THE Ireland Schools' team will be sponsored by Bank of Ireland this season it was announced yesterday.

The Ireland Schools' side has enjoyed tremendous success, most notably last season when they won the Triple Crown and then travelled to Australia and won all nine matches on the tour, including the international. The Schools' side also won the Triple Crown in 1993 and in 1990.

The Bank of Ireland sponsorship is likely to be for three years and is, I understand, worth in the region of £50,000.

Roy Loughead, chairman of the IRFU Schools' Standing Committee, said yesterday: "We have long identified this age group as being critical in the structure and planning of Irish rugby and the support of Bank of Ireland in this regard will enable the IRFU to consolidate and progress the coaching and monitoring of these ambitious young men".

Ireland will open their defence of the Triple Crown triple against England at Lansdowne Road on March 29th.

Meanwhile, Ireland scrum half Niall Hogan, who had intimated that he intended to move to London Irish, cannot make that move until March 24th.

As a home based contracted player to the IRFU, Hogan has to serve a month's notice before he can move to an English club. Accordingly, he has informed Terenure that he is available to play for the club in the All Ireland League for the next few weeks. Hogan has been chosen in the side to meet Instonians at Lakelands Park on Saturday. He comes in for Derek Hegarty.

Shane Cullen comes in at outhalf and Girvan Dempsey is named on the wing. In the pack, Mick Quinn is in the second row, and Colin Potts and Mark Egan, come into the back row.

Blackrock College, who include several of the Ireland Schools team from last season, take on Lansdowne in the final of the McCorry Cup at Lansdowne Road tonight (7.30).

The All Ireland League match between Waterpark and Dublin University on, Saturday will take place at Ballinakill and not as stated in the fixtures yesterday at College Park.