THE promotion celebrations by London Irish were somewhat muted following a flat 25-13 win over Bedford on Saturday. The post match press conference was dominated by coach Clive Woodward's slamming of the Irish Rugby Football Union for their `shambolic' behaviour this season. The ex England centre said that "my big beef with the IRFU was that we were missing our best players for a vital league game when they were requested to attend an Irish squad session two weeks before a `Mickey Mouse' international against Fiji last November." Ireland coasted home against the Fijians where the `Exiles' sneaked past Newcastle 15-19.

Woodward added: "We would not have made it to Division One if players like Gary Halpin had of opted out of the international scene this season."

Possessing 21 English caps, Woodward said that his `biggest buzz' as a coach was getting one of your players selected for international honours. "But if I am going to be treated like a second class citizen, getting a phone call saying players are being pulled, then I will not put in the same effort next season.

While rugby spurts down the path to professionalism, the coach, who also guided the Exiles to a cup semi final, supports international squad sessions one week before a game. "If players are making serious money, why can't they train from Monday to Wednesday, instead of stuffing club coaches who for 12 months do everything to make a player an international."

Club president Duncan Leopold added to the club's frustrations following the IRFU's recent ruling that "English based Irish internationals will not be entitled to the same rewards as if they played for clubs like Garryowen or Lansdowne".

London Irish has provided a sizeable 41 out of the 830 internationals who have represented Ireland.

Said Leopold: "Players here will not be entitled to a salary. They will only get pay for playing and winning. Our club has been a great provider to Ireland, the IRFU should honour that."