Talented squads selected

Munster and Ulster have named accomplished squads for the opening match in the new-style Interprovincial Championship at Belfield tomorrow.

The sides include 18 players who have been capped at senior international level as national coach John Clarke begins the comprehensive process of finding the best equipped panel for the European Championship qualifying tournament in Dublin next July. Leinster, the title-holders, will have equally strong claims when they enter the fray, travelling to Cork and Lisburn, before the series culminates in a round-robin competition in Dublin in February.

In addition to the established senior figures, there will be the opportunity for younger players to continue making an impression, not least members of the Ireland under-21 Junior World Cup party.

Munster coach Stephen Jackson has called up five of them - Mark Ruddle, Karl Burns, John Hobbs, John Jermyn and David Eakins - while David Hobbs would also have been selected, but for injury.

The Munster squad, captained by Alistair Dunne, is unique in that it is made up entirely of Cork C of I and Harlequins players - the only outsider is team manager Jonathan Fletcher of Waterford - so their rhythm should be a considerable factor.

Lisnagarvey continue to provide the bulk of the Ulster side which looks particularly strong in attacking ability, notably through Mark Raphael and Julian Stevenson. The defence, though, may take time to settle, requiring the captain Errol Lutton to be especially vigilant.

ULSTER: K Thompson(Banbridge), K Lunn (Lisnagarvey); A Barbour (Cookstown), P Bland (Annadale), B Waring (Lisnagarvey), C Clarke (Lisnagarvey), G Cuddy (Cookstown), M Irwin (Instonians), C Jackson (Annadale), J Lewis (Instonians), E Lutton (Lisnagarvey) capt, M Raphael (Lisnagarvey), D Smyth (Annadale), J Stevenson (Lisnagarvey), L Tumilty (Lisnagarvey), M Tumilty (Lisnagarvey). Coach: P McCabe; assistant coach: T Gregg; manager: M Graham.

MUNSTER: W Bateman (Cork Harlequins), M Ruddle (Cork C of I); J Ahern (Harlequins), J Black (Harlequins), M Black (C of I), K Burns (C of I), N Buttimer (C of I), A Chambers (C of I), A Dunne (C of I) capt, D Eakins (Harlequins), E Gash (Harlequins), D Hales (C of I), C Hanna (C of I), J Hobbs (Harlequins), J Jermyn (C of I), P Lombard (Harlequins). Coach: S Jackson; manager: J Fletcher.