The IRFU have devised a fixture schedule for the season 2001-2002, submitted it to the clubs for perusal and are optimistic that this is how next season will pan out. The advent of the Celtic League means that the season will now start on August 25th. The provinces will now have a minimum of 14 matches and potentially 19 were an Irish province to win both the Celtic League and the European Cup.

There are only four potential clashes between All Ireland League and representative fare, the first two rounds of the AIL coinciding with the dates for the Celtic League semi-final and final while the other two throw up a clash between the AIL and European Cup quarter-final and final respectively.

Ireland will undertake a three-match tour of New Zealand next summer with two of the games being test matches. They are simply complying with the International Board touring schedule.

Australia will vary their backline moves to get around the problem of controversy over decoy runners in their forthcoming European rugby tour, assistant coach Glen Ella said yesterday.

Backs coach Ella said he was helping to make alterations to the Wallabies' moves ahead of their internationals against France (November 4th), Scotland (11th) and England (Nov 18th).

Ella said the changes were not major but they could become necessary in the northern hemisphere to prevent a crackdown by referees on dummy runners.

"There are some discussions about decoy runners and possible obstruction which we're looking at," Ella said. "We have to make some adjustments on what kind of moves we call and we are shaping our game that way."