ALL FOUR provincial branches have now made their recommendations and preferences known to the IRFU for the appointments of their full time directors of coach ing. Those positions are being filled following the recommendations earlier this season by the IRFU to put professional structures in place at provincial level.

If the current provincial selections are ratified and contracts are agreed, then all four places will be filled by people from outside the game in this country, three of them by Welshmen. That will doubtless and understandable cause some considerable disappointment, even though some of the leading Irish contenders who had originally applied for the positions subsequently withdrew.

Munster have chosen former, Wales and Lions wing John, Bevan. Munster have also suggested that they would like Niall, O'Donovan, who has had such success with Shannon but has not coached at senior representative level, involved as an assistant to the Welshman.

Leinster's choice is Mike Ruddock, who coached Bective Rangers before he returned to Wales and coached Swansea as well as the Welsh national team ate A level. Another former Welsh international, Clive Griffiths is the preferred choice of Ulster. He was understudy to JPR Williams as Welsh full back in the late 1970s and won a cap as a replacement for Williams. He subsequently went to rugby league for a then record fee and has coached the Wales rugby league World Cup team. He is currently coach to Treorchy.

Former All Black Warren Gatland has been chosen by Connacht. Gatland was always favourite for the position in Connacht. He was with Galwegians for three years before he returned to New Zealand. Last season he returned to take over as coach to the Connacht interprovincial side when Eddie O'Sullivan resigned as coach.