GARRYOWEN'S international scrumhalf Stephen McIvor will not play for Garryowen today in the Insurance Corporation All-Ireland League match against Dungannon at Dooradoyle. McIvor was suspended for a week by the disciplinary committee of the Munster Branch on Wednesday night following an incident in the Munster Development League match between his club and Young Munster on October 13th.

McIvor did not play in the match, but was suspended after a complaint by the Young Munster club alleging that he had struck one of their players after getting involved in an incident within the playing enclosure. He has the right of appeal to the IRFU, but after consultation with the Union Garryowen has been informed that, under an IRFU ruling, until such time as an appeal is heard the player stands suspended.

In those circumstances, an appeal would not enable him to play today and McIvor, although very annoyed at the suspension, is likely to let the matter rest.

Together with a few other spectators, he got involved in the incident, which also involved Young Munster second row Michael O'Halloran. McIvor is adamant that he did not strike O'Halloran, nor has he been found guilty of striking the Young Munster player. Following the incident a Garryowen player had to leave the field injured.

"I am bitterly disappointed and surprised by the decision," McIvor said last night. "I am adamant that neither did I hit anybody, nor was that my intention. What I did, my reaction in the circumstances, would have been the same as anybody in the same situation."

McIvor for apologised to O'Halloran getting involved in the incident and O'Halloran accepted the apology without reservations. However, Young Munster pursued the matter and the disciplinary committee of the branch, after investigating the incident, imposed the suspension. O'Halloran rejected an invitation to attend the branch meeting and did not give any evidence against McIvor.

McIvor is due to travel to the Algarve with the Ireland squad on December 29th for warm weather training. The suspension ends on Wednesday, so it will have no affect on this.

Meanwhile, another Ireland squad member, hooker Shane Byrne, has been left out of the Blackrock College team to meet Old Belvedere in the league today on the grounds of fitness. Byrne was not chosen for the Algarve trip as he had just resumed playing after injury.

He played for Blackrock in the league in the two matches in the last fortnight but Blackrock feel he is not at an acceptable level of fitness and should regain full match-fitness by playing with the junior one team.

Four clubs in the first division of the league go into the third series of matches in the competition this afternoon with 100 per cent winning records, but at least one of those records must go today in the match at Templeville Road between St Mary's College and Shannon.

Lansdowne and Blackrock College have also won both their matches. Lansdowne will be at home to Instonians and Blackrock away to Old Belvedere. Both Instonians and Old Belvedere are still seeking their first points in the competition. So too are Ballymena and Old Crescent, who meet at Eaton Park, so there will be some reward for at least one of those four clubs, and for all four if all the matches end in draws.

Both Old Wesley and Terenure College, who meet at Donnybrook, have two points each, as have Young Munster and Cork Constitution, who meet at Tom Clifford Park, and Garryowen and Dungannon, who will be in opposition at Dooradoyle.

Three clubs in Division Two also go into action today with 100 per cent winning records. They, are Bective Rangers, Sunday's Well and Clontarf. None of those clubs meet each other this afternoon.

Sunday's Well travel to Monkstown, who are unbeaten, with a win and a draw so far. Clontarf will be at home to Highfield, who are one of four clubs in the division still without a point.

Bective, the leaders of the division with four points, and having scored 82 points, make the journey to Skerries, who have two league points. Greystones, on two points, meet DLSP, who have one, while Malone, still pointless, will be at home to Wanderers, who have had a win and draw to date. UCC, on two points, travel to NIFC, who are bottom of the table. City of Derry, another club still seeking their first points, travel to meet Dolphin, who have three.

Matters are tight at the top of Division Three, with four clubs on maximum points from two matches. They are Collegians, Buccaneers, Galwegians and Queen's University. At least two of those clubs must drop points today, as Collegians are at home to Buccaneers and Galwegians are away to Queen's University.

UCD, on four points from three matches, travel to Portadown, who lost the only match they played. Bohemians, who won their only match to date, travel to meet Corinthians, who have lost both their games. Bangor and Waterpark, both pointless, meet at Upritchard Park.

In Division Four, Suttonians, Ballynahinch and Creggs have certainly made an impact on the scene. They were promoted from junior ranks last season, but all, have full points and occupy the cop three places in the division with full points. Ards have also gained the maximum return.

Suttonians travel to UCG, who have yet to gain a point; Ballynahinch are at home to CIYMS, who have two points, and Creggs play Richmond, the fourth junior club promoted last season, but as yet without a point in the league.

Ards meet Armagh, another without a point and have two points, while Sligo have lost both their matches.

. Twickenham officials turned Santa Claus yesterday by giving all 24 first and second clubs a £40,000 Christmas bonus to help the poorer teams settle their wage

The payments - which will cost the Rugby Football Union £960,000 are being made despite the delay in the English Professional Rugby Union Clubs (EPRUC) signing the agreement with the RFU that was negotiated on December 5th.

An early condition of the clubs starting to receive their promised £8 million this season was that a deal should be formally signed.

The EPRUC clubs met yesterday, but it is doubtful whether the official truce in the year-long feud will be completed before Christmas.