Planet Rugby

The decision by the Leinster Branch to use neutral touch-judges for Leinster Schools Senior Cup matches at Donnybrook after the St Michael's victory over Clongowes on Monday would be welcomed if it didn't come with a faintly ridiculous rider.

Touch of the ridiculous

Despite the undertaking to use neutral touch-judges for Donnybrook games instead of the old practice of nominated representatives from the competing schools, the Leinster Branch has seen fit to tell the touch-judges they cannot flag on any plays, other than fulfilling the duty of deciding when a ball has crossed the touchline and which way the throw goes.

In essence they have no more powers than the schools' representatives and are therefore of no greater use to the referee. They should be given full powers and thereby help the man in the middle officiate.

It is reasonable to assume the three officials will be wired up for the quarter-finals this week.

Meanwhile, yellow cards have been introduced for schools matches but instead of 10 minutes, a player will be sin-binned for seven.

Hottest ticket in town

There is no doubt about it but the Six Nations is one of the must-see sporting events of the year. A prominent London hospitality company offers match tickets for all the games, whether it is seat, terrace or corporate hospitality. And what's the most expensive game in town this season? Ireland v England at Lansdowne Road. Tickets for Ireland's clash with Scotland at Murrayfield next Saturday can be purchased for £175 and £125 respectively. The premier tickets for England's clash with France at Twickenham next Sunday start at £425 while the cheapest from this particular hospitality company can be bought for £275. But these prices are a mere bagatelle compared to the cost of buying a stand ticket for England's trip to Lansdowne Road at the end of the month.

The top-priced stand ticket for that match is £525 while a category two ticket as they are classified - all it guarantees is a seat - is on offer for £475. To get a terrace ticket for that Sunday match will cost £295 while hospitality packages start at £795.

Mind you if you fancy that Ireland are going to win the Grand Slam this year than you should probably get on line and purchase tickets for Ireland's game against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on March 19th. They are available from this company at £175 and £125 respectively.

Williams points to McDowell

The bookmakers don't often get it wrong but they came close in forecasting a comprehensive French victory at Stade de France on Saturday. The Scots came within a whisker of turning the formbook on its head. France were 1 to 100 to win the match with the Scots on offer at 14 to 1.The handicap match bet at odds of 10 to 11 was Scotland (+25 points). A comfortable afternoon for those who decided to back Scotland with the handicap.

Irish touch-judge Simon McDowell felt the rough edge of Scotland coach Matt Williams' tongue. On Saturday he flagged Scotland number eight Allister Hogg for a foot in touch prior to the player scoring what might have been a match-winning try. Unfortunately television replays didn't provide conclusive evidence one way or another. Williams was irate, listing off two other occasions on which he considered that McDowell's decisions had gone against the Scots; in the games against Australia and Italy during last season's Six Nations.

Engineering scrum success

Engineers at the University of Limerick, in conjunction with the IRFU, have developed a prototype rugby scrummaging machine as part of ongoing research aimed at enhancing the scrummaging techniques of Ireland's national rugby players.

Dr Liam Hennessy, the IRFU director of fitness, is now working with Patrick O'Donnell, senior experimental officer at UL, and the UL Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering to commission the machine, which is large enough to recreate actual playing conditions, but moveable and flexible enough to allow for concentrated training to improve players' competencies in this area.

"The prototype, which is the only one of its type in the country, is currently undergoing trials with members of the Irish and Munster panels in both outdoor and indoor training. Conventional scrummaging machines can't be used indoors," said Patrick O'Donnell.

"The machine has a wheel and axle-based mobility system for movement in different directions,thus resembling the conditions of the actual scrum."

This machine was designed with a low centre of gravity, allowing the scrummage pads to be mounted lower with adjustable neck pads giving it greater potential for further development.

The IRFU is also collaborating with the National Coaching & Training Centre in UL on a major research project to develop enhanced methods of training for elite rugby players using a sledge apparatus which was also designed in conjunction with the Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering department.

Laudable Leprechauns

The Limerick Leprechauns played a Clanwilliam XV yesterday in Tipperary town, with the proceeds going to local Tipperary charities and the Leprechaun Land Playground for the children of St Vincent's School, Lisnagry. Leprechaun Land is the Limerick Leprechauns' chosen charity for the 2004/2005 season.

Leprechauns president Vinny Ryan admitted: "We are getting ever closer to raising the substantial finance needed to help out the children of St Vincent's, which will hopefully enrich their lives."

Ireland face tough autumn Tests

Ireland are set for a tough autumn schedule this year with games against New Zealand and Australia on successive weekends in November. They will finish a three-match programme against Romania.

Autumn schedule: November 12th/13th v New Zealand; November 19th/20th v Australia; November 26th/27th v Romania

Rugby speak

"Every time we come here it seems that it's Wales best ever chance of winning."

- England coach Andy Robinson wearies of the pre-match build-up ahead of last Saturday night's game against Wales at the Millennium stadium.

"They didn't deserve to be robbed blind."

- Scotland coach Matt Williams after his side's narrow defeat to France at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Williams was outraged by some of the officiating and with good cause in a couple of cases.