Interpros are back, sort of

RUGBY: The Guinness Interprovincial series has been revived. Well, sort of. Though, then again, it hasn't.

In an exceptional bout of prevarication, the IRFU have indicated that interpros will take place, but not in competitive format, merely as friendlies when and if they are deemed necessary.

Confusion reigned even among the provinces yesterday, who gave utterly conflicting interpretations of a letter sent to them by the IRFU's director of rugby Eddie Wigglesworth last week.

Some thought that the interpros were not only back on, but that earlier Celtic League meetings had been retrospectively revised as interpros as well, while this came as news to others.

However, late yesterday afternoon, the union declared that "Interprovincial friendlies" will take place during the remainder of the season, stressing that "they are to be used as preparatory exercises", not as a championship or competitively. So, that clears that up then.

This, presumably, allows the union latitude to pencil in interpros where and when they deem fit, without being obliged to run off a set number of games.

By slipping them back into the calendar surreptitiously, the union might also be hoping they won't incur the wrath of the clubs, who will no doubt be thrilled to hear they'll now be without their provincial players for another two full rounds of the All-Ireland League in the New Year.

Clearly, the Irish management prefer the notion of their test players playing interpro friendlies rather than being idle for a fortnight or playing AIL games.

Nevertheless, the union's ambiguity about the interpros is puzzling given their friendly status will assuredly diminish their intensity and hence their value.

As they might also have generated more revenue and interest from the games by billing them as competitive matches, it also seems like a chance missed.

In any event, Connacht will host Leinster on Friday, January 3rd in a "Interprovincial friendly" the same day that Munster host Ulster in the Celtic League semi-finals at Thomond Park.

Further games will be played on Friday, January 24th and Friday, January 31st (in each case the day before a full round of AIL games), the fixtures depending on who wins the Celtic League semi-final.

If Ulster win, then the January 24th interpro friendlies will be Ulster v Leinster and Connacht v Munster, with Leinster hosting Munster on the 31st and Ulster contesting the Celtic League final against Cardiff or Neath on Saturday February 1st.

If Munster win, then the January 24th games will be Leinster v Munster and Ulster v Connacht, with Ulster at home to Leinster on the 31st and Munster playing Cardiff or Neath the next day in the Celtic League final.

There will then, apparently, be other "Interprovincial friendlies" slotted in at unspecified dates. Confused? Not half as much as the provinces themselves seemingly.

Connacht will be at home in the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against Pontypridd on the second weekend of January.

The date, time and venue of the match will be confirmed shortly, but with Welsh television station S4C indicating their desire to televise both legs live, it is likely that the ties will take place at 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, January 11th, and on January 18th at Sardis Road.

At present, Connacht's home ground at the Sportsground is being refurbished with construction work on a new stand taking place, and as a result the home leg will take place on one of the club grounds in the province.

Given the need for floodlights, this means a straight choice between Buccaneers' ground Ericsson Park in Athlone, or Corinthian Park in Galway, for the right to host the first European quarter-final to be staged by the province.

There are four English teams left in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup, with two from France and one each from Ireland and Wales.

QUARTER-FINAL DRAW (sides at home in first leg named first): Connacht v Pontypridd; Wasps v Stade Francais; Montauban v Bath; Saracens v Newcastle.

Meanwhile, with traditional holiday fixtures virtually a thing of the past, this is a relatively blank weekend for domestic rugby, although a round of AIB League first division matches takes place the following weekend during the festive period.

The Cork and Limerick Charity Cup semi-finals do go ahead this weekend, though Saturday's tie between Clonakilty and Waterpark is under a cloud pending an appeal by Cork Constitution over their removal from the competition and accompanying fine (which goes to charity) for not fulfilling their meeting with Waterpark in the previous round.