Australian rugby officials rather jumped the gun yesterday by disclosing details of Ireland's tour down under next summer without agreement from the IRFU. The schedule, as outlined by the Australians, would include three games against Super 12 sides prior to the two agreed Tests, which is the main bone of contention for the Irish management.

"It has not, at this point, been finalised," maintained the union's PRO, John Redmond, who added: "There is still correspondence to be completed relating to the middle of the tour."

The six-match tour will kick-off against Victoria in Melbourne on Saturday, May 29th, and will conclude with Tests against the Wallabies on Saturday, June 12th, in Brisbane, and the following Saturday in Perth. In a break with tradition, there will be no midweek game between the Tests.

However, Donal Lenihan will outline Irish objections to the notion - as outlined by the Australians - that the tourists will play successive games against Super 12 sides, beginning with Australian Capital Territory in Canberra on June 1st, then New South Wales in Sydney on June 5th and Queensland in Brisbane on June 8th.

Australia and Ireland are drawn in the same pool for next year's World Cup and will meet at Lansdowne Road in Dublin on October 10th.

Proposed tour: Saturday, May 29th: v Victoria, Melbourne (tbc); Tuesday, June 1st: v ACT, Canberra (tbc); Saturday, June 5th: v New South Wales, Sydney (tbc); Tuesday, June 8th: v Queensland selection, venue and opposition to be confirmed; Saturday, June 12th: v Australia, Brisbane; Saturday, 19th June: v Australia, Perth.