Is it a break for the best?

We have had four great weekends of Heineken Cup rugby, but must now wait until January for the completion of the pools. That is the way it has got to be to accommodate internationals over the coming weeks and the domestic competitions of the countries.

There was also a break last season after four matches in the pools, but of shorter duration. But then the European Cup did not start until November because of the World Cup.

Irrespective of the break until January, we can look forward with eager anticipation to the resumption in January, and Munster and Leinster go into the break at the top of their pools. Unfortunately, the last-minute defeat by Toulouse last Friday night could prove very costly for Ulster.

The request at the weekend to have the final series of matches in the Interprovincial Championship tonight postponed and deferred to the weekend of January 5th-7th and played as warm-up matches for the resumption of the Heineken Cup, came from Leinster.

While one does not doubt the merit of the motivation behind Leinster's request, the reality is that it came far too late and was not supported by the other provinces.

All the arrangements were in place for the matches tonight, and to mention just a few of the elements that had to be taken into consideration were the championship sponsors and television coverage. There was another element, too: the AIB League programme that weekend.

The clubs had been notified of the league weekends when their contracted players would not be available because of representative demands. That weekend of January 5th-7th was one of those when they would have their players available.

But that in itself was not an insurmountable problem, nor is it now. If matches are arranged by the provinces, I gather no obstacle will be put in their way. But arranging meaningful matches will not be easy. Who can the provinces play?

All the clubs across the sea apparently have domestic commitments. If something is arranged, the AIB clubs involved who would have two players ruled out by the representative commitments could, in the circumstances, invoke the two-player rule - as assuredly they would - and get postponements.

The league is the primary domestic competition and is of considerable importance, financially and in so many other respects to the clubs and the game in this country.

In examining this whole area and what has taken place this week, the very late request for deferment must be seen against the circumstances in which the final series of interprovincials were arranged for tonight.

It is not as if the dates were suddenly imposed on the provinces. IRFU officials met the four provincial coaches three months ago and asked if they wanted the dates for the final series of matches in the interprovincials changed.

Obviously, the possibility that Irish provinces would still be in contention for places at the knock-out stages after four pool matches in the cup prompted the question to the coaches. In all instances, the answer was that they were happy with the position as it stood and expressed no desire for a change.

Not alone that, all four coaches later received letters from the IRFU early in September on the issue, asking for their observations and suggestions yet again. Only one replied, Declan Kidney.

He did not want a deferment of the matches scheduled for tonight, but did express the view that it would be beneficial, if the provinces were still in contention for the knockout stages of the cup, that warm-up matches of some sort might be arranged.

Over the next few weeks the focus will be very much on the international scene. It is absolutely true that internationals outside what is now the Six Nations Championship are no longer the novelty they were in the not so distant past.

In those days, visits from the likes of New Zealand could take place every eight to 10 years, with the odd exception to celebrate such things as a union centenary. While internationals are always an enticing prospect, the argument that we now have too many of them has substance.

Professionalism has brought a big increase in the number of internationals and money is a key element in that. Professionalism has imposed its own financial demands on unions. For instance, two extra internationals in addition to the Six Nations Championship games are needed here each season to help balance the books.

A look at last season's expenditure by the IRFU illustrates the point. The total expenditure was £19.3 million. There was an income of £3.6 million from the World Cup. But for that, there would have been an operating deficit of a considerable proportion, as the income apart from the World Cup was £17.8 million.

However, had the World Cup not taken place we would have had two internationals pre-Christmas, as we do this year. Last season, the costs of playing, coaching and payments to players was over £9 million.

There is every indication that this season it will be considerably more. It is money that must be spent. But it must also be earned.