Celtic League: It's still pre-season in these parts but the Magners Celtic League gets under way in the Principality this weekend as the Welsh sides get some local derby matches out of the way so they can fill their coffers with the Anglo-Welsh Cup later in the year.
The cider company hosted media outlets from Ireland, Scotland and Wales yesterday at the Liberty Stadium - home of defending champions the Ospreys.
The sixth instalment of the Celtic League does not start for the Irish provinces until the weekend of September 21st but Leinster departed for Biarritz this morning and then on to Bath on Friday week before hosting Padova at the Belfield Bowl in UCD.
Malcolm O'Kelly is the only forward on World Cup duty. Granted, some of the best backs in world rugby are not available but this provides an opportunity for the next wave from the schools system to lay down a marker. This in particular applies to Robert Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald who are eyeing Denis Hickie's jersey.
More promising news for Leinster is the return of Leo Cullen, who takes up the joint vice-captain role with Chris Whitaker, and Shane Jennings from the Leicester Tigers. Retired props Reggie Corrigan and Will Green are replaced by Argentinian Juan Gomez and South African-born Stephen Knoop from Connacht, while former Springbok Ollie Le Roux will arrive after the Currie Cup.
Leinster had no management representative in Swansea yesterday as forwards coach Mike Brewer brought his wife's passport to the airport but Cullen was on hand to dismiss the obvious World Cup excuses. "I know there are seven or eight (missing) but there are plenty of talented players coming through so there are no excuses. A big thing is being made of the players after the World Cup like it's the end of the season but it's only the start. Ireland have four pool games and potentially three more after that. Seven games . . . they'll have down-time when they return but after that it is business as usual."
Having spent two years ensconced in the ultra-professional Leicester set-up, an obvious query for Cullen was to make comparisons since his return. "I think Cheiks (Leinster coach Michael Cheika) has brought a good work ethic to the place. A lot of the younger players have developed physically. A lot of credit goes to Brad Harrington who worked as fitness adviser with the academy and Dave Fagan more recently."
Munster's Barry Murphy also encountered a travel problems when unable to make the connection from Shannon to Dublin and on to Cardiff because of red tape. The centre made the photo-call via a later flight to Bristol.
After victory over the US Eagles in Chicago last week, Munster have two more run-outs, against Saracens and Viadana. The squad has been bolstered by Kieran Lewis and Niall Ronan arriving from Leinster, while Paul Warwick from Connacht and former Maori captain Rua Tipoki have added to the midfield options.
Connacht outhalf Andy Dunne is out for the start of the season after damaging his knee. The prognosis is a 10-week recovery period.
• Former Clontarf player Darragh McElligott is undertaking a rugby tour during the World Cup in France - on his bike. A 1,500km charity solo cycle passing through seven World Cup host cities, the Rugby Tour de France will comprise 16 days' cycling with only four rest days out of 20, at an average daily distance of under 100 kilometres. The cycle is in aid of the humanitarian aid agency, Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which has recently established an office in Dublin. Visit www.rugbytourdefrance.com for information on how to donate to this worthy cause.
