Leinster open up to the province

RUGBY: Not before time, but better late than never, Leinster start reaching out to their province today when Longford RFC host a pre-season friendly between Matt Williams' team and Bristol Shoguns. It is a process which continues next Wednesday in Greystones when London Irish are the visitors and will henceforth see Leinster conducting more open training sessions as well as pre-season friendlies away from their traditional Dublin base.

For Longford, this is the biggest game they've hosted since a Lions-studded encounter in 1981 between the Wolfhounds and a President's XV captained by Tony Ward. That was to officially mark the opening of their new sand-based pitch, long since regarded as one of the best in the country.

One of the top clubs in Leinster during the 1980s, Longford suffered a little from Buccaneers' success though they are experiencing something of a resurgence lately.This fixture will be a significant boost for one of the oldest clubs in the country, whose history dates back to the 1880s. While it may not have much relevance on the European Cup meetings between Leinster and Bristol later in the season, it will be a proper, full-on pre-season warm-up nonetheless.

Leinster are missing up to 14 players because of the national training camp this week, but in that context it will be particularly useful preparation for their Celtic League campaign next month, when three Irish internationals are liable to deny them up to 11 players for five or six matches.

Williams has hardly seen the majority of his front-line players but enthuses about the eagerness of hitherto fringe players such as Gavin Hickie, Kieran Lewis, Gary Browne, Aidan Kearney, Des Dillon and Ben Gissing. They will be given a run today, and it's an overdue and welcome opportunity for the likes of Peter McKenna and the richly talented Andy Dunne.

Leinster will be ring rusty compared to Bristol, who have picked an amalgam of the sides which lost 31-10 to Munster on Tuesday and beat Connacht 33-24 on Wednesday, but are themselves under-strength, with Felippe Contepomi and others representing the club in the Middlesex Sevens.

Meanwhile, Corinthians are to emulate other clubs around the country, most notably Garryowen, by launching their own Academy. Drawn along the lines of the IRFU and Garryowen models, Corinthians hope to put about 10 of their 25-30 man under-20 squad on a three-year course, in which they will be put through a professional regime in conjunction with the union's fitness requirements.

The Corinthians coach and Academy director is former Irish scrumhalf Stephen McIvor. Those interested should contact him at 087 2322553, or team manager Brian Casburn at 087 8585614 or at Corinthians 091 799215.

LEINSTER SQUAD (v Bristol, at the Demesne, Longford, tomorrow, kick-off 3.00): Backs - P McKenna, S Keogh, G Browne, K Lewis, C Warner, A Dunne, B Willis, M Leek, D Quinlan, S Whelan. Forwards - L Toland (capt), D Dillon, A McCullan, A Kearney, B Grissing, G Hickie, P Smyth, J Lyne, E Bohan, D Sheehan, S Jennings.

BRISTOL: Best; J Williams, D Rees, M Shaw, P Christophers; S Drahm, P Richards; P Johnson, S Nelson, E Bergamaschi, S Morgan, A Sheridan, B Sturnham (capt), R Beattie, C Short.