Boyd props up LeinsterIt seemed very much a case of entente cordiale between Ulster and Leinster at Ravenhill on Friday night and no, we're not talking about the match won 17-13 by the home side. Rather it was the hand of friendship that Ulster extended to their opponents when lending them a player, prop Clem Boyd, to sit on the bench.
Leinster were down to their last two props, captain Reggie Corrigan and Peter Coyle, because the rest were injured. Emmet Byrne (calf), Niall Treston (shoulder), John Lyne (broken thumb) and Paul Wallace (operation on ankle) are all sidelined so Ulster kindly provided Boyd to act as cover.
Whatever the largesse off the pitch - the Ulster Branch suggested they already have three bus loads of supporters making the trip to Lansdowne Road to support Leinster in the European Cup quarter-final - there was a little testiness to the exchanges among the combatants. Ulster centre Shane Stewart's Ryan Giggs-like celebration (getting the shirt off and waving it around your head) after scoring a try probably wasn't appreciated but the talented centre was also involved in a collision with Leinster outhalf Nathan Spooner that saw the latter stretchered off with concussion.
The latter should just about be recovered for his wedding later this month.
Kay pay
IN A climate where everyone from rugby unions to clubs are cutting back their expenditure and trying to impose salary caps, it was interesting to note that Leicester are reputed to have offered England international second row Ben Kay a £400,000 deal over three years.
The 27 year old is happy at the club and the initial indications are he will sign the contract in the next fortnight. Explaining his decision Kay said: "I'm happy here. Leicester is a club with a nice atmosphere and the best and most fans in the country. There is a good buzz about the place for the run-in."
It seems Leicester also have the cheque-book poised for veteran French international Olivier Roumat and will entice him from Biarritz to act as cover when Martin Johnson and Kay are at the World Cup with England.
Courtney well-geared for kit
THE Leinster squad's recent open day was a great success for all concerned but the backdrop, an effort to collect old and new rugby gear for the Romanian appeal also received a great response and there was no greater contributor that referee Donal "Kit" Courtney.
A renowned collector of jerseys on his extensive travels, Courtney, or the Kitaholic as he was referred to by a close friend, provided two and a half black bin bags full of jerseys with the promise of shorts to follow. There were also significant contributions from clubs and schools. All the gear collected will be shipped out to Romania.
South Africa take action
SOUTH Africa, pilloried for their thuggery at Twickenham in a pre-Christmas Test match against England, have taken action against those players responsible for gross indiscipline, according to coach Rudolf Straeuli and South African Rugby Ltd's managing director, Rian Oberholzer.
According to the planet-rugby website Straeuli, Oberholzer and one of South Africa's four professional referees, Mark Lawrence, addressed the media in Cape Town on Friday afternoon, highlighting SA's lack of discipline ahead of the jam-packed 2003 season.
The Springboks were criticised for their poor discipline whilst on tour in France, Scotland and England last year. Not only were they heavily penalised in open play and set play, but they resorted to outrageously aggressive tactics against England at Twickenham, when the match had passed from their grasp.
Straeuli pointed out: "We dealt with it (after the England Test), it's unacceptable. The players concerned were spoken to and fined, they know they will be watched."
He declined to name any players but conceded that there were five disciplined.
According to Oberholzer, captain Corné Krige was one of the players, whilst James Dalton, Jannes Labuschagne (sent off against England), Butch James and Robbie Fleck would more than likely have been the others spoken to. Straeuli went on to confirm that any repeat behaviour would see players removed from the international arena.
Kyle does the honours
LEINSTER'S penchant for getting a well known former player to present the players' jerseys ahead of each game added an rugby luminary to the list that have already fulfilled the function. Coach Matt Williams asked legendary Irish outhalf and Ulster man (now based in Zambia) Jackie Kyle to present the jerseys to the players ahead of last Friday night's game against Kyle's native province, Ulster, at Ravenhill.
Kyle arrived at the La Mons hotel, Leinster's base, at about 5.15 p.m. and into the team room where he gave a short speech, the primary message of which was that even though rugby was now professional, it was important to enjoy the game. The man who is arguably Ireland's greatest number 10 then went to the match and watched Ulster triumph.
Tour decision on hold
THERE has been no decision as yet on the fate of Ireland's summer tour to Australia, Tonga and Samoa. The Australian leg is definitely a runner but the other two matches will depend on whether the Tongan and Samoan rugby unions can foot the bill, as is custom, for the visiting team. Given the parlous state of finances for both unions that doesn't appear to be an option and the IRFU's current financial plight won't make them want to foot the bill.
The International Board (IRB) could underwrite Ireland's two Tests in the Pacific islands but would be under no obligation to do so. The IRFU has informed the IRB about their view of the situation and the fact there hasn't been any response from the Tongan and Samoan unions. As of now the tour goes ahead but it still seems possible that the final two legs of the tour may be cancelled, a state of affairs that wouldn't displease the IRFU, the Irish players or the IRFU's director of fitness, Liam Hennessy.
Fit to be fined
BEING fit for action will take on a whole new meaning for AIB league players next season with an edict from the IRFU that clubs will be fined €2,400 if they do not have a fitness/conditioning coach at the club. It seems that the fitness of the average club players hasn't improved in the last 10 years.
