Dolphin turn the tables with question of their own

All-Ireland League: The All-Ireland League player eligibility saga took another twist yesterday when Dolphin RFC sent a letter to the IRFU bringing into question the registration of a Young Munster player - Eoin Ryan.

Ryan played seven games for Nenagh Ormond this season, one in the AIL, before switching allegiance to Young Munster, where he was involved in 10 matches.

"It is our belief that Mr Ryan is not a properly and legally registered player with Young Munster RFC for the season 2005/2006. We believe he was not properly/lawfully released by Nenagh RFC," read the letter to disciplinary officer of the IRFU, Gordon Black.

This is a clear reaction to Young Munster's threat to take the IRFU to the High Court unless a tribunal is convened to investigate the registration of Andrew O'Driscoll by Dolphin.

The Presentation College Cork hooker was involved in two All-Ireland League squads for Dolphin - including

the victory over Bective Rangers on the final day of the season that saw them promoted to Division One at the expense of Young Munster.

While irregularities did crop up over the player's eligibility, Young Munster failed to object within the required time frame. Dolphin are now seeking a separate enquiry into Ryan's mid-season registration.

Meanwhile, Rob Henderson has clearly settled into Limerick life.

So much so that he will not depart the area, despite a distinguished playing career coming to a fitting finale in Cardiff last month. The former Ireland and Lions centre was announced yesterday as Garryowen's new director of rugby.

Henderson suffered an injury-disrupted final two seasons with Munster, which saw him line out for Garryowen on several occasions - although he did make an impact in the Heineken European Cup semi-final defeat of Leinster at Lansdowne Road last April.

The 33-year-old will be best remembered as the perfect foil for centre partner Brian O'Driscoll on the Lions Tour of Australia in 2001, when he started all three Tests.

He won the first of 29 international caps against Western Samoa in November 1996 and played 64 times for Munster after signing from London Wasps in 2001.

Ray Egan, Darragh O'Sullivan and Paul Hogan join Henderson in replacing the previous Garryowen coaching ticket of Paul Cunningham and Philip Danaher.