A LIMITED company is to, be set up within the next few weeks to represent the interests of Ireland's rugby clubs. Plans are currently being formulated to form "Irish First Division Clubs Limited".
While the IRFU does not have a revolution to deal with comparable to the situation that exists' in England between the English Rugby Union (RFU) and the volatile English Professional Rugby Union Clubs (EPRUC), there is an immense amount of understandable anxiety among the Irish clubs. In the prevailing circumstances, concerted attempts are now being made in Ireland by clubs to look after their own interests, and part of that process will be the establishment of the limited company.
Irish clubs feel they must get organised because of the recurring loss of players to England what they see as a downgrading of their role in the game in this country, the structure of the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League, and acute financial strains under which they are operating.
Solutions to their problems may not easily be attained in the current climate of the game, but their worries are profound and understandable.
Meetings have taken place in recent weeks and continue to take place between Munster and Leinster club representatives. I understand that approaches will be made to bring Ulster clubs under the umbrella.
Approaches have also been made from England about the possibility of Irish clubs joining what is termed the European Rugby Federation. Sir John Hall the chairman of the Newcastle Club, is among the prime movers behind this concept, which would embrace a competition on the lines of a 16 club super league. Scottish club representatives met with Hall and his colleagues on this issue at the weekend.
No Irish club has given any commitment to such a concept, nor is it the intention of any Irish club to break from the IRFU. But they want the union to act to safeguard their interests, and feel that much more needs to be done, can be done and should have been done.
Meanwhile, the presidents of the Leinster senior clubs will meet tonight to have further discussions on what they see as the way forward.
Frank Hogan, chairman of the Garryowen club, summed up the clubs' difficulties and what they intend to do to safeguard the clubs' futures. He said: "We all know that turning the game professional was crazy. That was done by those who run the game, not the clubs. It suited New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere powers; the situation in this part of the world is different. But we are faced with the reality of professionalism and we have got to deal with it.
"We must adopt a bussinesslike approach and look after our interests. Are we supposed to accept that our players will go to England to the detriment of the clubs and the game in this country?" he asked.
Hogan said it was now imperative that there was an awareness of the problems clubs have and that action should be taken urgently to address them.
One could scarcely offer an argument against those sentiments and it is in the best interest of everyone in this country that the clubs are supported and given every possible help.
"We have got to get organised to negotiate the business of our clubs and to safeguard them," Hogan continued. "They are the bedrock of the game in this country. We are not seeking confrontation with the IRFU, on the contrary we want to work in the best interests of the game in this country. There is no question of splits or revolution, but we just cannot accept or exist with the current situation."
Hogan believes and has a lot of support for the view that the first division of the AIL should consist of eight clubs. I have stated before and do so again now that increasing the number of first division clubs this season was not the best way forward.
"With proper organisation and a business like approach and let us not kid ourselves, rugby is now a business we could compete in Europe at club level," said Hogan. "But apart from that issue, there is no reason why with the proper approach, we cannot keep our players rather than see them playing with English clubs.
"The current position in Ireland must be changed in everyone's interests and the structure of the season must be changed. That is why we are working towards a situation that will be in Irish rugby's best interests. There must be more emphasis on the club scene and recognition of the immense hardship that Irish clubs are currently facing in so many respects. We do not seek confrontation, but there must be consultation. The clubs are aware that the present position just cannot continue.
"If we do not act now and the IRFU does not act, all the best young players in this country are going to leave. The departure of so many players already is totally, unacceptable and totally detrimental. How long I wonder will English clubs continue to release players for European competition with the Irish provinces?
"If we sit back and do nothing then the consequences will be disastrous. The current position is crazy and so is the structure of the season in this country right now. There must be a businesslike approach and a realisation of the true position. Nobody is try ing to dictate to the IRFU, but they must listen and they must act."
Hogan had a meeting recently with the IRFU president Bobby Deacy and at the president's request submitted a discussion document. He is awaiting a response.
"That was a fruitful meeting and what was outlined by Frank has been taken on board," said Deacy. "There are no instant solutions to what we fully realise are problems and difficulties. They are a consequence of what has happened in the game over the last 12 months.
"I must stress that the structure of the season was put in place after consultation and discussion with the clubs. Nothing will be solved by people resorting to the realm of personal abuse. I fully accept that the clubs have acted responsibly and we are filly aware of there problems. It is in our interest to address them and our full intention to do so."
Lansdowne president Paul Inglis fully supports the sentiments expressed by Hogan and indeed there is widespread support for the views Hogan has expressed and the action that he says must be taken.
Inglis said that clubs must work together on matters of mutual interest. "The reality is that the clubs are downgraded in the current situation. An eight club first division is the way forward and within the context of European competition we must look very carefully at the position and what represents our best interests. It certainly is not in the interest of Irish rugby for the clubs to be in the position they are in now."
Inglis said that the formation of a limited company was not being done "as a threat to the IRFU. It is being done for reasons we see as mutually beneficial. The clubs in this country have acted responsibly, but we are reaching crisis point and there is a responsibility on all to avert that.
"The IRFU announced some weeks ago that a committee is being set up to look at the position of clubs. Who is on that committee and what is its brief? Surely we are entitled to know and to be represented on such a committee. Rugby has not been able to deal With the situation since the game went professional. It must come to terms with the situation," added Inglis.
All this is certainly food for thought for the IRFU. While I would greatly doubt the motives of people like Sir John Hall and those of people outside the game who want to control it for their own interests, I think the Irish clubs have acted very responsibly and their attitude contrasts with the activities of their counterparts in, the English first and, second divisions.
There is recognition within the IRFU of the difficulties the clubs are experiencing but equally a belief in the clubs that not nearly enough is being done to help them. The secretary of the IRFU, Philip Browne said yesterday that the IRFU has arranged a special all day meeting at the end of the month which will be devoted exclusively to the clubs' problems.
Syd Millar, the president of the IRFU last year, who set up several meetings with the clubs, said yesterday: "We are all members of clubs and we all come from the club scene. We know the importance of the clubs and are aware that there are acute problems. There is real and understandable anxiety out there.
"Since the game went professional we have had recurring difficulties at all levels of the game and we have been trying to address them. We do not live in an ivory tower and there are people in the IRFU who have been working three and four days a week trying to solve ongoing problems. I do not have to elaborate on some of them."
