FOLLOWING a meeting of the management committee of the Leinster Branch on Tuesday night, when the grave concerns of the Leinster clubs about the consequences for them of the vast changes that have taken place in the game was on the agenda, the senior club presidents and the clubs' branch representatives met the officers of the Branch in Donnybrook last night.
The clubs' presidents and their branch representatives met yesterday evening in Fitzwilliam to discuss their mutual problems before going on to meet the Branch officers.
The problems for clubs and branches found further expression last night when the IRFU issued a statement outlining their concern and actions they are taking to develop a strategy to combat the difficulties as outlined in this newspaper yesterday and which promoted the Leinster clubs to seek that meeting with their branch officers.
The text of the IRFU statement is: "The officers of the IRFU have been meeting over the last number of weeks on the effects to Irish clubs and provinces of the move by Rugby Union to an open game.
"As a result of these meetings, a working party under the chairmanship of the IRFU president Mr Bobby Deacy has been set up to examine in detail the difficulties and challenges now facing the clubs and provinces, to develop a course of action to combat these difficulties and challenges and ensure the continual development of the game through the development of the clubs and provinces.
"In announcing the formation of the working party. Mr Deacy stated that the working party was undertaking its task as a matter of urgency and he anticipated that its findings and recommendations will be made to the full IRFU Committee at an early date. It is recognised that, in order to ensure that Ireland remains in the top five countries of international rugby, we must have a strong club structure in order to have a strong provincial and national level. It must be recognised, however, that in the present open game, a three tier system is essential - ie, club, province, country, as the club structure in itself could not compete at the European levels that are required.
"We are approaching the situation with an open mind, we have already received submissions from a number of interested quarters and will be happy to consider further submissions.
"Having referred to his presidential statement to the Union's commitment to increased investment in clubs to assist them with. their ever increasing financial burdens, Mr Deacy emphasises that this commitment is unwavering and will play a critical role in the recommendations to the main union committee.
"The IRFU president adds: `We are in a time of great change in rugby and it is essential that we in the union be alert to the ever changing needs at all levels. We are taking particular interest in the effect professionalism is having on our clubs.'"
"We are treating club rugby as a matter of priority but I believe it is most important that we look at the situation in a measured, calculating manner which takes into account the overall canvas that is Irish rugby and in that way to develop a plan which takes cognisance of the needs of our clubs and representative sides."
"Mr Deacy adds: `We are constantly hearing from rugby players and administrators throughout the world that our tiered system involving club, province, and national side is the ideal order for rugby development. Our task is to ensure this structure is analysed on an ongoing basis and, if and when necessary, altered to take account of changing trends."
Commenting on last night's meeting in Leinster, Sandy Heffernan, the honorary secretary of the Leinster Branch, said yesterday: "The meeting on Tuesday night was of the branch management committee and of course the clubs' great concerns about the changes in the game and the effects they are having on the clubs and provinces were discussed among other matters. The clubs had asked for a meeting with the officers of the branch and of course we were happy to meet them to discuss the problems."
