THE IRFU has welcomed yesterday's decision by An Bord Pleanala to grant planning permission for the controversial casino development at Phoenix Park, which includes proposals for a sports stadium.
The IRFU had said in January that, if the stadium were erected, they hoped to play internationals there, including the matches allocated to Ireland for the 1999 World Cup.
Last night the president of the IRFU, Dr Syd Millar, said, this point it looks as if the project, at the Phoenix Park will go ahead and if so, we would be pleased."
Lansdowne Road badly needs to be modernised and enlarged, and" the IRFU had explored every option to redevelop what is the oldest international ground in the world. But because of its location, that is, not possible. In fact, to bring it into line with modern needs, the capacity would be considerably reduced were it converted into an all seater stadium.
In its January statement, the IRFU said: "Having considered various options in relation to future stadium requirements, the IRFU has decided that the proposed Phoenix Park development represents the best opportunity of meeting the demands for a modern international rugby stadium."
Meanwhile, as promised by the president, the IRFU will meet representatives of all the Irish senior clubs yet again. It will be the third such meeting. Arrangements are being put in place for the meeting to take place at Lansdowne Road on Sunday week.
The clubs will be briefed on the continuing developments in the game. Whether the first division clubs will have a separate meeting with the union, as the first division clubs have requested, most recently this week, is still not clear.
As the standoff still exists in England between the parent union and the English senior clubs, the English Professional Rugby Union Clubs (EPRUC), the question of whether the English, and indeed Welsh clubs will compete in the newly structured European competitions next season is still not definite.
European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) announced the draws for the European Cup and the newly created European Conference on Wednesday and the English and Welsh clubs were entered by their respective unions.
The position may become more clear after a meeting in Paris today between representatives from English, Welsh, French and, probably, Italian clubs.
Negotiations for the financing of alternative international club competitions to those run by ERC have taken place. The meeting held in Dublin earlier this week was part of that possible package.
Meanwhile, the chairman of EPRUC and spokesman for the English clubs, Donald Kerr, yesterday gave a guarded welcome to the announcement of the new structure by ERC. "It is encouraging that the Five Nations have seen fit to comply with the structure for European competition for next season that the clubs proposed, we must welcome that," he said.
There is some element there to offer encouragement that the difficulties will be resolved.
