CELTIC LEAGUE: The IRFU have followed their Welsh and Scottish counterparts into agreeing to use the Celtic League finishing positions in determining which three Irish provinces will go forward to the Heineken European Cup and their respective seedings in that tournament, writes John O'Sullivan.
A pecking order will be decided from the final standings in the Celtic League with effect from next season (2005/'06).
The move will be welcomed by Connacht whose staple diet was European Challenge Cup fare but who are now primed to compete on a level footing for a place in the premier European competition.
At a board meeting in Dublin it was confirmed that next season's Celtic League would be structured in such a way as to ensure that none of the tournament's 22-weekend season would clash with either autumn internationals or Six Nations international weekends.
It was also revealed that all three Celtic nations had agreed to sign a new three-year "Celtic Accord" confirming their support for the competition for a further three seasons, until at least May 2008.
The three unions also discussed and agreed various measures to address player welfare issues by controlling the number of fixtures players play.
The Celtic Cup will cease to exist after this season's final on May 14th.
Next season's Celtic League season will kick off on the weekend of September 3rd, 2005 and will end on the last weekend of May 2006. Details of fixtures and dates will be released early next month.
SIX NATIONS: Former promising junior tennis player Ryan Jones is a shock call-up for Wales' Grand Slam-chasing clash with France in Paris on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Neath-Swansea Ospreys forward only took up the game six years ago after turning his back on a potential career in tennis.
Jones has yet to start a Test since making his international debut against South Africa three months ago. He starts in place of Jonathan Thomas.
The only other change to the first Wales team to win their opening two games of the Championship since 1994 sees Kevin Morgan start on the wing after Hal Luscombe failed to prove his fitness yesterday after a hamstring problem.
French coach Bernard Laporte hands fullback Julien Laharrague a first cap among four changes to the side that beat England. He also recalls centre Yannick Jauzion and wing Aurelien Rougerie and promoted flanker Yannick Nyanga from the bench.
FRANCE (v Wales): J Laharrague; A Rougerie, Y Jauzion, D Traille, C Dominici; Y Delaigue, D Yachvili; S Marconnet, S Bruno, N Mas, F Pelous, J Thion, S Betsen, J Bonnaire,Y Nyanga. Replacements: W Servat, O Milloud, G Lamboley, I Harinordoquy, P Mignoni, F Michalak, JP Grandclaude.
WALES (v France): G Thomas; K Morgan, T Shanklin, G Henson, S Williams; S Jones, D Peel; G Jenkins, M Davies, A Jones, B Cockbain, R Sidoli, R Jones, M Owen, M Williams. Replacements: R McBryde, J Yapp, J Thomas, R Sowden-Taylor, G Cooper, C Sweeney, R Williams.
