The IRFU are today expected to ratify the proposed moves of Reggie Corrigan and Gabriel Fulcher to Lansdowne, following a meeting of the union's contracts sub-committee to discuss these and other transfers.

The union have relaxed their initial ruling that internationally contracted players who would return from England must rejoin the Irish clubs which they left.

In addition to Mark McCall rejoining Dungannon, this would also clear the way for David Humphreys to move to the same club (despite having left Ballymena to join London Irish) and renew his link with Willie Anderson. Despite their relegation to the second division via the play-offs, a third London Irish capture for the Ulster club seems possible in the shape of Justin Fitzpatrick.

Meanwhile, the side who beat them in the play-off, Buccaneers, are also embarking on a significant recruitment drive, and a number of players have been linked with them, namely Garryowen's Stephen McIvor, the Young Munster second-row Dennis O'Meara and the Bohemians and Connacht prop Martin Cahill.