THE question of payment to players at club level in Ireland next season (there was a moratorium on such payments this season), was discussed in depth when the officers of the IRFU met representatives of the senior clubs at Lansdowne Road yesterday afternoon. But no firm conclusion was reached and the matter will now be discussed by and a decision taken by the committee of the IRFU.

Prior to that meeting a special meeting of the Council of the IRFU considered the running dispute between the Munster Junior clubs and the Munster branch. This relates to such matters as junior clubs representation at the annual general meeting of the Munster Branch and the allocation of international tickets.

Tony Neville and Barry, Daly outlined the junior clubs case and stated that compared to the junior clubs in other branches, the Munster clubs were disadvantaged. "All we want is what we consider to be a fair deal," said Daly.

Michael Wallace, honorary treasurer of the Munster Branch, replied on behalf of the branch and outlined proposals put to the clubs at an extraordinary general meeting of the Munster Branch last night. Following a proposition by Michael Carroll, former president of the IRFU, and seconded by Dr Tony Browne, another former president of the union, it was decided that the best means of resolving the matter was to refer it back to the IRFU committee. This was agreed and the union has the power to legislate on the matter.

"We all want to see an end to this dispute and I appeal for a solution in everyone's best interests," said Carroll. "I do not believe a solution can be found at the council and surely the best course to adopt is to let the IRFU committee deal with the matter as it is empowered to do." The union decision will be binding on all parties.

At the meeting of the union and clubs, the IRFU president Dr Syd Millar, asked for views to be expressed from the floor of the meeting on the contentious issue of payments to players at club level. Several delegates spoke and while no representative stated that he favoured payment at club level - nor did any club delegate admit to such payments by his club - the difficulty of implementing a policy of non payment was pointed out.

The president pointed out that each individual union can legislate on the issue of payment for the players under its jurisdiction and consequently he said it would help to get the views of the meeting.

Ken Ging (Greystones) and Michael McLoughlin (Wanderers) stressed that most clubs not in a position to pay players and that view was widely shared. Indeed McLoughlin called for the establishment of an Irish Amateur Rugby Union.

The principle behind that suggestion might be fine, the practicality of it is not. It was pointed out by some delegates there is now a level of expectation from some club players that they are entitled to some payment.

John Callanan (Galwegians) said: "We know and everyone knows that some club players are being paid. That is the reality and that is what we have to live with. Payment is being made by many means.

Tom Kiernan, one of Ireland's representatives on the International Board and chairman of the Five Nations committee, pointed out the hazards of putting legislation in place that you cannot police. "We want to keep as many as possible of our players in Ireland and that was the reason the union is contracting players.

Billy Lavery, chairman of the contracts sub committee, suggested the possibility of asking clubs to sign a declaration that they are not paying players as a possible means of bringing honesty and integrity to the situation. But as was stressed by some delegates, there are ways and means around such a declaration.

Bruce St John Blake, president of UCG, pointed out the problems universities faced and asked that delegates whose clubs were paying players might like to say so openly. Not surprisingly he did not get any takers.

Stan Waldron (Cork Constitution) asked that the contracts for home based players be put in place as soon as possible. Five our players have been approached by English clubs. It will be in everyone's best interest to have the contracts in place as quickly as possible to help keep players at home.

The president said he believed the contracts will prompt players not to move to English clubs.

The president outlined the latest position on the players will be contracted by the IRFU, on the question of European participation and the continuing matter of the renewal of the television contract for the Five Nations Championship.

It is hoped that the contracts' for the players will be in place very shortly and, in fact, the contract sub committee met the players representatives in Dublin last night to carry that an important stage further.

On the European issue, Millar said: "There has been a deal of confusion and selective misinformation being spread in Britain on this subject. For instance we have been told that the Welsh and English clubs will not enter. Yet earlier this week Pontypridd issued a statement saying it was their intention to enter the European Cup. As far as we are concerned, the ERC competitions are still on course and, as already outlined, we have entered our provinces in the belief that is in the best interests of Irish rugby.

"We have got the support for that. There are people who are trying to use some of our clubs for their own ends."

On the television contracts, Millar said: "You are all aware of the stand off on this. A letter has been sent out to the various television companies for tenders in accordance with accepted procedure. This is a matter for the television sub committee of the Four Home unions. That is where we stand.

He also said that England's actions, in negotiating, their own television deal despite the fact that they were part of a committee dealing with the matter was "not very straight business practice.

"No one wants to see the Five Nations Championship disrupted, but if the need arises we have a contingency plan in place," said Millar. He also stated that the union officers will meet the first division clubs as requested so that we can hear about the approaches made to them on European competition and inform them of the relevant facts.

Willie Anderson, of Dungannon, asked for clarification on some issues, including the eligibility date for players moving clubs. That was discussed recently at a meeting of the League sub committee and a decision will be taken by the IRFU whether players will be eligible on September 1st or as this season January 1st after moving clubs.