FIVE London Irish players are expected to defy the club and play for their provincial sides in this weekend's European Cup matches.

The indications last night were that Jeremy Davidson and David Humphreys (Ulster), Malcolm O'Kelly and Victor Costello (Leinster), and Gabriel Fulcher (Munster) had opted to ignore the instructions of London Irish.

The club last night reiterated that they will not release their players, and they also made it clear that any player who plays for the provinces will be considered in breach of their contracts. In that event, the club will consider what action it will take.

Costello, Fulcher and O'Kelly travelled to Ireland last night. O'Kelly and Costello attended the Leinster session, and Humphreys trained with the Ulster squad.

Niall Woods last night notified the Leinster manager, Jim Glennon, that he will play for London Irish. Others likely to follow that course are Rob Henderson, Kieron Dawson, the club captain Gary Halpin, Liam Mooney and Barry Walsh.

Earlier yesterday the board of the trading company that runs the commercial affairs of London Irish met the Ireland squad players, and later issued this statement:

"The board met the players to discuss the implications of their non-release to the provincial sides.

"This was against the background of a threat that they would not be selected for the Ireland international team unless they played for the provinces.

"A verbal commitment had previously been given by the club to the players for release to the provinces in the European Cup. However, in view of the club's current position in the first division, the players independently and individually met and unanimously released the club from this commitment and undertook to give the club full player support over the coming weeks.

"The club's position is that the players have not been released, and those who choose to play for their provinces will be considered to be in breach of their contracts. The board will then consider what action it will take in those circumstances.

"It is only the threat of not getting considered for selection for the Ireland international side that now places the players in this intolerable position."

The statement was issued by Duncan Leopold, the chief executive of the club. The players' meeting referred to in the statement took place on September 24th. Subsequent to that, negotiations have taken place between the Ireland manager, Pat Whelan, the provincial managers and the board of the club the most recent being last Wednesday.

Leopold said last night, "We believe the players want to play for London Irish, but the threat held over them put them into a position that should not have been made."

In a statement last night the IRFU described the outcome of the meeting yesterday "as very disappointing in the light of the commitments and assurances that the union, the players, the Irish team manager and the provincial managements had received from London Irish over a series of meetings going back to last May."

The IRFU president, Bobby Deacy, said: "This decision is a flagrant breach of the clear commitment given by the club to both Pat Whelan and the Union that players would be made available for the European Cup. It is not as though this problem was only broached in recent times. As far back as last May meetings took place and assurances were given about the availability of the players for the European Cup.

"We took particular care at that time to ensure these agreements were reached with the club given its special relationship with Irish rugby and our knowledge that a large number of the squad were contemplating moving to England.

"In recent weeks the union, the Ireland manager and the provincial managers held a series of meeting with London Irish in an effort to accommodate the club on a variety of issues. Sadly. all these efforts have now come to nothing.

"I must add that to say that the players were `threatened' is a gross misrepresentation of the facts."

Gary Halpin said last night: "As captain of the club my position and responsibility must be to get the team up and running again. I feel very sorry for the players in this dilemma. I feel especially sorry for the young players, in particular those as yet uncapped."