THE FORMER Ireland captain Donal Lenihan, who has been an Ireland selector for the past two years, will return to the club scene next season as manager of Cork Constitution.

Lenihan will bring a broad level of experience to his managerial role with the club that he captained in their centenary season of 1991-92.

He retired at the end of that season because of a serious neck-shoulder injury. Winner of 52 international caps, he is the most-capped Munster forward in the history of the game.

A former manager of the Ireland A team and a former Munster selector, Lenihan served on the Irish selection committee until March when it was decided that the committee would be reduced from five to three - manager Pat Whelan, coach Brian Ashton and a third man yet to.he appointed.

The fact that Lenihan has taken on this role with Constitution is a firm indication that he will not be part of the national selection committee for next season.

Lenihan will work with Ray Coughlan, who will again serve as director of coaching and who will be assisted by former international Ralph Keyes and Paul Derham.

Constitution have also acquired the services of three notable players for next season. They are Connacht interprovincial forward Graham Heaslip from Galwegians, UCC hooker and Ireland Under-21 captain Frank Sheehan and John O'Driscoll, the UCC, Irish Universities and Irish Students prop.