Cunningham to join Bective

FORMER Ireland and Lions centre Vincent Cunningham, who has played all his rugby with St Mary's College, is moving to Bective Rangers next season. So, too, are St Mary's wing Tony Gillen and the Old Wesley scrum half Des Jackson. And another St Mary's international Nicky Barry looks set to join Clontarf.

With June 1st the registration date for players to be eligible for next season, the movement of players is likely to gain momentum within the next week.

St Mary's international number eight Victor Costello has been a target for several English clubs including London Irish. St Mary's A international second row Malcolm O'Kelly is another player who has interested English clubs.

London Irish now looks likely to be the base of Ireland second row Gabriel Fulcher. Fulcher played the last six weeks of the season with London Irish, but at that stage had not committed himself to joining the club next term.

Bective Rangers will also have a new coach next season Harry Williams, the former Ulster and Ireland A team coach. Williams was a candidate for the Ireland coaching position before Murray Kidd was appointed last October. Williams succeeds Noel McQuilkin, who has moved to Greystones.

Cunningham (29) has been capped 16 times for Ireland and toured New Zealand with the Lions in 1993 when called out as a replacement. He sustained a severe knee injury in 1994 which kept him out of the game for almost a year. But he regained his place on the Leinster side last season and played for Ireland in the Hong Kong sevens tournament. His decision to move to Bective comes after international centre Kurt McQuilkin left the club for Lansdowne.

Barry, who joined St Mary's four years ago from Garryowen, won one cap when he came on as a replacement against Namibia in 1991. Barry will link up with another former St Mary's player at Clontarf, New Zealander Brent Pope, who is player coach at Castle Avenue.

Jackson has played all his career with Old Wesley and has been the club's leading try scorer. Equally adept at serum half or on the wing, Jackson has been capped on the wing by Leinster.