THE president of the IRFU Dr Syd Millar will lay Ireland's position on the line in relation to the television rights for the Five Nations Championship at a meeting in London today of the television sub-committee of the Four Home Unions.
Millar made it implicitly clear yesterday that Ireland has no intention of accepting the offer submitted to the IRFU by Sky Sports a few weeks ago. Similar offers were made to Wales and Scotland and their attitude will be the same as that of the IRFU.
"We did not ask for nor had we any input into the offer made by Sky Television. We have absolutely no intention of accepting it," said Millard "There is a set procedure in relation to the renewal of rights for the Five Nations Championship and we fully intend to adhere to that procedure."
Millar stressed the importance of the meeting this evening and added: "It is a very important meeting and I sincerely hope progress can be made at it and that common sense will prevail. England must realise we are selling a championship and they are part of that and not a separate entity. That will be made clear to them yet again.
"Tender documents will be sent to the various television companies concerned and we work from there as a unit. There can be no separate negotiations by individual unions. This is what England must realise. The secretary of the English Union Tony Hallett seems to me to be revealing his inexperience in relation to procedure and commercial awareness relative to the championship."
The other countries in the championship have told England that if they persist in going it alone in negotiating their television contract, then they are putting their participation in the Five Nations Championship in jeopardy as and from the season after next. The current television deal for the championship expires at the end of next season.
England will be represented at the meeting today by John Jeavons Fellows, Scotland by Fred McLeod, Wales by Vernon Pugh and Ireland by Millar.
A problem has arisen over the proposed international between Ireland and Western Samoa scheduled for November 9th. The difficulty is that the Republic of Ireland soccer team is due to play a World Cup qualifying match the following day at Lansdowne Road. In those circumstances it would not be prudent to play a rugby match on the surface 24 hours before the World Cup encounter.
Attempts are being made to get an alternative date to fit into a crowded schedule. But it has now been confirmed that Ireland will play Italy at Lansdowne Road on January 4th. Negotiations for that match had been going on for some time.
The United States had also sought a fixture with Ireland next season, but it is not possible to accommodate that request. If the Western Samdan match goes ahead as hoped, and with Australia due to play Ireland on November 30th, the match against Italy will mean that Ireland will have three matches prior to the Five Nations Championship. Ireland manager Pat Whelan will welcome that kind of preparation for his side.
Queensland star Tim Horan will move to his favoured inside centre position from full back for Saturday's Super 12 semi-final against Natal in Brisbane, hoping to secure national selection. Horan returns to centre to replace long-time Wallaby midfield partner Jason Little, who broke his collar bone playing for Queensland against Transvaal in Johannesburg last Saturday.
