Planet Rugby: There was a flurry of activity coming from rugby's central offices in Dublin last week.
1. The IRB confirmed a new junior world championship (under-20s) for 2008.
2. A new format for World Cup qualification will now mean teams need only to finish third in the pool stages - as distinct from making the quarter-finals - at September's tournament.
3. The announcement of a new forum that will attempt to streamline the game's fixture lists.
4. Oh, and the former A Question of Sport captain Bill Beaumont was confirmed as the IRB vice-chairman.
All this and the salvation of the Heineken European Cup. Not exactly a quiet week from an administration side of things in Huguenot House.
Few turkeys in AIL
"Nice idea in theory but turkeys don't vote for Christmas," said a source recently in reaction to the possibility of the AIB All-Ireland League Division One being reduced to a 10-team "elite tier" that would bring the club game closer to the professional ranks.
And sure enough the IRFU have confirmed the status quo of three 16-team divisions remains for at least two seasons: "This review process included the views of all of the constituent clubs . . . and the IRFU believes that this structure is in the best interests of Irish rugby at this time."
A recent straw poll of Division One coaches (the four semi-finalists) pointed to a reduced league but 76 percent of clubs voted against change.
Title sponsors AIB also seem content. General manager Maurice Crowley said, "We are delighted that the IRFU have agreed to maintain the Domestic Community Rugby Programme and all its constituents comprising the three-division league, All-Ireland Cups and the International Club team elements. The community programme continues to be an excellent fit for the AIB portfolio."
Onward Christian
After a remarkable career, in the Southern Hemisphere at least, the All Black legend Christian Cullen confirmed his retirement last week.
His 46 tries in 58 Tests speak volumes - as do three shoulder operations in his three-year stint with Munster. The "Paekakariki Express" admitted he felt he had let down the Munster faithful: "I can't remember the last time my ankles and knees didn't ache. And at the back of my mind I'm always worried that I might be a tackle away from injuring the shoulder again."
Still, as a farewell gesture Planet Rugby urges fans of great back play to log on and visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6cQdIDKdFI
Ah, what might have been.
A very Irish coup
Frank Murphy made the most significant strides of his Leicester Tigers career last Saturday when he started in place of the injured English scrumhalf Harry Ellis for the English Premiership final.
Murphy had a shaky start but recovered admirably to scramble over for the opening try (granted, it was debatable) in the comprehensive 44-16 defeat of Gloucester at Twickenham.
Geordan Murphy was another contributor (Ian Humphreys was on the bench) as were the Leinster-bound Shane Jennings and Leo Cullen. Fittingly, the latter pair lifted the trophy.
Crumbs for Leinster
Leinster may have finished their season on a disappointing note in Cardiff last Friday but they still managed to get four players - Denis Hickie, Gordon D'Arcy, Felipe Contepomi and Jamie Heaslip - into the Magners Celtic League team of the season, named by the media last week,
The champions, Ospreys, must be content with just two representatives - Shane Williams and lock Alun Wyn Jones, while Llanelli have three including Simon Easterby. No Munster, Ulster or Connacht boys, though.
CELTIC LEAGUE XV: Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues); Denis Hickie (Leinster), Regan King (Llanelli Scarlets), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Felipe Contepomi (Leinster), Mike Phillips (Cardiff Blues); Iestyn Thomas (Llanelli Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors); Justin Harrison (Ulster), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys); Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets), Colin Charvis (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster).
Four for Baa-baas
Speaking of end-of-season selections, former Irish internationals Tyrone Howe, Kevin Maggs, Guy Easterby and Justin Fitzpatrick were all included in the Barbarians party to play Tunisia next Saturday in Tunis and Spain in Elche on Wednesday week.
