The countdown to the Rugby World Cup has started. Munster, Ulster and Connacht players reported back to training this week - Michael Cheika officially reforms the Leinster squad next Monday - but considering the IRFU pyramid structure prioritises international preparation, the provincial coaching staff can hardly expect a smooth pre-season.
The 15 international frontliners (Paul O'Connell, Brian O'Driscoll and company) not selected for the tour to Argentina began prehabilitation with a trip to the cryotherapy chambers of Spala, Poland from June 16th-23rd.
The internationals, including those who toured Argentina and the Churchill Cup squad, rejoined provincialteammates this week for gym work but 46 World Cup hopefuls go back to Spala on July 7th.
Sixteen of these players will miss the final cut for France. The next step is a return to the provinces, before the first official World Cup camp takes place in Limerick on July 29th.
This leads into the penultimate warm-up Test against Scotland at Murrayfield on August 11th, followed by a week of warm weather training in the surfing resort of Capbreton in south-west France. Eddie O'Sullivan has yet to indicate when he will announce the 30-man World Cup squad but the IRB cut-off point is Tuesday, August 14th.
Next it's up to Belfast ahead of the Ravenhill Friday night experience against Italy on August 24th. It will be the first international at the venue since Ireland beat Scotland 6-0 on February 27th, 1954.
The significant departure after that is to the Irish base camp in Bordeaux on September 5th where the opening pool match against Namibia takes place at the Chaban-Delmas Stadium four days later. Throughout all this the provinces will be preparing for commencement of the Magners Celtic League - a master fixture list will be released next month. The opening rounds will overlap with the World Cup but at least the early September kick-off has been delayed by a couple of weeks.
Munster are taking off on a unique warm-up schedule with a trip to Chicago to face the US Eagles in Toyota Park on August 26th before hosting Saracens at Musgrave Park on September 7th.
The Cork venue will be the home patch for every league game with a partially renovated Thomond Park available for European games (capacity 13,000), which incidentally begin on the weekend of November 9th to 11th.
Munster's new centre signing, former New Zealand Maori captain Rua Tipoki, arrives next week to bring the squad up to 35. There is a 32 man cut-off but some leeway is allowed this season with a minimum of 10 Munster players on Ireland duty until October. Chris Wyatt and John Kelly's contracts expire in December. Connacht assist the Springboks' World Cup preparations with what promises to be a memorable occasion at the Sportsground on Tuesday August 21st. A 5,000 sell -out is expected, but clubhouse terrace tickets are still for sale on www.ticketmaster.ie.
Michael Bradley's squad also host Castres on back-to-back weekends at the end of August before travelling to the Stoop to play Harlequins. Ulster play Leeds on August 31st and European Pool opponents Gloucester on September 5th, both at Ravenhill. Their three foreign signings - Scottish internationals Rob Dewey and Simon Danielli and Italian Carlo Del Fava - are unavailable until after the World Cup.
Ulster introduced new assistant coach Steve Williams along with recently contracted players Jarleth Carey, Neil Hanna, Seamus Mallon and David Pollock to the media yesterday.
Leinster play Bath at the Recreation Grounds on September 7th, while a home friendly date is yet to be confirmed. The province has broken the 6,000 mark for season ticket sales at the redeveloped RDS (capacity 18,000). Tickets are available on www.leinsterrugby.ie.
Schoolboy/girl tickets are ¤99, while adult prices start at ¤209 up to ¤839 for the family gold option, which caters for two adults and two children in the covered grandstand. Ulster have sold 3,870 season tickets so far, surpassing last year's total. Only promenade and terrace availability remain. See www.ulsterrugby. ie. Season ticket holders get first choice on the Ireland v Italy tickets before general sale commences on July 9th.
Connacht have sold just under 300 season tickets, while Munster figures are as yet unavailable.
