Ireland captain and Harlequins hooker Keith Wood found himself in an interesting quandary yesterday for the European Shield semi-final against Newcastle. Wood is currently out with a rib injury but had to sit on the bench so that his club would fulfil the ERC regulations about having the requisite number of front row replacements on the bench. Tani Fuga, made a remarkable recovery from injury to start the match thereby relieving the serious hooking crisis that afflicted Harlequins prior to the match.

Because of that Wood had to sit on the bench. The club confirmed that if Wood was forced to come on because of injury he would step onto the pitch before returning to the dugout and Harlequins would then put on a reserve prop, forcing a situation, whereby referee Jim Fleming would have to make provision for uncontested scrums.

It turned out to be a good day for the 'Quins as they prevailed 17-12, with former Ireland hooker Ross Nesdale on the losing Newcastle side.

Congratulations to West Cork club Clonakilty whose victory over Lisburn at the weekend guaranteed them a place in next season's AIB League Division Three and in the process bestowing senior status on the junior club. Clonakilty won all three matches in the round robin, qualifying series, also accounting for Connemara and Navan.