The organisers of the Celtic tournament yesterday fired the latest salvo in the on-going battle for pre-eminence with their counterparts in English club rugby, claiming to have the greater player representation in the upcoming World Cup.

They claimed the Celtic League was providing 79 players to nine nations competing in Australia. That figure represents 19 more international players than the top two divisions in England, with Celtic League champions Munster providing the most with 13 of their players involved Down Under.

A dozen of the Munster squad will represent Ireland, and their recent signing, prop Gordon McIlwham, will be travellingwith Scotland.

Not surprisingly, Leinster are the second highest suppliers of internationals with 11 players, 10 of those in Eddie O'Sullivan's squad and new signing Felipe Contepomi playing with Argentina.

Two teams have 10 players each, Celtic Warriors and Llanelli, with Ulster further down the list with five - Simon Best, Gary Longwell, David Humphreys, Neil Doak and Paddy Wallace.

Of the Northern Hemisphere sides the French game appears to be taking the biggest hit, providing 94 players from 13 different nations to the competition.

Apart from the 29 players playing with the national team, French clubs will be represented in Australia by 20 Georgians, 15 Romanians and 13 Argentinians, as well as a number of players with minor national powers.

Meanwhile English leagues have 60 players travelling. Almost half of those are on Clive Woodward's hopeful squad and 11 more are Scots playing their rugby south of the border.

Four players from the USA, three Canadians, two Tongans and two players from Argentina are also involved in the two-month exodus.