance position was clarified, a matter brought to light by the recent court judgment which ruled that an excaptain, Barry Walsh, was not a member of the club at the time he received serious head injuries. The ruling paved the way for the player to proceed further with an action for damages.

However, the Bandon executive committee has received clearance from its insurance company that the club's public liability cover which is additional to the compulsory IRFU scheme is sufficient to enable them resume playing activities.

Bandon official Niall O'Driscoll, meanwhile, expects the cost of playing rugby could increase. Under the IRFU policy, you have to die or lose an eye or a limb to be covered," he said. "I believe it is it will become a lot more to play the game when the insurance companies realise that the public liability is used to cover players in a game."

But the secretary of the Munster branch, Dermot Kelly, denies the IBFU cover is flawed, in that it doesn't cater for fractures or for time lost for work due to injuries sustained in a game. "Each club is informed of the details of the scheme and they are encouraged to top up for player cover for work and loss of earnings," he said.