Elwood, Clohessy return to their roots

THE MUNSTER and Irish prop Peter Clohessy will make a return to the domestic game next season with his old club Young Munster. Another Ireland international on the move yesterday was out-half Eric Elwood who is joining Galwegians from Lansdowne.

Clohessy signed up with the Limerick side on Monday following a six-month spell with Australian Super 12 team Queensland.

The 30-year-old was selected to travel to South Africa with the Lions squad last week but was forced to withdraw at the last moment because of the recurrence of a back injury which had troubled him for some weeks. His place was taken by Paul Wallace.

Clohessy's signature for the ambitious Young Munster represents a huge boost for the club as he had declared to play last year for Garryowen. That declaration fell through when the highly-rated tight head was seen to stamp Olivier Roumat in Ireland's game against France in the 1995-1996 Five Nations Championship. For that incident, he received a heavy suspension and subsequently left for Australia at the beginning of this year, who is regarded as one of the most capable front-row players in these islands, won a Munster Senior Cup with Young Munster in 1990 and an All-Ireland League medal in 1993. Overall, he has spent 12 years with the Tom Clifford Park club.

There is a possibility that he may have to travel back to Australia before his new contract starts at the beginning of next season. The prop who was to replace Clohessy at Queensland has apparently been injured and the Irish man may have to provide cover for the club in that position.

Meanwhile, Elwood, who originally left the Galway club seven years ago to play with Lansdowne, was one of his side's outstanding players this season and moves from one of the premier clubs in the country at rugby headquarters to the relatively-modest Crowley Park.

Galwegians were promoted from Division Three this year. They also defeated Ballina after a replay to win the Connacht Senior Cup and won the Connacht Development League.

Recently, Elwood was controversially ignored by the Irish selectors but kept his form and was, at the end of the season, a major contributor to his club's strong league showing, where they came second to Shannon, and their successful Leinster Senior Cup campaign which ended with a 40-8 win over Bective Rangers.