IRELAND international number eight Victor Costello looks set to return to the colours of the St Mary's College club within the next few days, and could, in fact, play for the club at the weekend.

Costello, who left St Mary's to join London Irish at the start of the season and signed what was believed to be a lucrative contract, is parting company with the club. The decision to cancel his contract is believed to be by mutual agreement. He has failed to reproduce the form he showed with St Mary's last season.

Costello, who is with the Irish squad in Limerick, said last night: "I am not really in a position Just at the moment to make any definite comment on the situation. There are some things which have to be finalised."

He earned his first cap last season, but the decline in his form has been such that, although a contracted Ireland squad player, he is not even on the bench for the Ireland A team against France next Friday.

By rejoining St Mary's, Costello will be linking up again with coach Ciaran Fitzgerald, whose influence had so profound and beneficial an effect on Costello's play last season.

His return to St Mary's also comes at a most opportune time for the club, who are currently leading the first division in the All Ireland League. Their first choice number eight, Frank Fitzgerald, will be out of the game for several weeks after sustaining a bad injury just before Christmas.