Miller on the open market

The flag will finally be raised on the Eric Miller steeplechase at some time tomorrow when the player's agent emerges from a meeting with Leicester's chief executive Peter Wheeler and coach Dean Richards with a formal transfer fee valuation for the Irish and Lions number eight. Despite some conjecture of a six-figure fee for the 22-year-old Leicester player, a transfer valuation of £50,000 and possibly even less seems far more likely. And, while it is now certain that Leicester will demand a transfer fee, the figure may have a certain flexibility, and could well be less again if Miller returned to Ireland rather than join another English club.

Harlequins, Northampton and London Irish have made tentative inquiries but in these slightly more realistic and penurious times in the English club game, it is believed that none have followed through.

By contrast, Ulster, Leinster and Connacht have all made inquiries about the player and each would be keen to partially fund his contract-cum-transfer fee with available contracts of their own.

Furthermore, at least half a dozen Irish clubs, and possibly as many as nine, have also made inquiries about Miller. Among these, most obviously, would be Old Wesley and Lansdowne, while Galwegians are leading the chase from the west.

The chances of acquiring Miller are facilitated by the player's own desire to come home. Miller is something of a forgotten man since the 1997 Lions tour and his last of seven caps as an 11-minute replacement in the defeat by Wales but after a summer respite he is straining at the leash, and impressed all and sundry at the recent Irish squad get-together.

Miller clearly sees a return to the Irish provincial structures as his best means of regaining his place on the Irish team, and his desire to come home is a compliment to the new structures.

Accordingly, Ireland will get first option. However, whether he does return to Ireland or not largely depends on the IRFU, and what hand, act or part they may play in the process, as well as how much leeway they give the provinces.

The union have more scope to negotiate with the player directly this season given they have made international contracts undisclosed and flexible, compared to last year's scaled payments.

However, it is extremely unlikely that the player will be going so far as to buy out his own contract, and so therefore the obstacle of a transfer fee will have to be overcome.

Then there is also the question of where his international future best lies - ie as a number eight or as a blindside or openside wingforward.

Meanwhile the IRFU have confirmed that the first phase of their redevelopment of the main pitch at Thomond Park is "progressing on schedule" and that the first match played on the new pitch "will be the Munster v Perpignan fixture on October 31st in the European Cup. The union also anticipates that the main pitch will be available for a full programme of All-Ireland league matches involving Shannon and Bohemians.

Leinster have formally cited a Stade Francais player for foul play during last Friday's European Cup match in Donnybrook.

The player is believed to be the loose-head and captain Serge Simon, who was involved in a number of exchanges with his opposing tight-head Angus McKeen as scrums frequently broke up throughout the game. Leinster notified the European Cup organisers of their complaint within the stipulated 48 hours.