International match: The IRFU are giving this competition a big push. To a large extent the turn-out for the Friday, March 10th inaugural AIB Club International between Ireland and Scotland in Donnybrook will determine what the public interest will be for future games.
The hopes are that all of the Six Nations unions will buy into the concept of amateur players competing at the higher level.
Launched yesterday in Dublin, the game is part of the IRFU Community Rugby Programme that was brought in at the beginning of the season and gives non-contracted club players the opportunity to win representative honours for Ireland and to showcase the club game at the highest possible level.
Players must be eligible to play for Ireland and must play club rugby in Ireland. They are ineligible if they are contracted to IRFU development teams, are a designated club professional, or were members of this season's Irish Under-21 team.
Caps are also being awarded to the players, which should prove an added incentive, while RTÉ have decided not to go with the Irish Under-21 match against Scotland under-21s but the club international. It will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2 at 7.35pm.
The final 22-man squad was selected from an initial squad of 38 players from 17 different clubs across all three divisions of the AIB All-Ireland League.
It is coached by Buccaneers, Geoff Moylan and managed by former Munster and Ireland second row and current Shannon coach Mick Galwey.
Phil Orr, former British and Irish Lions prop, is also part of the selection team and chairman of the selection Committee.
"We don't know a lot about them (Scotland) and we imagine they won't know much about us either," said Galwey yesterday.
"That's part of the excitement of the whole thing. So we just have to concentrate on getting our own game right over the next week or so and work on our strengths.
"Given that a lot of our players have never played together before, the most important thing is that we sort out our own game."
Galwey added that a lot of work has gone in to fairly selecting the team and that a number of people have been watching AIL matches since last autumn.
"It's a unique competition. It's not like picking an Irish team. We had to look at every club," he added.
"In October every club was contacted and they nominated people. We had a lot of people working very hard on this. The standard was very high and there were a lot of tight calls but we feel this is the best team."
Five of the starting team are students from UCC, UCD and Dublin University, with Trinity's Niall Conlon and Matt Crocket filling two of the frontrow positions, while Gareth Steenson, who played in an underage World Cup and was top points scorer at the tournament, lines out at outhalf. Buccaneers number eight David Quinlan captains the side.
"It's a tremendous honour to be asked to lead the team," said Quinlan. "Especially so since it is a very good side. We spent two weekends of trials in Dublin and it was very tough, very committed. Guys really wanted to make the team, so it is a real honour to make it and be part of this first club international."
IRELAND (v Scotland): D Hurley (UCC); N O'Brien (Clontarf), S Grissing (UCD), G Telford (Dungannon), D Keane (Clontarf); G Steenson (Dungannon), F O'Loughlin (Clontarf); N Conlon (Dublin University), M Crockett (Dublin University), S Shaw (Ballymena), Marc Warburton (Dublin University), D Ryan (Shannon), P Malone (Garryowen), C Hartigan (Buccaneers), D Quinlan (Buccaneers) captain. Replacements: K Corrigan (Lansdowne), R Sweeney (Clontarf), A Maher (Lansdowne), K Croke (UCD), G Hurley (Garryowen), D Delaney (Shannon), C O'Boyle (Garryowen).
Rugby Fixtures
FRIDAY
Celtic League: Cardiff Blues v Ospreys, At Arms Park, 7.10pm; Glasgow Warriors v Border Reivers, Firhill, 7.30pm; Ulster v Munster, Ravenhill Road, 7.35pm.
SATURDAY
All-Ireland League
Division One: Belfast Harlequins v Cork Constitution, Deramore; Co Carlow v Blackrock, Oak Park; Dublin University v Dungannon, College Park; Galwegians v Ballymena, Crowley Park; Garryowen v Shannon, Dooradoyle; St Mary's v Buccaneers, Templehill; UCD v Clontarf, Belfield; UL Bohemians v Lansdowne, Dubarry Park.
Division Two: Bective Rangers v UCC, Donnybrook; Dolphin v Old Crescent, Musgrave Park; DLSP v Barnhall, Kilternan; Highfield v Ballynahinch, Woodleigh Park; Malone v Old Belvedere, Gibson Park; Thomond v Terenure, Liam Fitzgerald Park; Waterpark v Greystones, Ballinakill; Young Munster v Midleton, Towns Park.
Division Three: Ards v Old Wesley, Donnybrook; Clonakilty v Instonians, The Vale; Corinthians v Portadown, Corinthian Park; Nenagh Ormond v Sunday's Well, New Ormond Park; QUB v Connemara, The Dub; Skerries v Bruff, Holmpatrick; Suttonians v City of Derry, Memorial Grounds; Wanderers v Banbridge, Lansdowne Road.
SUNDAY
Celtic League: Leinster v Connacht, Donnybrook, 5.15pm.
