This Saturday's AIB All-Ireland League Division Two final between Dolphin and Terenure College may be postponed if an objection by Young Munster regarding the eligibility of Dolphin's Andrew O'Driscoll is upheld by the IRFU.
IRFU administration manager Gordon Black yesterday asked for clarification from the Cork club regarding the eligibility of the Ireland under-19 player.
Dolphin could be deducted two points, which would see Young Munster promoted to Division One and taking Dolphin's place in the final. The Cork club would surely appeal any such sanctions, triggering a protracted dispute.
O'Driscoll was an unused substitute in Dolphin's 27-21 victory over Bective Rangers in the final game of the regular season. The bonus point from that match saw them promoted at the expense of Young Munster.
They subsequently beat their Limerick rivals 26-24 in the play-off semi-final last Saturday, when O'Driscoll was a late replacement, the contest decided by a Barry Keeshan drop goal in the sixth minute of injury time.
Under league regulation 13.1, "A player may register with one club only. If he registers with more than one club his registration may be declared void. This list may be amended up to October 1st to add: a. Players entering adult rugby having attained the age of 18 years . . . and d. players transferring from one club to another with the written consent of (the) former club."
A Young Munster spokesman questioned whether O'Driscoll, having played in the Munster Schools' Cup for PBC Cork this year, is allowed play senior club rugby in the same season.
"To my knowledge a player would be school-tied for the year. That is the second objection as he was already registered with Bandon RFC," said a Young Munster spokesman.
"We are confident all our paperwork regarding the player was in order," said a Dolphin spokesman.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Friday: Celtic League: Connacht v Ospreys, Sportsground 6.30; Glasgow Warriors v Llanelli Scarlets, Firhill 7.10; Ulster v Border Reivers, Ravenhill Road 7.30
Saturday: Celtic League: Newport Dragons v Edinburgh Gunners, Rodney Parade 5.30; All-Ireland League finals: Division One: Shannon v Clontarf, Lansdowne Road 4pm; Division Two: Dolphin v Terenure, 2pm: Division Three: Clonakilty v Suttonians, Anglesea Road, noon.
Sunday: Celtic League: Cardiff Blues v Leinster, Millennium Stadium 6.10.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/d556e13a-143b-4b6b-a708-378fafc6c2ed.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)