Five-match tour sought

Despite being drawn against Australia in the World Cup finals in October 1999, the likelihood is that Ireland will undertake a May/June there next summer. Negotiations are still some way from being finalised but the IRFU are seeking a five-match tour containing two Tests against the Wallabies.

Rumours of an additional short tour to Canada appear misplaced, but negotiations with the Argentinians, though still at the teething stages, incorporate a proposed friendly against the Pumas in Dublin in August next year as Ireland's final warm-up game before the finals. Also being discussed is a projected tour of Argentina in 2001.

The possible Argentinian Test would bring the number of international Tests for Warren Gatland's team between now and the World Cup finals to 11, beginning with the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Romania at Lansdowne Road on Saturday November 14th and 21st.

Despite continuing confusion in Ireland and in the US regarding the World Cup qualifying procedures, the International Board confirmed yesterday that the top two in Ireland's qualifying group next September will progress to Group E in the finals: the pool winners qualifying as Europe 1 and the pool runners-up as Europe 6. This will almost certainly mean that the group will consist of Australia, Ireland, the US and Romania.

Following the qualifying games against Georgia and Romania, Ireland will play newly crowned TriNations champions South Africa a week later, followed by the four Five Nations games and a Test against Italy next year.

Meanwhile, the latest signals from ERC Ltd suggest that the European Cup draw may be announced today. Roger Pickering, the tournament director, met with ERC Ltd's solicitors last Friday to iron out televsion and sponsorship contracts, and will today meet with French officials in Toulouse.

One of the more interesting side-effects of the English clubs' withdrawal, and that of Cardiff and Swansea, will be whether Sky continue to televise the competition. It is believed that more if not all of this year's coverage will be passed over to terrestrial television, and that RTE have been negotiating with ERC Ltd.

Due to the rejigging of the four Welsh participants in the light of Cardiff and Swansea's withdrawal, the expectation is that Leinster will now be drawn with the fourth Welsh seeds, namely Llanelli instead of Ebbw Vale, as well as the French pair of Stade Francais and Begles/Bordeaux.

Similarly, Munster could now have Neath, the new third seeded Welsh team, instead of Pontypridd, as well as Perpignan and Padua.

Ulster, for their part, would thus be permed with the second Welsh seeds, Ebbw Vale, in addition to Toulouse and Edinburgh Reivers. This would leave Colomiers, Pontypridd, Benetton Treviso and Glasgow in the remaining pool.

New Wales coach Graham Henry wielded the selection axe as he named a 26-man squad to prepare for November's Test match against world champions South Africa at Wembley.

The no-nonsense New Zealander has left out fly-half Arwel Thomas, centre Leigh Davies, hooker Garin Jenkins and flanker Kingsley Jones - all regular starters under his predecessor Kevin Bowring.

Lions scrum-half Robert Howley retains the captaincy, and there are call-ups for uncapped forwards Chay Billen (Ebbw Vale) and Geraint Lewis (Pontypridd).