Rugby in Brief

There are suggestions that South African coach Rudolf Straeuli could try to lure former Springbok international and current Ulster prop Robbie Kempson back home by guaranteeing him a place in the national squad.

The player has been outstanding for the Irish province this season and if Straeuli was looking to persuade him to return home he would have to buy Kempson out of the second year of his Ulster contract.

• Ireland will play Italy in the opening match in the IRB/FIRA under-19 World Cup to be staged from April 10th-19th in France. If Ireland win that game they'll face the winners of the New Zealand-Namibia clash. The baby All Blacks are the two-time defending champions.
• Munster and Ireland duo David Wallace and Rob Henderson look set to return to competitive rugby for their clubs at the weekend following long-standing injuries.

Wallace has been out since undergoing a shoulder operation during the summer but could play some part in Garryowen's All-Ireland League Division One match against Belfast Harlequins at Dooradoyle.

Henderson could play for Young Munster in their Division Two game against Greystones at Clifford Park. Those who played on the Munster team last weekend have been ruled out of club fare this weekend and the same is likely to be the case for Leinster players.

• One man who won't be doing any scouting this weekend is Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan who is on a fact-finding mission in Australia, home of this year's World Cup.
• A group of Welsh cheerleaders have been told to keep off the pitch at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for the Celtic League final in February.

Neath RFC, who call themselves the "Welsh All Blacks", could struggle to perform without their Black Angel cheerleaders when they face Munster, the teenagers' leader Jackie Morris said.

Morris said the Welsh Rugby Union told her on behalf of the 72,500-capacity Cardiff stadium that the girls would have to stay on the sidelines.

"They said they won't be able to dance because they may damage the pitch," Morris said.

"If it can't withhold 15 young girls . . . dancing on it for 10 minutes, what is going to happen when 30 burly rugby players are playing on it for 80 minutes?"

The stadium's demands conflicted with the tartan-clad Angels' usual routine where they dance to the Will

Smith hit Men in Black before matches and strut their stuff again at half-time. Morris said that the fans loved the girls and even Munster had said they wanted them to perform at the final.

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE FIXTURES

SATURDAY

Division One (2.30): Ballymena v Shannon, Eaton Park; Blackrock v Lansdowne, Stradbrook; Buccaneers v St Mary's, Moher Road; Carlow v Dungannon, Oak Park; Garryowen v Belfast Harlequins, Dooradoyle; Terenure v Galwegians, Lakelands; UCD v Cork Constitution, Belfield; UL Bohemian v Clontarf, Thomond Park.

Division Two (2.30): Ballynahinch v Midleton, Ballymacarn Park; Bective Rangers v Barnhall, Donnybrook; Dolphin v Dublin University, Musgrave Park; Malone v Old Crescent, Gibson Park; Richmond v Portadown, Richmond Park; UCC v Sunday's Well, Mardyke; Young Munster v Greystones.

Division Three (2.30): Ballina v Banbridge, Heffernan Park; City of Derry v QUB, Judges Road; Clonakilty v Corinthians, Shannonvale; Highfield v Old Wesley, Woodleigh Park; Instonians v Skerries, Shaws Bridge; Naas v Connemara, Forenaughts; Suttonians v Monkstown, JJ McDowell Memorial Grounds; Wanderers v Waterpark.