AIL gets new logo

The new sponsorship logo (right) for the All-Ireland League, which the IRFU wish to be known as the AIB League, was unveiled …

The new sponsorship logo (right) for the All-Ireland League, which the IRFU wish to be known as the AIB League, was unveiled at a reception in the sponsor's bank centre in Ballsbridge yesterday.

The new logo depicts a graphically-stylised rugby player clutching a ball under his arm. It also features on the new glossy, pocket handbook and fixture sheets which were unveiled yesterday. The league starts this Saturday with the re-arranged Old Wesley-Instonians game in Division Two, while the first full series of games starts on Saturday November 22nd.

The Irish Colleges had a highly successful work-out in advance of their match against the Irish Universities scheduled for next Wednesday. The final trial at Sydney Parade saw the A team prevail (51-27), with Shannon centre Andrew Thompson and Clontarf full-back Mark Woods among the scorers.

Irish Colleges Trial (Sydney Parade) - A team 51 (A Thompson try, 3 conversions; T Trainor 2 tries; D Dobson, S Smith, M Woods, C Mahoney, S Whelehan, J Noonan try each) B team 27 (M Woods try, conversion; P Dunne 2 tries; B McAree, J Cullinane try each).