Rugby Digest SIX NATIONS:Although a sizeable travelling Irish contingent are presumed to have helped swell Saturday's Six Nations game in Murrayfield to a 67,500 capacity, it will apparently be nothing compared to the proportion of the Green Army expected in Rome's Stadio Flaminio on Saturday week, writes Gerry Thornley.
Due to a mix-up by the Italian Federation in their procedures for selling tickets for their Six Nations finale against Ireland, the home organisers fear there could be as many as 17,000 Irish supporters in the Stadio Flaminio. Given the capacity is less than 25,000, this would limit the Azzurri's fan base to around 7,000, effectively making the atmosphere akin to a home match for Ireland.
In addition to the 7,000 tickets the Italian Federation sold to the Italian clubs, they also allotted their customary 5,500 to the IRFU. Their problems were in the manner they sold the remainder, having announced initially in December and confirmed subsequently that these 12,000 tickets were to go on sale February 8th on line.
In reality, however, it appears these tickets went on sale from February 5th and, as with Saturday's game at home to Wales, were snaffled in double-quick time. Following their historic first away championship win in Scotland, this has led to huge disappointment among Italian fans who cannot obtain tickets which are now selling at four or five times their face value.
The Italian Federation have said they are a victim of the mix-up and have vowed to change their ticketing procedures.
• UNDER-20:Ireland coach Eric Elwood has made one change in personnel and a positional switch from the side that beat England 13-6 for tomorrow night's match against Scotland at Falkirk Stadium (7.30).
Greystones and Leinster Academy number eight Seán O'Brien suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury during the England game. Ireland captain David Pollack switches from openside flanker to the middle of the backrow with Kevin Sheahan named at number seven.
Tommy O'Donnell, who came on against England to replace O'Brien, is also ruled out due to a thumb injury and so Shannon's Eoghan Grace comes into the replacements. Ireland will be hoping to complete the fourth leg of a potential Grand Slam, having already beaten Wales, France and England.
• ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP:Jeremy Staunton of Wasps will join London Irish at the end of the season. The outhalf, who joined Wasps from NEC Harlequins at the start of 2005-6, has made 33 appearances for the club, including a starting role in the Powergen Cup final win at Twickenham last April.
He has signed a two-year contract with the Exiles. Staunton, capped four times by Ireland, has amassed 121 points for Wasps in his time at Adams Park.
• SCHOOLS RUGBY:Tickets for the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final between St Michael's College and Clongowes Wood College at Donnybrook on March 18th were snapped up within hours of going on sale yesterday morning. The game is a sell-out with a crowd of just under 7,000 expected.
• CELTIC LEAGUE:Connacht have confirmed that Longford-born former Ireland A centre Mel Deane (32), is to leave Harlequins for the Irish province. He joins Gavin Duffy and Johnny O'Connor in returning to the west of Ireland.
Deane has signed a two-year deal.
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