Rugby news from around the globe

West is still awake

Things have been a little slow over the Christmas period with the turkey and ham excesses only blown away in Ireland with a little AIB League Division One action at the weekend. It is understandable that news on the rugby front has slowed to a trickle during the festive holiday.

Therefore perhaps it is not a surprise that the odd "flier" of a news story has crept into media outlets - let he who has not sinned cast the first stone (we have decided to overlook that pious, if correct sentiment). One such example is the Planet Rugby website (www.planet-rugby.com) which put two and two together and came up with eight. In a story in which they lament the passing of the Wales A side as a result of financial cuts made by the new chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), David Moffett, they decided to suggest Ireland and Scotland were about to follow suit.

The suggestion that Ireland and Scotland were set to follow the Welsh lead in order to save money was based on the premise that both the IRFU and SRU have scrapped their respective students teams. Furthermore, the story asserted by way of justification: "Ireland is further investigating the possibility of disbanding its 'fourth' province, Connacht, despite its successes this year."

They then added the sensational rider: "Connacht may not even fulfil its quarter-final commitment against Pontypridd in January."

This of course will come as a bitter blow and, dare we say it, a complete shock to Connacht coach Steph Nel and his charges who have done marvellously well to make it to this stage of the Challenge Cup, not least in a two-leg victory over Narbonne last time out.

The website's lament seems a tad premature to say the least, assuming of course that they are not privy to the machinations of the IRFU committee. For now, at least, it seems the more fanciful tales of Connacht's demise are media speculation rather than boardroom fact.

Right Connolly call

Now this column is not one to gloat or mutter "I told you so" but in our defence against one or two vitriolic emails that we received with regard to a small piece on the Irish-qualified British rugby league centre Gary Connolly, we wuz right.

We had to endure all sorts of name calling and comments about our shortcomings in terms of birthrights, disposition towards non-nationals, etc, when we had the temerity to suggest that Connolly's claim that he wouldn't mind playing for Ireland in the World Cup was a little underwhelming.

Having previously played rugby league with Ireland's defensive coach Mike Ford, Connolly was quoted as saying he wouldn't mind playing for Ireland in the World Cup. He had previously turned down an Irish management team while playing with Harlequins for a season. The latest plans of one of league's great centres were that he would join union club Orrell full-time.

His desire to play for Ireland in the World Cup seems to have cooled with the news that he signed a two-year contract with Leeds Rhinos rugby league team on St Stephen's Day. He apparently jumped at the chance to finish his career playing the league code.

The 31-year-old Connolly seemed destined to finish a 14-year stint in rugby league but has now elongated his career by a further two years. He confirmed: "I'm a rugby league player and I think I have two or three years left in me. I would have played union but, when a club like Leeds come in for you, it's an honour. There was some other interest but I wouldn't have signed for anybody else."

Connolly first made a name for himself as a 17-year-old St Helen's player, before joining Wigan in 1993. He represented Britain in 1992 for the first time and was a recent star for them in their first series triumph over New Zealand in nine years.

This column would like to point out that it is always right even when it is wrong and that all further complaints, irrespective of the topic should be written on the back of a €20 note.

PS: it's non-refundable.

Stradbrook highlights

There were a couple of firsts at Stradbrook on Saturday for the AIB League club match between Blackrock College and Terenure College. The first was a welcome one in these bleak financial days for clubs in Irish rugby. Blackrock announced that a record 280 people sat down for the pre-match lunch, a testament to the "good-natured" rivalry between the clubs.

It guaranteed an excellent atmosphere for a game that generated an unusually large crowd in recent years for the venue of 500-600 people. The second, first, so to speak, involved the sin-binning of Blackrock tighthead prop Malcolm Cuffe for an offence at a ruck.

Referee Dave McHugh had no hesitation of dispatching the offender. He should have had to cool his heels for 10 minutes but it was over 13½ minutes before he managed to return to the action - the 'Rock management team's entreaties getting more voluble as the minutes ticked away.

Following father's path

Back in 1987 the wonderful Scottish half-back partnership of Roy Laidlaw and John Rutherford came to an end after 35 appearances as a pairing. Now, 15 years on, another pairing bearing those names could emerge with the selection of Michael Rutherford, son of John, and Greig Laidlaw, nephew of Roy, for the Scotland under-18 squad that trained at Murrayfield over the weekend.

Laidlaw played scrumhalf for the Scottish under-18 A side last season as a 16-year-old but faces stiff competition from Cairan Beattie, who partners Rutherford in the Selkirk youth team. Forwards John Beattie and Ed Butcher will be hoping to follow their fathers to international honours. Beattie is the son of the former Scotland number eight of the same name, and Butcher's ¨dad is former Rangers and England soccer player Terry.

Wood still sidelined

For Irish rugby's wild geese it was a mixed weekend. Geordan Murphy missed Leicester's league defeat by Wasps because of injury but Kevin Maggs scored a try in Bath's win over Harlequins. Paul Burke kicked a couple of penalties for the latter but there was no sign of former Ireland captain Keith Wood despite the fact that he came on as a replacement in the previous match following a prolonged spell on the sidelines with a neck injury.

Celtic League final

This season's Celtic League final will take place at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on February 1st and will have an Irish-Welsh match-up. Munster and Ulster meet at Thomond Park next Friday night to dispute whom the Irish representatives will be.