The IRFU have pushed back plans to change the structure of the All Ireland League for clubs.
There was to have been a streamlining which would have seen the League act as more of a feeder for the four provinces but a strong reaction from clubs has seen this pushed back into further consultation.
This will have an impact on the search for a new sponsor with Ulster Bank having decided not to renew its partnership with Irish Rugby last month after nine years backing the club and community side of the sport.
The League gets underway in the first week of October and there will now be no suspension of promotion and relegation which had been planned to create a better balance of provincial teams at each level of competition.
There will be a number of changes with a greater number of players able to play for clubs at certain times of the year even if contracted to play professional rugby with the provinces.
There will also be a greater number of double headers featuring Women’s teams playing in their league being held on the same days.
The strength of the National side and the Provinces has created a greater than ever gap with the still mainly amateur club game and the IRFU had recognised this with the plans for change.
There is still a great sense of pride though in the individual club game which has created challenges in pushing through change.
With uncertainty over the structure and the loss of its long-term sponsor, that does not bode well for the future though it does remain a competition with a place on the calendar, strong tradition and the potential to rise again along with the other elements of the sport.
Sport for Business will be looking at the off the field activities at each of the four Provinces over the coming days in the build up to the start of the Guinness PRO14 season on Friday night.
We will also be hosting special Masterclasses in Cork, Athlone and Dublin over the next three weeks, in partnership with 2into3, helping clubs to look at the best way to approach applications for the latest round of Sports Capital Grants which will be top of many club agendas through September and the likely closing date this year in October.
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