Former Ireland captain Donal Lenihan will be named as a member of the three-man Ireland selection committee for this season at the weekend. He will join manager Pat Whelan and coach Brian Ashton. Lenihan has, I understand, been chosen by the three-man sub-committee of Eddie Coleman, Noel Murphy and Roy Loughead which is responsible for selecting the selectors. Lenihan's name will go before the IRFU executive committee on Friday night for official ratification. That should be no more than a formality. Lenihan, capped on 52 occasions by Ireland is Munster's most-capped international forward, was twice a Lions tourist - in 1983 and 1989 - and had a magnificent international career. He is a former Munster selector, manager of the Ireland A team and was a member of the national selection committee for the past two seasons. He was also Ireland's representative on the Lions selection committee for the recent successful tour to South Africa. His contribution in that regard has been publicly acknowledged by Lions manager Fran Cotton and coach Ian McGeechan.

When it was decided last March to reduce the selection committee from five to three, with one other selector due to join the manager and coach, the choice of the third selector was deferred.

Filling the position, which is of immense importance, has, bearing in mind the length of time that has elapsed since it was decided to reduce the numerical strength of the committee, obviously been the subject of animated debate, thought and discussion. Initially, it was not thought that any of the three outgoing selectors, Joe Miles, Frank Sowman or Lenihan, would be chosen.

Indeed, so firm were the indications in that regard that Lenihan accepted the position of manager of the Cork Constitution team for this season. He will now have to give up that task to serve at national level yet again. But Cork Constitution will readily agree to that in the national interest.

There have been indications from the outset that Lenihan was the preferred choice of Ashton and Whelan to join them in the three-man team. That being the case, it is absolutely right that Lenihan should be the man to work with the manager and coach with all provincial considerations being set aside.