Overhaul set to signal the end of AIL play-offs

A MAJOR overhaul of the All-Ireland League for the 2011-2012 season is set to signal the end of the play-off system to determine the winners of Division 1 in the short term at least.
Instead the winners of the new-look Division 1A of the League will be deemed champions. The IRFU have indicated, however, that consideration may be given to play-offs in Division 1A to be included in the future. Under the new structure Division 1A and B in the 2011-12 season will each feature ten teams with clubs playing each other on a home and away basis to ensure an 18-game regular season. Promotion and relegation between 1A and 1B would be one automatic and one decided by play-off.
Division 2 will consist of two sections referred to as 2A and 2B with 16 teams each playing 15 games. Promotion and relegation between 2A and 2B would be two automatic and one by play-off. Promotion and relegation between Division 1B and 2A would be automatic two up and two down.
Contracted players will only play in Division 1, with a reduction from three to two in the number of fully contracted players who may be included in the match day squads per team per match of which only one can be a forward. Rolling substitutes are to be introduced on a trial basis.
Under the new structure, the number of senior clubs will increase by four from 48 to 52.
This will mean that each of the provincial champions from next season will automatically gain senior club status. An emphasis for the new structure will also be a move towards playing more Friday night games to ensure that in as much as is possible, the AIL season does not come into direct competition with the provincial games by utilising the flexibility of clubs with floodlighting facilities. The present qualifying league structure (provincial junior league winner’s round robin competition) would be maintained, including the promotion and relegation system to 2B.
The team which finishes top of their respective division will be deemed to be the divisional league champions and the winners of Division 1A will be deemed the All-Ireland League Champions. The structures are to remain in place until the 2016-17 Season to provide stability to the league. The announcement follows a consultation process that was begun in October 2009 with various interested parties.
Meanwhile, Munster players Alan Quinlan and Paul Warwick are included in the star-studded Barbarians squad for the clash with Declan Kidney’s Ireland side at Thomond Park on Friday week, June 4.


Heineken Cup champions Toulouse provide All Black scrum-half Byron Kelleher, Cedric Haymans and Florian Fritz while their opponents Biarritz Olympique’s captain Jerome Thion and hooker Benoit August have also accepted invitations to make their Barbarians’ debuts.
European Challenge Cup winners Cardiff Blues are represented by Martyn Williams, Casey Laulala and Xavier Rush while runners-up Toulon supply Pierre Mignoni, Sebastien Bruno and South African Ross Skeate. The Barbarians face England in their opening end-of-season fixture at Twickenham this Sunday before facing Ireland on Friday week in Limerick (7.45pm).
While the Thomond Park game is a sell-out, there are still hospitality places available, full details can be found on the Thomond Park website or by contacting Michelle Payne at mpayne@thomondpark.ie or by phone on 061-421129.
Six Munster Rugby academy players receiving development contracts for the 2010-11 season while eleven new players have been recruited to the province’s academy.
Academy Player of the Year Scott Deasy and a number of players recently involved in the British & Irish Cup final, Ian Nagle, Dave Foley, Peter O’Mahony, Stephen Archer and Danny Barnes, have all been promoted to the senior squad on development contracts.
New recruits include sub academy players Luke O’Dea, Cathal Sheridan, Simon Zebo, Sean Henry, Brian Hayes, Dave Kilcoyne, Alan Cotter, Gareth Quinn McDonogh and Ronan O’Mahony, who continue to progress making the move into the academy programme. First Year Academy Players: Alan Cotter (Young Munster) prop, JJ Hanrahan (School Rockwell, Club TBC) out-half-centre, Brian Hayes (Cork Con) second row, Sean Henry (UL Bohs) hooker, Corey Hircock (TBC) centre, David Kilcoyne (UL Bohs) prop, Luke O’Dea (Shannon) full-back, Ronan O’Mahony (Garryowen) full-back-winger, Gareth Quinn McDonogh (Shannon) out-half, Cathal Sheridan (UL Bohs) scrum-half, Simon Zebo (Cork Con).

Colm Kinsella