Langford gives Munster a lift

John Langford will once again don the Munster colours this season just three months after indicating that he was returning home to Australia. Langford's decision to return to Ireland where he will play for a third consecutive season represents a huge boost for Munster.

The IRFU confirmed the union had received clearance from the Australian Rugby Union and that they were content for the former Wallaby international to play with Munster. Langford will team up with countryman and the province's latest recruit Jim Williams.

The affable second row was a pivotal figure in Munster reaching the European Cup final two seasons ago and the semi-final earlier this year. His presence, quite apart from his playing ability, will help to develop Munster's young second rows Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell. They could not ask for a more inspirational figure.

Munster also confirmed that Martin Cahill and Derek Hegarty had been registered by the province for the new season. Cahill, formerly a tighthead prop with Connacht, will renew a friendship that saw him play with Marcus Horan and Frankie Sheahan in the front row for an Ireland under-21 team that included Ronan O'Gara.

Terenure College scrumhalf Hegarty, has previously played for Leinster but the latter has opted for Brian O'Meara, Simon Keogh and New Zealander Ben Willis as their three scrumhalves this season.

Meanwhile, the winners of the inaugural Celtic League competition can expect to receive in excess of £200,000. The competition has no formal sponsor as yet, but the organising committee is hoping that a deal could be struck by the quarter-finals.

At present, each of the participating teams will receive £40,000 and also get to keep their entire home gate receipts at the league stage of the tournament. On reaching the quarter-finals, a club or province will be rewarded with 10 per cent of the aggregate net gate receipts: that is the revenue from the attendances at the four matches will be totalled and then each club will get 10 per cent.

For those who reach the semi-finals there is a £50,000 cash incentive and the lesser of 10 per cent gate receipts. The two finalists will receive £100,000 apiece and the lesser of 20 per cent gate receipts. Television deals have been agreed in the respective competing countries, with TG4 the host Irish broadcaster. The final will be shown on the BBC network.

Leinster's opening match of the competition against Glasgow at Donnybrook on Friday night (7.35 p.m.) will be shown live on TG4.