Whatever else the Leinster rugby team may lack in the future, it won't be off-pitch facilities after the David Lloyd Riverview Racquet and Fitness Centre at Clonskeagh yesterday announced a three-year sponsorship of the provincial senior team until January 2004.

In hailing an infrastructure which hasn't been there in the past, the Leinster coach, Matt Williams, emphasised Riverview's location 600 metres from both Donnybrook and Anglesea Road in describing it as "a world-class facility".

The squad will have access to the centre's gym and fitness equipment, as well as indoor and outdoor 25-metre swimming pools.

Aside from providing state-ofthe-art fitness and rehabilitation equipment, the Riverview centre, which has had a £6.5 million refurbishment, will also ensure the Leinster squad of an indoor training facility on inclement days.

Meanwhile, as many Irish observers have been commenting on the apparent anomaly of the England/Scotland match going ahead this weekend despite the foot-andmouth crisis, England scrumhalf Matt Dawson has said it would not be a "major disaster" if the rest of this year's Six Nations Championship were called off in a bid to prevent the spread of epidemic.

"The loss of a rugby match must be set in context compared to the disaster that is threatening the farming community," he said.

"If rugby can do anything to help quash the outbreak, it has to be done. If it comes to the cancellation of the Six Nations, so be it - the loss of the tournament would not be the major disaster.

"When we all go back to our communities we'll all see businesses and individuals who have been affected. Rugby has to take all precautions necessary."