ULSTER: The Ulster Branch said yesterday that their 28-year-old South African international prop Robbie Kempson had not been approached by Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli as a possible squad member for this year's World Cup.

Media reports said that Straeuli has already had talks with Os du Randt and André Venter and will be meeting Kempson and Castres tighthead prop Brent Moyle over the next few weeks as South Africa comb the hemispheres looking for the strongest players available to them for this year's campaign.

Kempson, a technically strong front row player who can play both loosehead or tighthead, fell out of favour with SA Rugby officials even before leaving for Ulster.

He made his Test debut against Wales in 1998 and played 19 successive Tests for his country before being dropped after the side lost to Wales at the opening of the Millennium Stadium in June 1999.

He was then dropped from the Tri-Nations squad, missing out on World Cup selection later that year before forcing his way back into the squad in 2000.

He played provincial rugby for Natal and Western Province and featured in 31 Test matches for the Springboks, his last coming during the 2001 Tri-Nations. There a neck injury forced him out of action until shortly before his arrival in Ireland in the middle of last year, where he is now with former Springbok assistant Alan Solomons.

The statement released by Ulster yesterday said: "The Ulster Branch of the IRFU would like to advise that no formal or informal approach has been made by the South African Rugby Union to either the IRFU or the Ulster Branch with regard to Robbie Kempson."

Chief executive Michael Reid said: "As far as we are concerned this is purely media speculation."

Kempson is contracted with Ulster Rugby until June 2004 with an option of a further year. He has signed a two-year deal with the province which means SA Rugby, if they decide to make any move, would have to buy him out of his existing contract.

The draw for the European Heineken Cup semi-finals will be conducted by ERC chairman Jean-Pierre Lux next Monday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Heathrow Airport.

Saracens and Wasps will be at home in the first leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-finals, the draw for which was made yesterday.

CHALLENGE CUP: First leg: April 12th-13th: Saracens v Bath Rugby; London Wasps v Pontypridd; Second leg: April 26th-27th: Bath Rugby v Saracens; Pontypridd v London Wasps.