RUGBY: Having just completed a record 13 Tests in the calendar year for 2002, Ireland will go at least two better next season given a minimum of 15 internationals have been pencilled in for 2003. Nor does that figure take into account the knockout stages of the World Cup were Ireland to advance from their pool.
After the Six Nations championship, Ireland are scheduled to play Australia, Tonga and Samoa in next summer's tour, with the Wallabies' game moved to Perth, though kick-off times and venues for the other two Tests have still to be agreed.
The IRFU have confirmed that Ireland will play Scotland, Wales and Italy at the end of next summer in a four-team round-robin as preparation for the World Cup in Australia. The Canadians had been expected to take part in the warm-up event, but pulled out a few weeks ago and have been replaced by the Italians.
Not alone will the three matches serve as useful preparation for the Irish management and players, but as two of the three are at home (against Wales and Italy), these games will also go some way towards compensating the IRFU for the loss of the autumn Tests at home next year.
Theoretically, of course, the nunmber of internationals Ireland play next year could rise from 15 to 18 were they to reach the World Cup final.
"Wouldn't that be a turn-up?" says the Irish manager Brian O'Brien. "And ideally that's what we want.
" It's going to be a huge year," adds O'Brien, albeit with the rider that 2003 could potentially wreak excessive demands on Ireland's relatively small pool of frontline representative players.
"Ideally you'd only want the players to play 28-30 games. That means you could be looking at 40 games or more if player management isn't handled correctly.
"So we've got to prioritise the games that they need to play. We can't flog them or debilitate the players," said O'Brien. "We have a system whereby the players are monitored and that's what we'll be hoping to do."
The Irish management may have to provide a lead themselves here. Recalling how John Mitchell rested his frontline players, especially his forwards, for the All Blacks' recent autumn tour, Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan may do likewise next summer, especially with the Samoan and Tongan games in mind.
Invariably the provinces will feel the pinch again next year, almost certainly preventing them from fielding full-strength sides for the Celtic League. Even their preparations for next season's European Cup will be non-existent, whatever about their availability, given the latter competition starts immediately after the World Cup finals conclude.
Lawrence Dallaglio will miss Wasps' English Premiership match at Leeds on Sunday because of suspension. Dallaglio, Wasps' skipper, has been forced out by a one-match ban handed out for the three yellow cards he has received so far this season.
A INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES: Sat, Feb 15th: Scotland A v Ireland A, 1930hrs, Bridgehaugh, Stirling; Fri, Feb 21st: Italy A v Ireland A TBC TBC; Fri, Mar 7th: Ireland A v France A 19.30hrs Ravenhill Park; Fri, Mar 21st: Wales A v Ireland "A" TBC TBC; Fri, Mar 28th: Ireland A v England A 19.00hrs Donnybrook. UNDER-21s: Sat, Feb 15th: Scotland U.21 v Ireland U.21 14.00hrs. Mayfield, Dundee; Fri, Feb 21st: Italy U.21 v Ireland U.21 TBC TBC; Fri, Mar 7th: Ireland U.21 v France U.21 19.30hrs Musgrave Park; Fri, Mar 21: Wales U.21 v Ireland U.21 TBC TBC; Fri, Mar 28th: Ireland U.21 v England U.21 19.30 Ravenhill. UNDER-19s: Fri, Mar 28th: Ireland U.19 v England U.19 Cork. Mar 5th - 20th: FIRA World Cup, France. SCHOOLBOYS INTERNATIONALS: Sat, Apr 12th: Ireland Schools v France Schools Limerick; Sat, Apr 19th: Ireland Schools v England Schools, Dublin; Sat, Apr 26th: Wales Schools v Ireland Schools TBC. YOUTH INTERNATIONALS. Sat, Mar 15th or April 5th: Italy Youth v Ireland Youth TBC; April 18th - 26th: Four Nations Tournament, Scotland.
