In a league of its own

It is almost encouraging to note that daft seasonal structures are not confined to Ireland. The English League Division One, sponsored by Allied Dunbar, kicks off in England on Saturday, breaks up after just two weeks, resumes after the European Cup's group phase and then again after the knock-out stages - eventually concluding after the Five Nations 39 weeks later. Alas, there any similarities with the All-Ireland League (AIL) ends. Whereas the myopia of Irish clubs prevents the AIL from cutting its cloth to suit its measure, the English League continues to shop haute couture - and in some cases can even afford to.

Granted, there is more of a settled feel to the English club scene after the scatter-gun approach to the first year of professionalism. But the emergence of the nouveau riche Richmond and Newcastle further substantiates the claim by the latter's director of rugby, Rob Andrew, that the English League is "the best club league in the world".

Backed by the respective millions of Sir John Hall and Ashley Levett, Newcastle and Richmond should certainly up the ante in place of the demoted West Hartlepool and Orrell. This is not good news for London Irish.

True, things look a mite more stable at the usually volatile expatriate Irish club, what with the new consortium headed by former Ballygowan founder Geoff Read and the club's successful subscription offer. Accordingly, £5 million has been injected into the playing pool, increasing the playing budget to almost £2 million.

Unfortunately, Read's consortium is only just in the process of finalising its takeover. Admittedly, everyone - including the prized asset of Jeremy Davidson - has been signed again, but the anticipated signings from New Zealand and elsewhere still look badly needed.

An immediate measure of the challenge facing Willie Anderson and his players comes on Saturday with the first of their 22 league games, at Richmond, who have brought their Welsh contingent to seven with the arrival of hooker Barry Williams and tight-head John Davies.

Most clubs have been active in the transfer market. The arrival of Ieuan Evans, Phillippe SaintAndre, Massimo Cuttitta and Waisele Serevi underline the League's polyglot appearance, though there hasn't been soccer's influx of foreign names nearing the end of their careers.

Instead there has been a greater concentration of financing improved internal structures, with plenty of new administrative appointments. The most intriguing signing of all could be Bath's backroom man Jim Blair, a Scottish-born emigrant to New Zealand 35 years ago who was fitness adviser to the All Blacks and Auckland. "The man is a genius - I cannot speak highly enough of him," enthuses Bath captain Andy Nicol, of a man who has also coached New Zealand's America's Cup yachting team and Olympic hockey squad.

"The way we want to play you need supreme fitness levels, and Jim is helping us hit heights in training that none of us ever thought possible," Nicol adds.

In 295 matches with Auckland, they lost just six games. Zinzan Brooke and the players insisted he accept the Super 12 trophy on their behalf after they beat the ACT Brumbies in this year's final. With fitness expertise still being tailored to the professional game, Blair could be the best signing of all.