New format for All Ireland League

RUGBY NEWS:THE IRFU have announced the All Ireland League fixtures for the coming season. It marks the end of the trial format of eight teams in Division One A, with the top two clubs in Division Two B promoted automatically, while third place will face the bottom side in One A in a play-off, to enter a 10-team league for the 2011/12 season.

The top three teams in Division One A enter a semi-final play-off, where they will be joined by the One B champions.

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The qualification process for the new league structure at the end of the 2011/12 season includes: top two in Division One B promoted to Division One A (to give a 10-team league); play-off between bottom club in Division One A and third in Division One B; top four clubs in Division Two promoted to Division One B (to give a 10-team league); play-off between bottom club in Division One B and fifth in Division Two; top four clubs in Division Three promoted to new Division Two A; play-off between bottom club in Division Two and fifth in Division Three. No relegation from Division Three.

The new All Ireland structure will include a Division One consisting of two sections of 10 teams (known as One A and One B), each playing home and away. Promotion and relegation between One A and One B will see one automatic place and one decided by play-off.

The team which finishes top of their respective division will be deemed to be the divisional league champions, and the winners of Division One A will be deemed the All Ireland League Champions.

Division Two will consist of two sections of 16 teams (known as Two A and Two B), each playing 15 games. Promotion and relegation will be two automatic and one by play-off. Promotion and relegation between Division One B and Two A will be automatic two up and two down.

The present qualifying league structure will be maintained, including the promotion and relegation system to Two B.

Overall the new structure will see the number of senior clubs increase by four, to 52. Rolling substitutions will be introduced, and the number of foreign players per team will be reduced.

The Leinster Academy panel has been confirmed, with no players progressing directly from the schools game to full-time academy status. The seven players upgraded to the academy have all been capped by Ireland at under-20 level. They are: Noel Reid (outhalf), Darren Hudson (wing), Ben Marshall (secondrow), Jack O’Connell (prop), John Cooney (scrumhalf), Sam Coghlan Murray (wing) and Jordi Murphy (backrow).

LEINSTER ACADEMY PANEL 2010/11:Year one – N Reid, D Hudson, B Marshall, J O'Connell, J Cooney, S Coghlan Murray, J Murphy. Year two – D Ryan, M Keating, I Madigan, M Flanagan, C Ruddock, S Maguire. Year three – I McKinley, T Sexton, E Sheridan.