Young Munster not happy with IRFU scheduling of Ulster Bank League semi final.

The Limerick side will be without some of their best players for Sunday’s Ulster Bank League semi-final against Clontarf as some of the squad will be involved with the Munster ‘A’ side.

Officials from the club have expressed their disappointment that a request to defer the game has been rejected by the IRFU.

Club secretary Collopy said:

“A representation was also made from the Munster Branch supporting the request to have the date changed but this has also been ignored.

“We now have players who are denied the opportunity to participate in the semi-final through no fault of their own. We have been informed that under IRFU player welfare policy, no player will be allowed to double up on Friday night and Sunday,”

“We are having to field a totally weakened team, which shows a total disregard for the league and the club game in general. It also, we believe, shows a total disregard to the sponsors Ulster Bank who would get a much higher coverage if it wasn’t clashing with so many other rugby events.

We spoke with RTÉ who said they would have no issue with moving the final of the Bateman Cup (from April 29 to April 23) and showing just one of the semi-finals instead, but (were told) the decision would have to come from the IRFU. The final response from the IRFU has been most disappointing.”

It seems a pity that a club which has battled all season to secure a semi final spot as well as provided players to the provincial set up cannot be accommodated on this occasion.

Calvin Nash is set to be one of the highest profile absentees from the panel and while it is a good thing that Nash is getting games at a higher level, the club game and it’s importance in feeding the provinces should not be forgotten.