Liberal chairman

Planet Rugby: Courtesy of the Marty Morrissey's regular column Ballhop in the Clare People, we now know how the former Ireland fullback Conor O'Shea got his job as Director of Rugby with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

O'Shea recalls going for the interview and talking to a three-man interview panel. When the formalities, from the board's point of view, concluded, O'Shea was asked by the chairman if he had any questions. To the point, O'Shea said he guessed because he was Irish he had absolutely no chance of getting the job.

The reply was swift and succinct, according the RTÉ commentator.

"Look, mate, I'm Australian and gay. You being Irish is not a problem," replied the chairman. As we know, O'Shea got the job.

No streakers, please

If you ever arrive to an international at Lansdowne Road through the gate at the back of the West Stand, you will occasionally see dozens of people standing around waiting to be given their yellow jackets through a sliding window in one of the Portakabin in the car park. Some of these unsung stalwarts are now to be formally recognised.

The stewards who turn out for big matches in the main rugby, soccer and GAA grounds around Ireland will be honoured today when An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, presents certificates to the first "sports stadium stewards" to have qualified under a new scheme set up by the GAA, the FAI and the IRFU.

The presentation to the 26 recipients will take place in Croke Park at 1:30pm in the Ash Restaurant, Cusack Stand.

We're not sure if tackling streakers is part of the training curriculum.

Staunton on target

Wasps and Leicester served up a niggling match in the Powergen Cup over the weekend. Surely that was not because of the number of Irish players taking part in the game.

The former Munster outhalf Jeremy Staunton played in the number 10 shirt for Wasps and was partnered by Eoin Reddan at scrumhalf until Matt Dawson came on in the second half. Johnny O'Connor, currently out of favour with Eddie O'Sullivan, also started, in the back row, before being replaced after an hour.

For Leicester, Geordan Murphy played brilliantly on the wing, as he usually does, while the former Leinster and Blackrock secondrow Leo Cullen came on for the last 10 minutes of the game.

Alas for Cullen, Murphy and Shane Jennings, who came on for Leicester in time to front up to O'Connor, it was to no avail as Staunton, with a conversion and five penalties, kicked Wasps to a 22-17 victory and set up a cup final with Llanelli Scarlets, who beat Bath 27-26 in the other semi-final.

Quote of the week

"Some people said to us, 'You're doing the wrong thing putting him (Rob Kearney) in the Leinster team so early.' But he's 19 and people like Joe Roff and Tim Horan were in the Australian team at 18. I can't understand it. People can die for their country at 16 but over here, they're not old enough to play international rugby at 19."

- David Knox, the blue-sky-thinking backs coach with Michael Cheika and Leinster.

Carlow ducks persist

Poor Carlow. The big double bagel still stares them in the face these days. Looking at the AIL table, Carlow remain rooted to the bottom of division one with 0 won and 0 drawn from 14 played. The Oakpark side seriously looked like snatching their first win when they led 15-6 in the first half against Blackrock. They were still ahead until the 69th minute, when Ken Copeland snatched a try for 15-18.

Calvisano pay price

The ERC don't tend to mess around with those they feel are trying to mess up their competition. Rugby Calvisano, who appeared before an independent disciplinary committee in Dublin last week, are now 22,500 worse off because of their carelessness.

Calvisano were asked to answer two complaints of misconduct brought against them by ERC relating to the twice-postponed Round 5 Heineken Cup Pool 2 match between them and Leeds Tykes at Centro Sportivo, initially scheduled for Saturday, January 14th, 2006. The club were charged with failure to prepare a suitable venue for the match and refusal to fulfil a rescheduled fixture when directed by ERC.

In relation to the first charge, Rugby Calvisano were fined €10,000 and will also have to pay compensation to Leeds Tykes of 7,500, and in relation to the second charge they were fined 5,000.