The IRFU yesterday announced a major new partnership with Ford Motor Company which is set to ultimately broaden its player base in Ireland. It is the largest undertaking in Ireland by a company focusing exclusively on raising the profile of rugby among youngsters and providing equipment and coaching for both players and teachers.

The deal, worth over £200,000, is a 32-county initiative and will target non rugby-playing primary schools for children between the ages of seven and 11. Tag Rugby, which takes out tackling from the game, is suitable for both girls and boys.

The three-year programme will provide equipment to over 250 schools involving 25,000 pupils, and those with access to a playground or pitches, but lacking the resources to participate, will be targeted. Director of rugby development Eddie Wigglesworth, speaking at the launch in Lansdowne Road yesterday, believes this a major step forward for the union.

"This has proved very attractive at other levels, particularly in women's rugby. The regional blitzes in particular will be great occasions for kids and ultimately we will be looking for a substantial improvement in the numbers of schools participating."

Teachers and pupils will receive coaching and, from there, IRFU development officers will organise a series of Tag Rugby festivals.

Hooker Marc Dal Maso of Pau is the only surprise absentee in the 31-player squad called up for the French training camp in Paris on Monday for the run-up to the Test against Australia. French coach Bernard Laporte will whittle down the squad to 22 players, which will be announced next Tuesday, for the November 4th clash at the Stade de France.

The 33-year-old Maso, who moved from Colomiers to Pau in the summer, started all France's matches in the 2000 Six Nations Championship.

The two hookers still in the squad are Fabrice Landreau of Stade Francais, who was called up as a replacement several times in 1994 but never played, and Olivier Azam, who plays for Gloucester and whose two internationals date back five years.

Other absentees are Toulouse back-row Chris- tian Labit and Stade Francais scrumhalf Christophe Laussucq, who was discarded when Philippe Carbonneau was back in the frame.

FRANCE (squad for November 4th Test against Australia) - Full back: T Castaignede (Saracens). Centres/wingers: R Dourthe (Beziers), F Comba (Stade Francais), T Lombard (Stade Francais), C Mytton (Stade Francais), P Bernat-Salles (Biarritz), D Bory (Montferrand), C Dominici (Stade Francais). Outhalves: Y Delaigue (Toulouse), C Lamaison (Agen). Scrumhalves: P Carbonneau (Pau), F Galthie (Colomiers). Props: C Califano (Toulouse), F Tournaire (Toulouse), S Marconnet (Stade Francais), P De Villiers (Stade Francais), O Milloud (Bourgoin). Hookers: F Landreau (Stade Francais), O Azam (Gloucester). Locks: F Pelous (Toulouse), D Auradou (Stade Francais), O Brouzet (Northampton), L Nallet (Bourgoin). Back row: S Betsen (Biarritz), L Mallier (Pau), T Lievremont (Biarritz), F Ntamack (Colomiers), A Audebert (Montferrand), S Chabal (Bourgoin), O Magne (Montferrand), C Moni (Stade Francais).

Toulouse centre Lee Stensness, who injured his knee against Cardiff in his side's European Cup loss on Saturday, is out for the rest of the season, the French club said yesterday.

The Toulouse physiotherapist said tests discovered Stensness had torn a ligament in his right knee.