The IRFU have unveiled the blueprint of a new under-age structure that they hope will secure future success in the international arena.

The project into which they will invest £2 million over the next three years is to spread the rugby gospel in as many secondary schools as possible. To this end the IRFU have appointed 41 youth development officers, the majority of whom have been given full-time positions.

Their brief is to target specific non-rugby playing schools in the four provinces and introduce rugby on the curriculum with the help and support of those schools. It is a three-year framework after which time the IRFU would hope that rugby would be firmly inculcated.

The drive to broach a wider market will incorporate a policy of linking schools to the local clubs, thereby offering would-be players a weekend outlet and further cementing a bond with the sport.

This enterprising innovation comes under the auspices of the IRFU's new director of rugby development, Eddie Wigglesworth. "The simple premise is that we are trying to broaden the base of Irish rugby, but a little differently, insofar as it focuses on non-rugby playing secondary schools."

The success of the venture will be judged on the number of players leaving the secondary-school base to play in either the youths or adult sections of clubs. In deciding upon specific schools, the IRFU received advice from local clubs and their newly appointed youth development officers. The modus operandi for the latter is that they approach a school and ascertain whether they can fit in a slot in their PE timetable for rugby.

Given that the scheme was in its fledgling stage, most schools already had their PE curriculum prepared for this term. After Christmas, the new term offers greater flexibility.

Rugby would be allocated a certain number of hours per week ranging from two to 18. The youth development officers also liaise with local clubs. Those on full-time contracts work a 35-hour week.

The IRFU has stressed strongly to the clubs that they must shoulder the responsibility of looking after any new young players that join: the union have demanded that the clubs be pro-active rather than reactive in recruiting.

Each province has a provincial development manager, Shannon hooker Mark McDermott in Munster, former international Phil Lawlor in Leinster, Tommy Conneely in Connacht and Rab Gregg in Ulster and they are assisted by regional development officers.

The response has been very positive but the IRFU insists that no real gain will be seen until the project is in the second and third years. They also pointed out that that they are quite willing to withdraw from a school if the response was not favourable.

The project was originally piloted in the Wexford area and the success was staggering, a fact illustrated by the number of schools from that county that now compete in Section A of the Leinster Schools Senior and Junior Cups.

To compliment the new system there are 70 FAS workers teaching rugby in primary schools. The IRFU is conscious of the need to forge greater links between primary and secondary schools in rugby terms, particularly `feeder' schools.