Changes to AIL a matter of urgency

FOLLOWING a meeting of the senior clubs in Leinster on Monday night, some radical suggestions are to be put to IRFU in relation to the structure of the season and revision of the All-Ireland League.

There is a also a strong view that, while the branch is supportive of the concept of an Exiles team, their presence in the Interprovincial Championship is too restrictive in relation to championship fixtures and, in any case, the Exiles team is not eligible to compete in European competition.

One of the problems about the Exiles' participation is that, because of the structure that will operate in England next season, they can only play their matches in the Interprovincial Championship over a four week period beginning on November 22nd and for the following three Saturdays. Obviously that imposes it own problems in relation to the season in Ireland especially with three of the provinces now competing in Europe. Furthermore, those European matches will, in future, be played on Saturdays and not midweek. The Leinster Branch does believe, however, that the Exiles should continue to play.

Immense dissatisfaction was expressed with the current structure of the AIL and also with the fragmentation of the League that operates this season with fixtures having ceased on October 21st and not being resumed until March 23rd. That has been totally unsatisfactory and "absolutely detrimental to the clubs in so many respects, not least financially. It is killing the clubs and causing immense and avoidable hardship in an area that is the bedrock of the game."

There was overwhelming support for the view that the League should be much more "compact" and that it should be played during the International Championship without any adverse effect on the preparation of the Ireland team. For instance instead of the national team having two-day sessions on the Saturdays and Sundays those sessions could take place on Sundays and Mondays, especially now that the Ireland players are being paid. It would mean that Saturdays would be free for AIL matches. Furthermore, the number of weekends involved would mean players missing only about five working days and there is ample compensation available to them for that.

The clubs have made it very clear they cannot continue under the present system and that its revision is a matter of urgency.

There was also immense support for the view that the relegation of two clubs from 11 is too many and the relegation of one would be a more prudent and a fairer system. Divisions one, two and four have 11 clubs each and division three 12. But the IRFU is being urged to look at the composition of the divisions. Clubs would like more league matches with the consensus view being that 12 matches should be the minimum, but not leagues based on a home and away premise.

With that in mind, the IRFU is being asked what they can do about a revision of the league and the possibility of having three divisions of 12 to 14 teams each. This will give the clubs involved more matches and other clubs would compete through branch competitions to qualify for the AIL.

It was also suggested that some clubs would, in fact, prefer to compete at branch level rather than in division four and that not all those who qualify from the junior leagues this season may be happy about competing in division four.

So some profound areas for debate and consideration. there and definitely some merit in the proposals.