It seems the IRFU is set to offer a few incentives to the supporters of those clubs who make the AIB League Divisions One and Two finals that will be held at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, May 4th.

Apart from the usual marketing ploys to entice the punter through the gates for internationals with the promise of beer tents, bands and bouncy castles, the union is hoping to be able to offer a deal on how you get to the ground.

There is tentative approval for a scheme that will see the IRFU offer to pay the cost of hiring a coach. Anyone who fills a coach and pre-buys full adult tickets for all passengers will qualify to have their coach paid for by the union. It certainly seems a step in the right direction to get people into the ground and provide an atmosphere for the biggest occasion in domestic club rugby.

This year will see the AIB League Division One and Two finals played on the same afternoon. The reason why the Division Three final is not taking place on the same day is because it was felt that the pitch would not stand up to three games on the one day. A decision on the coach scheme and a date for the Division Three final - it's like to be on Friday night, May 3rd, or Sunday May, 5th - will be taken within the next fortnight.

Turning a blind eye

Once again rugby's image took a battering, the occasion the international between Ireland and Italy at Lansdowne Road last Saturday. Italian prop Salvatore Perugini's attempted head-butt on Ireland's Peter Stringer was seen quite clearly by touch judge Joel Dume. There was a simple resolution to the incident; Perugini should have been sent off.

It doesn't make any difference whether he made incidental or vigorous contact with Stringer, it is the act of a player throwing his head in the direction of another that rules out any plea for leniency. Dume's recommendation to referee Rob Dickson that the Italian's actions warranted only a yellow card was little short of a disgrace.

It will be interesting to see if the International Board (IRB) intervene or simply hide behind the platitude that the officials dealt with the matter at the time. The IRFU will not undertake a formal citing because the Irish management is happy to let the matter rest.

This should be immaterial as the game's governing body should be seen to be ruthless with regard to incidents like this.

On a more positive note it would be churlish not to highlight and commend the stance taken by Italian coach Brad Johnstone. His decision not to send Perugini back onto the pitch when the 10 minutes were up, demonstrated strong morals. It was not Johnstone's fault that the player rejoined the game as Italy's loosehead prop Giampiero de Carli was subsequently binned.

Donnybrook development

Last Friday night's A international will be the last international game played at the venue in its current state. Development work at Donnybrook starts in two weeks' time when the existing buildings will be demolished. Included in the reconstruction will be a new stand to replace the existing one. The Leinster Branch had to wait until all international commitments were finished and also the end of the Schools' Junior Cup, the final of which took place yesterday.

Batting for Ireland

Many players have superstitions or routines they like to follow prior to matches. Some have a favourite tee-shirt to wear under a jersey, lucky shorts or simply like to be the last player out when the team is taking the field. It is safe to assume though that not many carry a cricket bat to matches in their kit bag.

It is not as if the Ballymena, Ulster and Ireland second row Gary Longwell is expecting to have to quell a bit of a disturbance in the dressing-room or at 6ft 7ins and 18½ stone fears for his safety. It is simply the fact that he was sent the miniature bat by his brother in Australia and he just took to bringing it to matches.

It's also very handy if you fancy a bit of limited overs in the ol' hotel.

Born to be exiles

This column obviously has too much time on its hands but in reading the programme prior to last Saturday's Test match observed that eight players of the 30 that started the Ireland-Italy game were not born in the country for which they were playing.

Six were Italian and there were two Irishmen.

Both the Ireland and Italy replacements bench contained three further players apiece not born in the country for which they played.

Now because this column is exceedingly generous and because we got permission to do so from the boss, we are going to offer two exclusive and much sought after Irish Times polo shirts to the first two readers who e-mail this column at josullivan-at-irish-times.ie with the names of the five Irish players in the Saturday's match squad of 22 who were not born in Ireland.

The winners will be announced in next week's Planet Rugby.

Back row rumblings

It was strange to hear the BBC's Ian Roberston single out Ireland's lineout for special praise ahead of the final Six Nations game against France in Paris in a fortnight. He singled out the lineout and a "lively back row" as Ireland's strengths up front before going on to say that if a combined team were picked there would be 11 Frenchmen on it, because they were a very talented bunch of individuals.

Ah, sure everyone's entitled to their opinion.