While the Ireland squad shed pounds and probably a few tears at the Spala complex in Poland during their pre-season fitness regimen, the provinces are juggling the varied demands of recruitment, player rehabilitation and the onset, next month, of the season proper as manifest in upcoming warm-up matches.
Two of the Ireland squad that didn't travel to Poland are Munster hooker Jerry Flannery and Leinster centre Gordon D'Arcy, both of whom recently underwent shoulder operations.
Flannery's is the more serious; the 27-year-old had surgery last Friday, faces a probable four-month recuperation and could miss Ireland's three November tests.
D'Arcy followed him into hospital on Monday for what Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan described as "a clean-out", and it is hoped he will be back in competitive fettle before the opening series of Heineken European Cup matches in October.
Recruitment is still an issue for most of the provinces. Munster are trawling the globe for a couple of midfield backs and a backrow forward as a matter of priority.
Centre Barry Murphy is making good progress following his broken leg and ankle-ligament damage but won't return before the middle of next month.
Munster have agreed one pre-season match. On Friday, August 25th, they will host Leicester Tigers at Musgrave Park (7pm), a game that should be competitive enough given the teams have been drawn against each other at the pool stage of the European Cup.
On the same night Leinster will host a double-header against London Irish at Donnybrook, an A game between the clubs taking place on the back pitch (5.30pm) before the senior selections clash on the main pitch (7.30pm).
Ulster host the Earth Titans (formerly Rotherham) at Ravenhill (7.30pm) while the following day the A sides meet at the same venue (1pm).
Leinster coach Michael Cheika has still to fill out his squad and is looking at three players who are training with the province.
The former Ireland underage international outhalf Andy Dunne has returned to Leinster after spells with Harlequins and Bath and has impressed the Australian.
He'll be playing his club rugby with Old Belvedere this season.
Michael Berne, an Australian who can play either outhalf or centre, is also under scrutiny, as is 10-times-capped Samoan prop Fosi Pala'amo.
The Ireland, Leinster and Blackrock College schools prodigy Luke Fitzgerald has been awarded a full-time contract after making a favourable impression in training.
Lock Cameron Jowitt has undergone an operation on his back and is not expected to return until October.
The province will undertake a week-long training camp in France that includes a match against Dax next Wednesday.
Connacht will become the first Irish province to embrace competitive fare when they too head for France this weekend. New signings Brett Wilkinson and Adrian Flavin have been earmarked to make their debuts as Michael Bradley's men take on Narbonne.
The 22-year-old South African prop Wilkinson is a product of the University of Cape Town, while the 27-year-old hooker Flavin links up with Connacht from London Irish. They are included in the 22-man squad for the trip to the south of France.
Connacht are bringing a front-line squad to Narbonne - a side they have played five times in the European Challenge Cup in the past eight seasons - for a match that takes place at Parc des Sports et de L'Amitié on Saturday evening (5.30pm Irish time).
