As the Six Nations Committee and the rugby unions involved set about refixing the outstanding three matches in the championship, intensive negotiations are taking place to arrange dates for Ireland's three outstanding matches for next autumn. Among the important factors in arranging these matches are television and sponsorship.

Earlier this week Syd Millar, chairman of the Six Nations TV and Sponsorship Committee, and Roger Pickering, chief executive of the Six Nations, met with representatives of the BBC who hold the primary television rights to the home matches of Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

"We are trying to find the most suitable dates and get the best solution bearing in mind the possible clash of dates with other major sporting events," said Millar. "In the autumn, the Ryder Cup, World Cup soccer and Heineken Cup matches will all be taking place. Then in November, there are international rugby matches scheduled against overseas opposition.

"It must be borne in mind that the Lions players will not return from Australia until well into July and those players will need some rest. All those things and other factors have to be taken into consideration before we can finalise dates that are suitable for all parties. As yet nothing has been decided but all options are being explored."

It is likely that the three matches will be taken out of the current rotation. Ireland had been due to play Wales, England and Scotland in that order and the championship was due to conclude last weekend.

There is now a strong volume of opinion that Ireland and England should meet in the final match, thus revising the schedule. That would seem likely if England's proposal of November 3rd or 4th for the match against Ireland - a European Cup weekend - is accepted. Bearing in mind the championship table, if the current sequence is maintained, the final match between Ireland and Scotland could take place with all the major issues in the championship having been decided. Even if Ireland lost to Wales and Scotland, there would still be a Grand Slam at stake for England against Ireland if they met in the last match of the sequence.

Should the original sequence be maintained and were Ireland to beat Wales and England, then Ireland would go to Edinburgh for a Grand Slam. But as of now the only certainty is that England will be playing Ireland with a Grand Slam at stake for the English. That is a factor that will influence the decision. Obviously all concerned wish to make the conclusion of the disrupted series as attractive as possible for supporters and for television and sponsors.

If Ireland win in Cardiff and Edinburgh and the last match is Ireland against England, then it would be in every sense a grand finale at Lansdowne Road with The Grand Slam, Championship and Triple Crown at stake for both sides. "We must take many factors into consideration and discussions between all the relevant parties are ongoing," said IRFU chief executive Philip Browne. "And there are, too, logistical factors. All options are being looked at." There is also the fact that Lansdowne Road will be in use on October 8th for a Republic of Ireland World Cup soccer match which would involve the installation of temporary seating at the ground.

TO more immediate matters, the match between Munster and the Rest of Ireland this evening at Thomond Park should give the Munster team a very worthwhile match in preparation for the European Cup semi-final. The return to club activity three weeks ago has given the Munster players badly needed match practice. But in the circumstances that have obtained, Munster badly need to play as a team, not having had a match since the memorable win over Biarrtiz in the quarter-final on January 29th.

Breaks in the group stages and lulls between the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the European Cup make life difficult for a regional side like Munster, although they managed to prosper in a similar situation last season. Prior to the resumption of the group matches in January, Munster played Leinster in a warm-up match and it proved to be very beneficial.

There is, too, an added dimension to the match this evening as the Lions management trio of manager Donal Lenihan, coach Graham Henry and his assistant Andy Robinson are all due to attend. So this is a very good opportunity for the players with Lions ambitions to impress, especially after being denied the chances of playing in the three postponed internationals.

The decision of the Ireland and Wasps centre Rob Henderson to play his rugby in Ireland for the next three years and to contract to Munster is extremely good news for the province. Henderson is a quality player. When he wears the Munster jersey it will not be for the first time. Nor will playing at Thomond Park be a new experience for him. I remember Henderson playing for Munster in September 1996 during Murray Kidd's tenure as Ireland coach and Pat Whelan's as manager. Henderson played for Munster against what was termed "An Ireland XV." Ireland won the match narrowly after Killian Keane had a kick at goal controversially disallowed in injury time.

The current Munster manager Jerry Holland coached the province at the time, and several of the current squad played in that match. These included Dominic Crotty, Keane, Mick Galwey (then as now Munster captain) and Anthony Foley. The current Leinster captain Liam Toland came on as a replacement for Munster.