The High Court has reserved judgment on an application by a former Welsh rugby international for an injunction restraining the Dublin-based governing body of world rugby - IRFB Services Ireland - from replacing him as head of rugby development.
Geoffrey Evans (62), who retired from international rugby in 1973, took up employment with the organisation in September 2001.
He complained in an affidavit that, since January last, the defendants had effectively carried out their promise of giving him a "non-job".
Roddy Horan SC, for Mr Evans, said all the duties of his client had begun to diminish since he had had a meeting with the chief executive, Mike Miller, on December 1st last.
Until then, Mr Evans had been working extremely hard dealing with day-to-day issues concerning his job while also preparing a strategic plan for rugby development. His client was a rugby colossus and a hero of his generation, counsel added.
While the IRFB was entitled to reorganise, it could not ride roughshod over his client's contract of employment, counsel said.
In an affidavit, Mr Evans said that, since the announcement of the restructuring of his department with that of the tournaments department on January 17th last, all those who had formerly reported to him were now reporting to another person. His duties had been eradicated completely and he had been left with no work to do on a daily basis.
As a result, he felt humiliated. His sleep pattern had been badly affected, as he found himself continuously thinking about his job predicament. At the time he was approached about the job in mid-2001 he was head of the department of applied science at London's South Bank University. He had been told that the appointment would be for a minimum of five years.
Michael Howard, for the IRFB, said this was not a case where they were seeking to appoint somebody, as they had already performed the restructuring. Mr Evans had been told changes were taking place, that there was going to be a uniform position and that a man was going to be appointed on an interim basis.
It had been made clear to Mr Evans that he was not going to be dismissed, but rather incorporated into the restructuring which was taking place.
To suggest that one could not alter his conditions was unsustainable, counsel said.
Mr Howard said Mr Evans had conceded that a restructuring was required and he had not claimed that there was a failure to give him a new job. The issues were about the package which had been put to Mr Evans.
Mr Justice Clarke said that he would give his judgment on the application for an interlocutory injunction - one continuing pending the full hearing of Mr Evans's actions against the IRFB - next Monday.