The schools internationals are now an integral part of the annual schedule. But it was as recently as 1975 that an Ireland schools team first played at international level. Indeed the impetus for Ireland's advent to the schools international arena came about because the IRFU was celebrating its centenary season in 1974-75.

In view of what the schools had contributed to Irish rugby it was deemed appropriate that they should have a part to play in the celebrations. At that stage some held the view that it should have been a one-off match to mark so notable an occasion and there was some resistance to Ireland playing annually at schools level. But that resistance was broken.

The wisdom of the decision to continue to play annually at schools level is illustrated by the success Ireland schools teams have enjoyed.

That was the background against which a match was arranged against England for March 29th, 1975 at Lansdowne Road. It is revealing to reflect on the fact that no fewer than nine of the 16 who played for Ireland in that match went on to play for Ireland at senior level.

They were Jimmy Bowen, John Murphy, Alistair McKibbin, Moss Finn, Job Langbroek, Harry Harbison, Jim McCoy, Donal Spring and Ronan Kearney. That is an illustration of just how important the schools game was, and indeed continues to be in the development of our top players.

I am prompted to refer to the schools and the vast changes that have taken place at underage level in this country since that first tentative step was taken back in 1975, as the Australian schools team is currently visiting Ireland.

Now Ireland teams play on an annual basis at schools, youths, under 19 - including the World Cup at that level - and under-21 levels, and even occasionally at under-25. And then there is the Academy. That is all part of the structure that has been put in place for the development of players.

For well over a century the schools game has been a central plank of, and crucial to, the game in Ireland. Now how satisfactory it is that a record number of schools are playing the game here.

For some the contribution goes back well over a century. And on that point, two of Ireland's great rugby schools, Blackrock College and Methodist, will, will celebrate on January 4th the centenary of playing each other annually, with a special match and dinner to mark the occasion.

What those two schools have given to Irish rugby has been inestimable.

Referring to the visit of the Australians, they are invariably very strong at schools level and have sent some excellent teams to these islands through the years.

As is and has been the position in that country, many of the Australia's best players have come through the schools system and played for Australian schools. One thinks of such as Michael Lynagh, the Ella brothers, Simon Poidevin and Matthew Burke, to mention just a few.

It was exactly 24 years ago that an Australian schools team first visited here and played Ireland at Thomond Park on December 17th, 1977. That was a great match, won 12-10 by the Australians.

Some players later to leave a profound impact on the senior international scene for Ireland played in that match. Two of them, Paul Dean and Philip Matthews - who captained Ireland that afternoon - were Triple Crown and Championship winners in 1985; indeed Dean was also on the 1982 Triple Crown and Championship winning side as a centre in 1982.

Three other players on that Ireland schools team in 1977 also went on to win full caps, wing Kenny Hooks, second row Mick Moylett and Paul Collins, who won his caps in the back row but played that day in the second row.

It was a measure of how well the schools internationals had been established, that within five years of that inaugural match, in the summer of 1980, the Ireland schools team toured Australia.

Bearing in mind that the Ireland senior side, up to that time, had made just five overseas tours in the previous 80 years, it was a major undertaking.

That Ireland schools side was managed by the current IRFU president, Roy Loughead. It was coached by Caleb Powell and Br Philip O'Reilly.Ireland lost the Test match 10-7. The squad included Michael Bradley, later to captain Ireland at senior level, and Peter Russell, later to partner Bradley against New Zealand in the two Tests on the Ireland tour in 1992.

Tours by Australia to this country and by Ireland to Australia have taken place on a regular basis since that first encounter over 20 years ago. The two most recent visits by Ireland have proved to be highly successful, with Ireland returning from both with 100 per cent records. The team that toured there in 1996 returned with a record of played nine and won nine, including the Test 23-21, and last season Ireland won all eight matches in Australia, including the test 34-22.

However, a remarkable feature of these ongoing matches is that Ireland have not beaten Australia in this country. On the last visit by the Ausralians to Ireland, Australia won the Test 24-11 at Ravenhill in December 1998.

Last weekend, the Australians opened the Irish part of their tour, after visiting Japan, Scotland and Wales by beating Ulster. On Tuesday night they trailed Leinster 22-9 with only eight minutes remaining. They then scored three tries in a devastating burst to win 30-22. Tomorrow they will play Ireland at Temple Hill.

Many of the current Ireland senor squad first wore the Ireland jersey at schools level. Players such as Gordon D'Arcy, Brian O'Driscoll, Denis Hickie, David Humphreys, Peter Stringer, Eric Miller, Kieron Dawson, Anthony Foley, Jeremy Davidson have all featured for Ireland at schools level.

One can add many more who have played at schools international level and then went on to full international honours, and are still playing at representative level.

I have no doubt that some of those playing on both teams in the international in Cork tomorrow will follow a similar path. The schools and indeed the whole underage structure is crucial to Irish rugby.