League revamp unveiled

The IRFU yesterday confirmed the revised format for the AIB All-Ireland League which will begin the season after next, 2000-2001.

The competition will be changed to feature three divisions of 16 clubs, with each division being divided into two sections of equal merit. The competition will then be run along a set format.

1. The eight clubs within those sections will play each other on a home-and-away basis.

2. The top two clubs in each section will then qualify for the semi-finals, where the winner of one section will play the runner-up of the other. The finals in all divisions will be played at Lansdowne Road.

3. There will be automatic relegation for the bottom two teams in each section.

The two sections within each division will be decided on next season's league results. For example, the 16 division one clubs will be separated into two sections, one consisting of the first, third, fifth and so on down, of the division, the other being made up of the second, fourth, sixth, etc.

There may be some alterations to avoid an over-concentration of clubs from the same area.

The proposed structure, which will give at least three extra matches to each club, was circulated to all first and second division clubs and received unanimous support. For the coming season, the league will feature a new merit system: four points for a win, two for a draw, one bonus point for scoring four or more tries and one bonus point if beaten by seven points or less.

The provincial branches, meanwhile, have agreed to play their Senior Cup competitions between September 25th and October 25th, starting this year.

The senior team will play Argentina on August 28th, and an Irish team will also play Connacht (August 21th), Munster (September 10th) and Ulster (September 17th). There will also be an under-20 club competition.