Basketball News round-up: Basketball Ireland was officially relaunched by the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, John O'Donoghue, in Dublin yesterday. The face-lift comes after a lengthy review and the finalisation of a new five-year strategic plan.

Chief executive Debbie Massey also announced a new sponsorship deal with Italian sportswear company Errea, to be worn by the national sides.

The Superleague begins this weekend with a new north and south conference divide.

Defending champions Neptune are under the guidance of national head coach Tony Fitzpatrick, who coached Neptune to the league title in 2000, as he is free from international duties until spring.

The team has been strengthened by former Mardyke UCC Demons player Shane McCarthy while Kieran O'Brien and Pascal Bree are the only departures.

To make-up for the loss of McCarthy, Demons manager Pat Rice has acquired the services of European import Mike Michiels from Belgium. Another notable signing sees the Gleneagle Lakers bring in the 6ft 5in guard Tim Sullivan, the latest recruit to the Irish senior men's squad.

The last time the Superleague was played in a conference format was in 1994, when St Vincent's won the treble. Manager Joey Boylan has brought in six new players to build on their national championship victory of last season. Americans Mike Phenizee and Stephen Scheckles transfer from Edinburgh Rocks while Phil Taylor is another promising recruit.

One major loss to the St Vincent's squad is Karl Donnelly, who shall no longer play after taking up the new role of Superleague manager. Donnelly comes with a decent pedigree after gaining an undergraduate degree in marketing and a masters in IT. He was chairman of St Vincent's last year and is also a distinguished Gaelic football player with Na Fianna.

"What I would like to achieve in the next two to three years is to have the Superleague in a position that young sports people in Ireland aspire to play in the league," he said. "I would question whether that is the case at the moment because the profile of the league isn't there.

"I definitely think there is a product there to be sold and to be marketed. There is no doubt about it. It has shown over a period of time that the standard of Irish players has increased."