The Friends of Connacht came from the four corners of the province and beyond, from Enniscorthy to Blackrock, from Monivea to Connemara, and they came in their thousands - well 2,000 anyway - bearing placards and a grudge against the IRFU.

Their "dignified rally", as one of their leaders called it, culminated in the handing in of a letter and a petition at 62 Lansdowne Road. They were invited in for tea, but declined. It might have been a little crowded.

Where one went, they all went, for there has surely never been such a show of agitated if good-humoured solidarity outside the gates of the IRFU headquarters. Under a clear blue sky, at one point they stretched the length of Upper Baggot Street. Car horns tooted in support, with one driver waving a Lansdowne scarf.

Banners fluttered on behalf of Garbally College, Sligo RFC, Connacht Fans, Ballinasloe, Portumna Community School, Blackrock, a Gaillimh flag with the GAA crest, the Connemara All Blacks and Ginger Supports Connacht. The now Wales-based Ginger McLoughlin was joined by other former internationals Robbie McGrath, Mick Quinn, Phil O'Callaghan and Noel Mannion, and senator Jim Glennon.

A placard from Clifden asked "Underage Connemara RFC - Future Asylum Seekers?", while a leaflet doing the rounds "cordially" invited the IRFU to a "Connacht Rugby Club on any Saturday to observe the future of rugby in Ireland. No presents please, just yours will do. RSVP".

Their numbers were swelled by the majority of the current Connacht squad, out to try to save their careers and their livelihoods, and by Alec Blayney, a past Connacht president now in his mid-80s, who also walked the walk.

The peitition was handed in by two of the elected Friends of Connacht representatives, Danno Heaslip and Tommy Conlon, which showed that the union have even succeeded in uniting Galwegians and Buccaneers, as well as three mini-rugby players from Galwegians: twins Daniel and Cassie Deegan, and Michael Fallon.

Philip Browne, the chief executive of the IRFU, along with the union's honorary treasurer, John Lyons, bravely accepted the petition at the front door - surely more than Browne's "job spec" had outlined.

"The first thing it shows is the passion in Irish sport, which is such a fundamental part of our achievements on the pitch," said Browne. "Secondly, it shows that there is genuine concern out there, and we've got to take that on board."

More concern than the IRFU had bargained for perhaps.

The thousands looking on waved red cards before breaking into song, the Fields of Athenry competing with Galway Bay FM's recently penned Ireland's Call featuring the "three proud provinces of Ireland". Although some, hopefully, clung to four.

The letter called on the IRFU "to discontinue the process they are currently engaged in, which is designed to lead to the expulsion of Connacht from professional provincial rugby", adding: "This process is divisive, damaging to the future of the game and could threaten the security of the institutions of the Irish Rugby Football Union."

"We didn't say too much," admitted Heaslip after emerging from the IRFU headquarters. "It's being said outside on the road. The Friends of Connacht only started a week ago. I'm absolutely astonished at the turn-out."

Pending further developments, the group have set up their own website, friendsofconnachtrugby.com, and have an email address at saveconnachtrugby@hotmail.com.

Addressing the crowd, Galway Bay FM rugby commentator Ralph O'Gorman, in one of several caustic references to Browne's description of Connacht as "seven per cent of the population and seven per cent of the playing population", remarked: "You only constitute seven per cent. You don't count. You are an endangered species."

O'Gorman then introduced a succession of speakers, beginning with Glennon, who commented: "The day that the demise of Connacht rugby arrives on the scene is the day that Irish rugby begins to disintegrate."

The presence of a prominent sporting Fianna Fail politician will make the union hierarchy especially edgy, as pressure will surely be brought to bear on the Minister for Sport, John O'Donoghue, regarding grants to any body that might ratify the politically divisive decision to make their sport a 27-county game.

Mary O'Rourke, another Fianna Fail senator and former minister, demanded "justice and rights for our province".

"This is much bigger than just Connacht," said the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny. "We stand for inclusion in Irish sport, and sport is part of Irish society. I will not stand for the segregation of one-quarter of our country in any sport. It's just not on."

While commending the IRFU for the "great job they've done over the years", Kenny concluded by saying: "Any child has the legitimate right to aspire to play for his province and his country."

Other politicians in attendance were Jim Higgins, Terry Leydon, Denis Naughton, Paul Connaughton, Paddy McHugh and senator Geraldine Feeney from Sligo.

In conclusion, O'Gorman refered to the final paragraph of the letter handed in to 62 Lansdowne Road. "The demonstration which accompanies the delivery of this letter is not the culmination of our protest, but merely the beginning."

An endangered species they may be, but they're not extinct yet.