IRFU agrees to change schedule

The IRFU has agreed to a request from the managements of Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht to stage provincial matches on the weekend before the restart of the European Cup and Shield, writes John O'Sullivan.

The original fixture schedule decreed that the sixth round of the AIB club league would take place on January 6th, 2001. That has now been changed.

Instead Munster will host Leinster in Musgrave Park on Friday, January 5th - a kick-off time has yet to be decided - while Ulster will entertain Connacht at Ravenhill (7.30).

A consequence of the new arrangements is that the AIB League Division One programme scheduled for January 6th has been postponed. Divisions Two and Three will go ahead on the date in question.

The alternative dates, subject to European Cup commitments, for re-arranged leagues games are January 27th and April 28th. Agreement must be reached between the respective clubs as to the new date.

Leinster manager Ken Ging was pleased by the IRFU's decision. "I think it offers ideal preparation for all the provinces concerned and will certainly help towards preparing for the two remaining pool matches. It ensures that the first game that we have since the cup stopped will not be a crucial cup match."

As to the nature of the provincial clashes, Ging was adamant that they would carry the intensity of a real match. "Matt Williams has made it clear that he wants a `full-on' match and that he is not interested in three 20 minute periods."

Southern Hemisphere chiefs said yesterday that the international season should be reduced to six months to prevent burn-out.

The officials from the South African, New Zealand and Australian (SANZAR) unions agreed unanimously that limiting the international season to the Southern Hemisphere winter was crucial for the well-being of professional players. Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill said the northern summer was mild enough for the European Six Nations tournament to be played there in conjunction with the Southern Hemisphere seasons.

"The greatest danger to our game at present is the issue of player burn-out," O'Neill said.

Southern Hemisphere officials have disregarded calls by their northern counterparts to outlaw decoy runners. Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill said decoy runners had been a clever innovation that made Super 12s and Tri-Nations Rugby the most attractive in the world.

Australian star Jason Little is calling for rugby league style hooters at the end of English Premiership matches so that timekeeping is taken out of the referee's hands.

Centre Little, who now plays for Gloucester, has urged rugby chiefs to act after his side went down to Leicester in the fifth minute of injury time over the weekend.

Little feels independent timekeepers should be appointed to ensure fairness to both sides in such crucial games. "Timekeeping should be taken out of the referee's hands," said Little.