Leinster plan to meet the new challenges

The optimism is apparent but scarcely concealed behind Leinster's laudable plans and preparation for this year's European Cup are the bare facts that the competition is likely to become a steep learning curve for many of the players involved.

New threats and new challenges to Irish rugby have rightly been seen as, in Leinster anyway, as a new dawn.

Yesterday's introduction to the media of Welsh coach Mike Ruddock and a panel of 32 players served to point out that Leinster are certainly trying to move towards a game that will stand up to the rigours of a new millennium. But just how fast they are moving is the critical point and has yet to be seen.

Kurt McQuilkin, who takes over the provincial captaincy from the retired Chris Pim, may have inadvertently summed up Ruddock's uncompromising and enlightened approach to the game with: "Training has been so hard all my nightmares are in Welsh," but in reality nothing has yet begun.

New Zealander, McQuilkin, who is also this year's club captain at Lansdowne, has been in Ireland for six years and made his Leinster debut in 1995. Along with Pim, who is being retained by Leinster in an advisory capacity, he has, according to manager, Jim Glennon, "distinguished himself by not missing a game for the province."

The centre will begin his captain's role at a 10-day training camp in England from August 1st to 10th, which includes games against Moseley and Sale before the first Interprovincial match against Ulster on August 16th.

The trip should give Ruddock and Glennon an indication of how the mixture of new and mature talent is blending. It will, however, be the European games against Toulouse, Leicester and Milan in September that will indicate how far the team have progressed.

Leinster's unavailable players may well run into double figures, presenting obvious problems, and Ruddock, who has a three-year contract, has been forced to emphasise the development of young talent such as Blackrock's 19-year-old Leo Cullen and Peter Smyth.

"We're very happy with younger talent coming through. It's been particularly satisfying to see their improvement. Throwing very young players into interpro football has provided a strikingly positive aspect of the work over the past few months," said Glennon.

Ruddock, who successfully coached club side Cardiff, was also emphatic about the reaction he has received from the players.

"I've been impressed with the squads motivation and their desire to achieve. I believe it will be competitive and I believe that it has progressed and I'm certainly excited about the camp in England," he said.

"We are looking at playing quality rugby in the way other teams have played it and the way other teams have proved that quality rugby can also be successful rugby. Given the statistics I've seen in the Southern Hemisphere and the type of game they're playing - increased ball time from about 24 minutes to 40 minutes and longer and longer phases of play lasting well over a minute - we've also to become a fast team in order to become successful."

Ruddock has spoken to national coach Brian Ashton and encourages a similar approach to the game. "There is no huge difference in our philosophy," says the Leinster coach and "Brian does keep in touch from time to time."

St Mary's College provide the bulk of players with nine of the 32 players in the squad coming from that club alone.

As well as Pim assisting and keeping an eye on players in division two of the AIL from his Old Wesley vantage point, Paul Clinch the Lansdowne coach, will also become involved with the squad. Leinster will billet at Keele University in Staffordshire.

The Leinster Branch also announced that they are to field a Leinster `A' side to compete against `A' sides from the other provinces during the interprovincial series. It will be seen by Glennon and Ruddock as a development side to aid the development and strengthening of the senior squad.

Matches will be played in Donnybrook and the Leinster Branch is to make an improved effort to sell the European competition as a more attractive package and hopefully increase the profile and draw in greater home support.

With the start of phase two of the development plan for the grounds, floodlights at Donnybrook are likely to be ready for use in October while the first phase of ground development has been completed. The existing terrace structure has been extended to increase the overall capacity to 7,000 people.

ACC Bank have renewed their sponsorship for the forthcoming European competition and they will also continue to sponsor the Leinster league.

The regulation in Irish rugby relating to overseas players has been amended by the Irish Rugby Football Union Committee.

The new regulation permits each club in the All-Ireland League to register one "overseas player" in any one season, provided that the player has taken up residence in Ireland and has registered one week before the start of the competition.

Players living permanently in Ireland for two complete calendar years after their first registration are deemed to be "native" players.