Whelan, Ashton to pick tour squad

THE Ireland squad to tour New Zealand and Western Samoa will be chosen by Ireland manager Pat Whelan and coach Brian Ashton and announced on Friday. This decision follows meetings last week of the election sub committee of the union, the body responsible for choosing the selectors, and of the officers of the union. With the side due to travel next month, it is imperative that the squad be named this week.

The third man to join Whelan and Ashton on the team management committee has not yet been put in place and will not be finalised in time for him to join in the selection process for the tour. The election sub committee will, however, meet again this week to discuss the appointment.

The election sub committee of Eddie Coleman, chairman, Noel Murphy and Syd Millar, met Whelan and Ashton last Thursday. The recommendation that the squad be picked by Whelan and Ashton was agreed by the officers of the union when they met at the weekend.

The decision to opt for a three man selection set up was taken by the union six weeks ago, when it was subsequently announced that Ashton had been given a six year term. In those circumstances it was, understandably, deemed advisable that the touring squad be selected under the new order rather than by the outgoing selection committee.

Because the tour is classified as Development A, several senior squad members were not asked about availability, for example Nick Popplewell, Denis McBride Maurice Field, Mick Galwey and Jim Staples.

But the squad will contain a fair leavening of experience, with matches against the New Zealand Maoris and Western Samoa on the schedule. I gather, too, that Staples may yet be approached.

But some players have already informed the IRFU that they are unavailable. These include Killian Keane, James Topping and Daryl O'Grady, the Sale back row forward, who has played for the Exiles. Prop Paul Flavin has a damaged shoulder.

Last week some additional players were asked about their availability. These include: David Coleman, the Terenure College and Leinster wing and the leading try scorer in the first division of the AIL number eight Mark Egan, just returned from Japan and playing for Terenure College who has represented Ireland at under 25 level; Shannon's excellent young centre Alan McGrath the Ballymena and Ulster hooker Stephen Ritchie; Blackrock College scrum half Nicky Assaf and the Ballymena and Ulster back row Dean Macartney.

Meanwhile, the structure of the IRFU is undergoing minute examination by a sub committee under the chairmanship of Syd Millar. The committee has already reported to the officers of the union and the report will be presented to the full union committee at their next meeting.

Nor is there any doubt that the All Ireland League structure also needs examination and amendment. The league is of crucial importance to the game here, but if it is to fulfil its best purpose then amendment is needed. The clubs must recognise this in their own interests as well as the best interests of the gage.

I believe this has been evident for quite some time, and, as was pointed out here last October, the clubs should be given financial inducement through prize money.

The divisional structure should be altered. It is ludicrous to have 14 clubs in the first division. There are 12 in the first division in England and now, with infinite wisdom, the Welsh are reducing their first division to eight clubs. Ireland should do the same, even if it means a tiered structure in the first or premier division.

Furthermore, there is a valid argument for the provision of a play off system. The clubs voted some months ago to keep the current structure in place next season. I believed then that was a bad decision, and the arguments against it are even more valid now. There is quite a lot the clubs could do to help themselves that they do not do.

There is no use clubs voting down worthy proposals and then seeking refuge for their problems in blaming the legislators.