The Six Nations championship is to be condensed into a seven-week tournament from 2003.

The decision was made by the Six Nations committee yesterday despite objections from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). The move alters the traditional structure of European rugby's premier competition, where matches were generally played on a fortnightly basis.

The IRFU would have preferred to maintain the current schedule, but their position on a compromise arrangement was that the championship should last for at least seven weeks, and the union is happy with that outcome.

The move is likely to be popular with players and coaches as unions should be permitted to keep international squads together over the seven-week period without having to release individuals back to clubs or provinces.

Matches will be played on the first, second, fourth, sixth and seventh weekends of the tournament, with the 2003 campaign opening on the weekend of February 15th.

It is envisaged that the final round of matches will always be played at the end of March, so on occasions the schedule will have to be switched to take the Easter holiday programme into account.

Six Nations Committee Chairman Alan Hosie said: "The committee were acutely aware of the challenge of making any significant change to the format of the world's most successful annual competition, and great concern was expressed as to the implications for rugby supporters.

"Everyone around the table respected the sincerity and strength of the WRU's views, and we will be doing everything we can to ensure that the Six Nations Championship remains a festival of rugby which is accessible to the widest possible audience."

Coach Matt Williams has named the same team and replacements that helped Leinster to beat Glasgow for Saturday's Celtic League Final against Munster at Lansdowne Road. The only concern at the start of the week was Girvan Dempsey, but he trained yesterday. Keith Gleeson had a dead leg but is expected to play.

Munster's Peter Stringer faces a race to recover from an ankle injury. He played superbly in the semi-final win over Ulster, but the wear and tear of the 80 minutes made the problem worse. If he is ruled out - Munster will make a decision on Saturday if necessary - Mike Prendergast will deputise.

Coach Declan Kidney is awaiting further medical opinion on John Kelly, Jason Holland and Rob Henderson before deciding who will join Anthony Horgan in the three-quarter line.

It is expected that Kelly, Mullins and Holland will fill the three places, with Henderson's presence at training yesterday a surprise, although his damaged knee was very heavily strapped.

The WRU disciplinary committee have banned Newport prop Adrian Garvey for six matches following an incident in the Leinster-Newport Celtic League quarter-final at Donnybrook last month.

Leinster cited Garvey for an alleged stamp on outhalf Nathan Spooner during the match. The matter was eventually referred to the WRU Disciplinary Committee under competition rules and they o imposed a six-match suspension.

Newport, on learning of Leinster's decision to cite Garvey, decided to cite Spooner and Trevor Brennan for alleged high tackles during the game.

However, the WRU threw out the allegations against the Leinster players.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; N Spooner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, P Wallace; L Cullen, M O'Kelly; E Miller, V Costello, K Gleeson. Replacements: P Coyle, G Hickie, R Casey, T Brennan, B Willis, P McKenna, A Magro.

MUNSTER: D Crotty; (from) J Kelly/R Henderson/M Mullins/J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, A N Other; M Horan, F Sheahan, P Clohessy; M Galwey (capt), P O'Connell; J Williams, A Foley, A Quinlan. Replacements: to be announced.