IRELAND wing Simon Geoghegan, who had intended to go to the United States for an operation to repair damage to the joints in his big toes, underwent the operation in London last Saturday.

The decision to have the operation in London instead of San Diego, came after Geoghegan was informed that the same operation could be performed there.

Geoghegan has had recurring problems with wear in the Joints of the toes and had an operation during the summer but it was not successful. He is aware that his career is at stake unless this operation is a success.

The same operation was performed on a rugby league player Alan Tate, and proved successful. Geoghegan is resigned to being out of the game until the end of the year but hopes to be fit for the national side for the International Championship.

Garryowen, who recently signed the Ireland under-21 full back and Ireland squad member Dominic Crotty, have acquired another very notable recruit in Peter Bracken, a member of the Ireland schools side that won the Triple Crown last season and had a 100 per cent record on the recent tour to Australia.

Bracken, a second-row forward is the only player to have represented Ireland at Youths and schools levels. He played twice for the Ireland youth side in 1995 while a member of the Tullamore club.

He won his schools caps last season out of St Andrew's College, the first player from the college to win schools international honours. Bracken had been pursued by English clubs, but has opted for Garryowen and is now studying in Limerick.

Frank Hogan, the Garryowen chairman, has stated that he is not prepared to accept some of the best of the young talent in Ireland going out of the country and that every help and encouragement should be given to youngsters to stay here. He has proved as good as his word.

The Leinster selectors who had to defer naming their team to meet Ulster in the Interprovincial Championship at Ravenhill on Saturday, hope to announce the side this morning.

When the Leinster squad met for a training session on Monday night, it was akin to a parade of the walking wounded with nine players under treatment for injuries. In those circumstances there was no alternative but to defer selection of the team.

"It would have been a pointless exercise as we just did not know who would be fit. We did not want to select players and then find they would not be able to play," said Leinster manager Jim Glennon. The squad had a session again last night.

Definitely ruled out of contention are outside-half Alan McGowan, full-back Ciaran Clarke and back-row Colin McEntee. Clarke and McGowan have not played since both were injured against Sale last month and McEntee underwent an operation for a knee injury on Monday. "They must play for their clubs and prove their fitness before we can consider them," Glen non said.

Props Angus McKeen and Paul Flavin are both under treatment as is hooker Mark McDermott, who has a swollen knee. Second row Neil Francis and Steve Jameson are also nursing injuries and centre Martin Ridge is recovering from a chest infection and Kurt McQuilkin dislocated a finger against the Irish XV last Sunday evening, while centre Ray McIlreavy had to withdraw from the replacement panel against the Irish XV.

Connacht have a doubt about the fitness of former international prop Tom Clancy for the match against Munster on Saturday. Clancy is named in the Connacht replacements. Michael Kearin has withdrawn from the Connacht A side to meet the Munster Development side and his place goes to Mervyn Murphy.

Ciaran Clarke has been named in the Terenure College side to meet Monkstown in the Leinster Senior League on Saturday. Terenure the league champions, have scored 97 points in their two league matches to date.

South African Hendric Kruger, an IRFU development officer, will make his debut for Bective Rangers in the league match against Skerries at Holmpatrick and Old Belvedere field an unchanged side for their league tie against DLSP.

McIlreavy is included in the St Mary's College team to play Greystones. Greystones have deferred selection. Two of their players who have just returned from South Africa, Alan Dignam and Marc Evans, could come into consideration.

Scottish Rugby Union president Fred McLeod last night fired a warning salvo at Scottish clubs contemplating signing up with EPRUC. EPRUC have effectively offered to buy the Scottish first division clubs out of the control of the SRU with offers of substantial sums to join the English clubs in a European Rugby Federation.

"What EPRUC has been suggesting, with offers of wealth beyond the dreams of avarice, is misleading mischievous and a recipe for consigning Scotland to the wastebin of world rugby." said McLeod.