Clubs to study league proposals

THE restructuring of the All-Ireland League was one of the proposals put to a fully attended meeting in Dublin on Wednesday night of all of the first division clubs in the AIL league.

The representatives at the meeting will now refer back to, their clubs for a decision on the structure of the 1998-99 season. It is hoped that the clubs will return with a decision within two weeks so their views can be discussed by the IRFU,

The two proposals put to the clubs for their consideration, were:

(a) Immediate investigation of a structure of a club-based "Super League" competition comprising nine teams drawn from at least 20 clubs, with the aspiration of the top sides in the league representing Ireland in European competition instead of Provincial sides in season 1999-2000.

(b) The AIL be reduced to a 12-team league, reviewable at the end of the season with play-offs at the end of the competition, heavily funded by the IRFU and also including a substantial prize fund. This proposal also recommends that only All-Ireland League players be eligible to play for the Provinces.

Clearly option (a) is a radical departure from the current structure of 14 teams. That same format will apply to the 1997-98 season. The supporters of option (a) see it as the more difficult proposal for Irish clubs to accept but believe it represents the best chance the game has of keeping pace with the changes that rugby is currently undergoing.

There have been suggestions that the IRFU sets up a franchise inviting all of the divisions one clubs to participate in this new nine-team "Super League." The invitation, however, could suggest that the current playing standards are not high enough to compete realistically at a European level and that clubs' should amalgamate in order to strengthen their teams. This could be done on a basis that is geographically viable.