Wally Morrissey, the treasurer of the Irish First Division Senior Rugby Clubs Association, has disputed claims that the association are considering taking strike action if the IRFU are not receptive to their request for financial compensation for contracted players withdrawn from AIL games.

While Morrissey, a representative of Cork Constitution, agreed the issue of recompense for clubs has overtaken the question of whether to start the AIB League in September or December, Morrissey maintained: "There's no question of the clubs going on strike if our requests are not met. That's not the view of the first division clubs and anyone who suggests otherwise is out of order."

Following the association's meeting last Wednesday, the group's chairman, Barry Bamber (who, like the association's secretary, John Cunningham, is currently abroad) wrote to the IRFU chief executive Philip Browne outlining their unanimous agreement that they be recompensed for losing contracted players from games.

Pointing out that it currently costs clubs "approximately £350,000-£400,000 per year to run", the letter proposes that "the union pays to each contracted player's club a sum equivalent to a percentage of that player's annual remuneration from his contract to take effect in this current season".

This proposal will be discussed at the next meeting between representatives of the IRFU and the first division clubs on January 24th.