THE domestic rugby season now looks set to run into the third week of May as a consequence of the three Insurance Corporation All Ireland League matches that had to be postponed last Saturday because clubs involved had players in the Ireland squad that competed in the Hong Kong seven a side tournament.

The three matches have now been refixed for Saturday April 27th. They are the first division ties between Garryowen and Young Munster and St Mary's and Cork Constitution and the second division encounter between Wanderers and Malone.

The weekend of April 27th-28th had been set aside for provincial cup quarter final ties and the six clubs are in the quarter finals of their respective provincial cups. As a result of the decision to play the league matches on April 27th it means that the cup ties involving those clubs will have to be deferred to the following weekend. Consequently the branches have been given authority to extend the season to May 18th, the new likely date for the provincial cup finals in Munster, Leinster and Ulster, unless clubs are prepared to play cup quarter finals in mid week and that extremely unlikely, certainly Munster.

The season had already been extended to May 11th, now a further week's extension is necessary. None of the clubs involved in the postponed league matches wanted play the league ties in midweek, was there any enthusiasm to play cup ties in midweek. Garryowen, St Mary's College and Cork Constitution are still in contention for the league title.

Shannon, the first division leaders, will complete their league programme on April 13th. They had not been due to play in the league on April 20th. So, if they win their two remaining matches, against Old Belvedere next Saturday and Instonians on Saturday week, they may have to wait to see if they retain their title, depending on the results of the other contenders. Shannon have lost two matches as have Cork Constitution, while Garryowen and St Mary's have both lost one. But it must be borne in mind that Garryowen play St Mary's on April 20th.

Shannon may see the current posit ion as being something of a disadvantage but as they are not scheduled to play on April 20th in any case, they would still have to wait on the outcome of the matches on that date and the current position is unavoidable.