IRFU strategy document: The possibility of representative honours for amateur players was just one of the suggestions outlined by IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne yesterday in Dublin.

In a new consultative process with branches, clubs and schools, the IRFU hope to implement change that will sustain and strengthen the game for years to come.

The financial stress on Irish rugby is "currently not sustainable", according to Browne, who along with the IRFU's Strategic Planning Group (SPG) and the Genesis Management Consultants briefed officials and media on the key issues contained in the newly published document Taking Irish Rugby Forward.

"We think amateur players should have the opportunity to represent their country as well. Why should it only be professional players," said Browne, who also outlined the dire financial consequences unless change is quickly put in place.

The document addresses all of the issues, identifies the main factors influencing the sport in Ireland and offers ways of addressing key areas. The hope is that the "stakeholders" in the sport read the document and respond with their views over the next four months. Chairman for the SPG John Hussey and the IRFU hope to have a new plan for rugby before February 2004.

"We must inform our stakeholders and have them involved in the process," said Hussey, referring to the IRFU's decision not to come up with their own blueprint and present it as a fait accompli.

The financial pressures are the most pressing for the union, who outlined general economic and social trends that will have an adverse effect on rugby.

"After the disaster in Lens at the 1999 World Cup our decision was to invest heavily, otherwise the game would die," said Browne. "We're operating in an open and commercial marketplace and we're in it for profit to fund the game of rugby all around the country. Our aim is to be one of the top five nations in the world and to have the best domestic programme in the northern hemisphere."

While the Irish team's success ratio has risen from 33 per cent in 1999 to 65 per cent in 2003, the IRFU have to replace up to 25 per cent of the professional workforce who leave the game each year. The same percentage of professional players are injured at any one time, forcing teams to rely on overseas players.

"We need a stadium of 65,000 with corporate facilities - otherwise our model for rugby just isn't sustainable," said Browne. The IRFU are waiting to hear from the Government on this.

It is hoped that people respond to the document through the internet or their branches, and the IRFU say all contributions will be considered.

One of the main issues will be whether Ireland can sustain four professional provincial teams and, if not, whether Connacht will again be the focus of IRFU cost-cutting.

Option One in the discussion document suggests promoting four provincial teams but the implications are that it "is not likely to be sustainable in medium term" and is likely to "lead to significant redundancies . . . in order to deal with mounting losses" and to "jeopardise grant aid from the Irish Sports Council if deficit continues."