Madam, - I refer to a letter published in Thursday's edition from Mr Nick Heeney, headed "Decline in grassroots rugby".
The reality is that rugby in Ireland is growing but, as Mr Heeney suggests, we do have major issues to address in the heartland of Irish rugby, particularly in the clubs that have been the backbone of the sport for over 100 years.
The professional game has dominated rugby for the past eight years as everyone involved in the sport came to terms with the new dynamics. Ireland is performing exceptionally well within the professional game, both nationally and provincially, and this in turn is attracting many more supporters and participants to the game.
The number of adult rugby players, previously reported in The Irish Times, is indeed 15,700 and there are even larger numbers, more than 70,000 people, enjoying other grades of rugby such as tag, mini, schools and youth rugby.
The domestic game needs the professional game and vice versa, but right now we need to restructure and revitalise the domestic game to secure the continued welfare of rugby at all levels.
This is just one of the reasons why the IRFU, through its Strategic Planning Group, launched the first ever public consultation process on the future of rugby in July.
The IRFU will publish a strategic plan for rugby in early 2004 to drive the game forward up to and beyond the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
We are asking all stakeholders in the game of rugby to contribute to this process by reading the Strategic Planning Group's consultative document, "Taking Irish Rugby Forward" and then providing feedback either through their rugby clubs or individually.
Copies of the document and feedback forms can be obtained from the IRFU website www.irishrugby.ie, from IRFU headquarters or branch offices. There will also be a series of public meetings during September and October in each of the four provinces which members of the rugby public can attend.
Tickets for these meetings are available through the four provincial branch offices. - Yours, etc.,
PHILIP BROWNE,
Chief Executive,
Irish Rugby
Football Union,
62 Lansdowne Road,
Dublin 4.