RUGBY/All-Ireland League: A full, day-long meeting of the IRFU committee will take place tomorrow to discuss proposals for a scaled-down All-Ireland League, with the disbandment of the competition altogether also up for discussion.

Prior to that, the first division clubs will convene this evening in seeking a united front for the continuation of the top flight at least.

"There are discussions, within the context of the Strategic Planning Process, in relation to the domestic game and obviously the competition model is an integral part of the domestic game," confirmed the IRFU chief executive Philip Browne.

"At the end of the day there are no decisions taken on anything. There's effectively, at the moment, an agreement that the league as it is currently structured, would go on for another year.

"But what is more than evident going around the country and listening to all our constituents and to our clubs is that there is no consensus whatsoever on the domestic competition model.

"At the end of the line, someone is going to have to make a decision. Our task in Irish rugby is to lead the sport, and we have to look at the sport in its entirety and within its domestic format, and that's what we're doing.

"So all of these factors have to come into this debate. Whether there's any conclusion at the end of this debate I can't be certain."

Browne confirmed that the agreement for a three-division All-Ireland League is set to last for the 2004/05 season as well.

He also admitted that there were a series of options regarding a remodelled All-Ireland League up for debate, but proponents of the club game are concerned at the volume of support within the IRFU hierarchy for the complete disbandment of the AIL. Instead, the clubs would return to provincial leagues, perhaps then qualifying for an AIL of sorts in the second half of the season.

Inherent in this is a belief that the clubs would no longer be expected to produce players for the professional game, though needless to say this would meet with vehement opposition from most of the leading clubs and perhaps elsewhere as well.

It seems inconceivable that the IRFU academies and the four provinces would take over this mantle entirely.

One only has to look at the progress of the Clontarf contingent, amongst many others, at Connacht especially this season, as well as Brendan Burke at Barnhall and Leinster, not to mention the host of provincial and national players which have been produced by the clubs even in the professional era, to question such a limited long-term strategy.

The First Division Clubs' Association have already submitted a letter to the committee in advance of tomorrow's potentially pivotal meeting, and will convene again this evening in an effort to achieve the 75 per cent majority required for an agreed proposal.

The association's secretary, Wally Morrissey of Cork Constitution, is hopeful that the first division clubs will agree on maintaining a top flight of at least 14 teams. "We are calling this meeting because we have had no dialogue or formal proposals from the Union, and are concerned at the rumours that are leaking out," said Morrissey.

"A first division needs to be funded properly, with the union perhaps helping to finance the employment of coaches. The association would also be asking the union to seek less matches in the Celtic League, by dividing it into two home-and-away sections, and to scrap the Celtic Cup."

Meanwhile, Brian O'Driscoll looks like being named as Ireland's captain for the Six Nations campaign when Eddie O'Sullivan announces a squad of in then region of 34 players for the upcoming championship today.

O'Driscoll is unlikely to have recovered from a torn hamstring in time for the start of the championship, which would oblige O'Sullivan to pick a temporary captain, with Anthony Foley and David Humphreys likely alternatives.

Today's squad is not expected to deviate significantly from Ireland's 30-man World Cup squad, of which only the retired Keith Wood and the injured duo of Denis Hickie and Alan Quinlan are currently ruled out.

Fit-again Rob Henderson is expected to return, while the form of Gordon D'Arcy and Connacht hooker Bernard Jackman should result in their inclusion.