NEW ZEALAND-born centre Kurt McQuilkin (29) will win his first international cap when he plays for Ireland against the United States at the Life College Stadium, Atlanta on Saturday. McQuilkin becomes the first back from the Bective Rangers club to be capped for Ireland since Fergus Keogh played at full back against France in 1964.

He is one of two new caps in the side. The other is 25-year-old Victor Costello, the St Mary's College back row forward, who has been named on the blind-side flank. Costello, a former Olympic shot putter, stands at six feet, five inches.

The side shows three changes in personnel and a positional alteration from the team that defeated Fiji last November. McQuilkin comes in for Maurice Field, Costello for Jeremy Davidson (who has been struggling with a leg injury), while Eric Elwood is recalled at outside half in place of Paul Burke. Elwood last played for Ireland in the World Cup quarter-final against France in Durban last May. Simon Geoghegan moves from the left wing to the right in a switch with Richard Wallace.

McQuilkin, who has played for Bective since he came to Ireland three years ago, has completed the three years residential qualification necessary for non-nationals to play at international level for another country. He has been a first choice for Leinster this season and was a major contributor to the province's success. He played at representative level in his native New Zealand for King Country before he came to Ireland.

McQuilkin has bad a rapid rise to the top. He was not chosen on the initial panel in October, but he was called into the squad alter manager Pat Whelan saw him give a fine display for Leinster against Milan in the European Cup. His reaction to that selection was one of delight. "So much has happened to me in so short a time," he said. "I get my first Leinster cap and then I am called into the Ireland squad." Now comes the ultimate honour.

He was not eligible to play against Fiji at that time as he had not completed three years residence in Ireland. He becomes the second New Zealander to play for Ireland - Sean McCahill was the first. He came on as a replacement in the match against Fiji. He is again named among the bench replacements.

Costello has represented Ireland at every level - schools, under-2l and A. He was in the Ireland party that toured Australia in the summer of 1994. He was injured on the tour and never really mounted a challenge for a test place. He has played very well for Leinster in the number eight position this season and is particularly effective going forward. His selection means he is the latest in a long line of sons and fathers to play for Ireland. His father, Paddy, was capped against France in 1960. The selection means there is no place for Davidson, who made his debut as a blind-side flanker against Fiji.

The changes in the replacements are Shane Byrne for Allan Clarke, as reserve hooker; Niall Hogan for Neil Doak, as reserve scrum-half; and Burke for Elwood.

The team was announced yesterday morning to the players before they went for the first of two training sessions. The intensity of those sessions will drop as match-day approaches. The Americans are also in training camp, just a short distance away from the Ireland base. They are likely to delay finalising their side until tomorrow.

Wales out-half Neil Jenkins has a broken collar bone and will miss the international against Italy in Cardiff on January 16th. Jenkins first hurt his shoulder in a club match last month and further aggravation led to an X-ray which diagnosed a fractured clavicle.

"It is not the best way to start a new year, but it is no good worrying," said Jenkins, who is now battling to be fit to face England at Twickenham in the International Championship on February 3rd. Jenkins has won 38 caps and scored 419 points for Wales - second only in the game's history to Scotland's Gavin Hastings from the home unions.

French sports minister Guy Drut said yesterday there were "troubling facts" in television contracts made by the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and that he was referring the matter to the public prosecutor. Drut, who in October set up an investigation into exclusive contracts awarded for rugby union cover to France's two state television channels, told a news conference his inspectors' report showed punishable offences may have occurred.

"The television contracts linking rugby with France Television show a distinct lack of clarity which is in itself astonishing," he said. Newspaper reports on the affair have said the private channel TFI had made a higher bid, rejected by the federation, for the rights to cover rugby in France.