The silly season of summer transfers involving coaches and players was kicked off yesterday when St Mary's confirmed the long-running rumour that New Zealander Brent Pope would be leaving Clontarf to become coach at Templeville Road next season. The former Otago backrower played for St Mary's when they came within a match of winning the AIL before losing to Young Munster at Lansdowne Road in 1993. Pope spent five years at Castle Avenue and guided Clontarf from Division Three to Division One. Pope takes over from Steve Hennessy and Hugh Maguire, who had coached St Mary's to successive AIB League semi-finals before losing away to Shannon and Garryowen in the last two years.
Hennessy himself was informed of the change yesterday and commented: "There had been a lot of speculation in recent weeks; it's fact now and good luck to him. On the basis that there was a feeling within the club's hierarchy that a change was needed, we were happy to step down." St Mary's, strengthened already by the return of Malcolm O'Kelly, are also being linked with the Trinity pair Mark McHugh and Richard Woods, though it is expected that the latter, the Irish under-21 openside flanker this season, will remain at Trinity.
Deadline for players transferring between clubs from the same province is June 1st, while the four provincial directors have also submitted their list of contracted players to the IRFU for next season.
The biggest player turnarounds are expected to take place in Leinster and Connacht. While it is an open secret that Gary Halpin will be leaving Harlequins to join Blackrock next season, it is also anticipated that Halpin will be taking up the offer of a full-time provincial contract with Leinster.
The aforementioned Pope will remain in charge until the conclusion of Clontarf's Leinster Senior Cup campaign and yesterday's draw for the Heineken-sponsored event pitted them against the holders Lansdowne. In a double-header at Lakelands Park, this will be preceded by the first semi-final between DLSP and Skerries.
While Lansdowne are the holders, Clontarf haven't been in a final since 1936. Skerries reached one for the first time last season, before losing to Lansdowne, while DLSP are seeking to reach their first final after also getting to the semi-finals last year for the first time in over 40 years.
The draw for the semi-finals of the Ulster Senior Cup was also made yesterday, with Ballymena drawn against Malone at Ravenhill this Thursday evening, while Portadown face Instonians 24 hours later at the same venue.
Collegians, relegated from Division Four of the AIB league this year, and NIFC (promoted from Division Three) are to amalgamate and field a side in Division Two next season. This follows North's decision to sell their grounds in Ormeau.
