Plans to appoint an international rowing coach hinge on a meeting next week between representatives of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union and John Treacy of the Sports Council.

The chief executive of the IARU, Frank Tierney, the international manager and chairman of the international rowing committee, Mick O'Callaghan, and Joe Pyke, the chairman of the coach education committee, will meet Treacy to determine what kind of funding will be available.

While the IARU is happy with the grant it received from the Sports Council there is a real urgency about securing funding for a coach for elite athletes: the longer the wait the smaller the pool becomes.

Sunday sees the beginning of the season with the Munster Branch head of the river hosted by Killorglin. Numbers will be issued to competitors from 9 a.m. and the presentation will be held at 4.30 p.m.