Leinster's future begins to look more promising

At times during a troubled first half to their season Leinster's future on and off the pitch was shrouded in some doubt. However, they can now look forward with a degree of certainty to the 2000-2001 season with the news that the Mike RuddockMatt Williams coaching ticket is likely to be renewed and that the province will be competing in next season's European Cup after all.

The arrival of Williams, the former New South Wales coach, in mid-season contributed to a much improved finale to Leinster's European Cup campaign which culminated in victories over Stade Francais at home and Leicester away. Although Ruddock's three-year contract expires in June the Welsh-born coach and Leinster Branch officials have agreed in principle to a renewal of his contract.

"We're hoping that we can put that in place," admitted John Hussey, the chairman of Leinster's Team Management Committee.

Although Williams has since returned to Sydney, Hussey added that he was also hopeful that the Australian would again assist Ruddock next season "in some form or other". Although Williams has coaching obligations in Sydney, it was Hussey's understanding that this would not prevent him from successfully juggling the two.

Furthermore, European Rugby Cup officials have confirmed that Leinster will be competing in next season's competition. Last Friday's decision by the ERC board to continue with the 24team format, as opposed to the reduced 20-team format which had originally been agreed, had come with the rider that Ireland would only be entitled to two automatic qualifying places (with France and England having five each, Wales four, and the Scots and Italians two each).

The remaining four places would be granted to the countries who had performed best in this year's event, but with a maximum of only one additional place to each of the competing unions. The French, English and Welsh are all guaranteed additional places given the quarter-final draw has assured each of them a semi-finalist.

As the annual round of contractual talks resumes, several internationally contracted players are anxiously weighing up their options pending what offers might ultimately be offered to them.

The vast majority of international and provincial contracts, except for about three or four of the former, are due to expire this June. The IRFU have asked that the four provinces put forth a provisional list of roughly 24 full-timers and additional part-time contracted players, but with nothing likely to happen regarding the renewal of international contracts until the conclusion of the Six Nations Championship next month at the earliest, many players see this as a premature move.

Several players currently on international contracts, but perhaps not in the senior squad, might be reluctant to commit themselves to a province if they discover in a few months' time that this comes with a reduction in status to a provincial contract. This would entail an approximate reduction in earnings from a minimum of £50,000 per annum plus car and bonuses, to roughly £25,000 without a car.

Philip Browne, the IRFU's chief executive who has taken over from the Union's president Billy Lavery as chairman of the contracts committee, accepts that ideally the international and provincial contracts should run parallel, but points out that at the moment this would create a couple of logistical difficulties.

"Firstly, we have to give the international management team every opportunity to evaluate all the players and realistically this has to take in the championship in its entirety up to April. Secondly, the provincial set-up needs to continue so we have to progress with that. We can't hold the whole thing up but at the end of the day I think there will be a twin-track approach."