REPRESENTATIVES of Ulster's senior clubs will tonight meet officers of the Ulster branch, the branch representatives on the IRFU and Tony Russ, the coach/manager of the Ulster team.

The branch wants to hear the clubs' views regarding the problems they are facing prior to the meeting of the IRFU committee next Friday.

The IRFU committee members have been requested by president Bobby Deacy to attend Friday's meeting having familiarised themselves with those views. Next week IRFU officers will meet representatives of the senior clubs.

On the question of England-based Irish players being available for the provinces in the European Cup the whole situation is in a shambles. Ken Reid and the Leinster manager Jim Glennon both said yesterday that they do not know exactly where they stand.

"The situation seems to change from day to day," said Reid. "We were assured at the start of the season that our players based in England would be available to us. Now we hear that EPRUC (English Professional Rugby Union Clubs) are urging clubs not to release the players for some of the European matches." Glennon supports Reid's view.

Sandy Heffernan, honorary secretary of the Leinster branch, checked out the position and was told at the end of last week that the players would be released for most matches. That I am afraid is a forlorn hope.

"Quite candidly I will believe the English-based players will be available to us when I see them walking into the dressingroom prior to the matches," said Glennon.

Both Leinster and Ulster have already been told that Saracens players Paddy Johns (Ulster) and Paul Wallace (Leinster) will not be available for the European matches on October 26th. Leinster play Borders and Ulster play Neath that day. This is because Saracens have a league match within three days of that fixture against Northampton, who also have Ulster players Jonathan Bell and Allan Clarke on their playing staff.

That afternoon, too, London Irish play Leicester and the rumblings from Sunbury about players' availability for the provinces have been disturbing. Those rumblings have grown stronger as London Irish lose matches.

The London Irish players, who had hoped to play for their provinces in Europe, had a meeting yesterday but nothing conclusive came out of it. They want to play for the provinces in Europe and it is in most of their contracts that they be released.

But some officials of the club have stated they would prefer that the players did not play in Europe and gave their total commitment to London Irish. There is an implicit threat that, if they play in Europe, they could lose out at London Irish. One player said yesterday: "That has left us players with a dilemma. As of now we are just keeping quiet, but feelings are strong. We hope this can be resolved."

Whatever happened to that alleged special relationship between London Irish and Ireland? Whatever happened to the specific promises that the players would be released?

Ireland manager Pat Whelan, who hopes to meet London Irish coach Clive Woodward at the weekend, said yesterday: "I also want to talk to the directors of rugby in all English clubs with Irish players. I believe that it is in the players' interest to play in Europe. I was given specific guarantees on this issue. The whole situation in relation to the England-based players is disturbing and disruptive."

This is further proof, if proof were needed, that the sooner the England-based players return to Ireland the better.

London Irish, who have lost three of their four league matches, have dropped Ireland number eight Victor Costello for the match against Saracens on Saturday. Barry Walsh moves to number eight and Ireland under-21 international flanker Kieron Dawson, now recovered from injury, makes his league debut on the flank. Paul Flood is restored to the centre for Phil Druy and Nick Briarsn displaces Tim Ewington at scrum half. Bob Kellam regains his place at hooker.

Centre Vincent Cunningham and prop John Maher both make their competitive debuts for Bective Rangers in the Leinster Senior League match against Old Belvedere on Sunday. Kevin Murphy is ruled out through injury and Mick Moynihan comes into the back row. Barry Murphy, who was in the Leinster replacement panel on Saturday, returns at scrum half for Old Belvedere. Back row forward Mick Carswell is ruled out through injury.

Terenure will have Peter Bruce back for the meeting with Suttonians. But David Coleman, who plays for Leinster on Saturday, will be ruled out as the Leinster players who play against Munster have been asked not to play again on Sunday.