THE decision by the Irish Rugby Union to make qualification for the Heineken Cup dependent on performances in the Celtic League has been described as huge by Newport Gwent Dragons chief executive Andy Marinos, pictured.
The IRFU had previously made achievements in the Heineken Cup over a period of years the criteria for entry, which meant the two most powerful provinces, Munster and Leinster, almost always made it.
Now qualification is back in the melting pot and it will increase the Irish teams' commitment to the Celtic League, though for tomorrow's opener against Neath-Swansea Ospreys Munster are without 11 internationals because the IRFU still insist on the top players missing the first three matches because of a 10-week conditioning period.
But at least the Irish commitment will be far more, and Marinos welcomes the move while tournament chief executive Keith Grainger, one of Marinos' predecessors at Rodney Parade, says: "We are now in a position to put the Celtic League alongside any other club tournament in the world."
Marinos, in Edinburgh for an ERC meeting, said, "This is huge, it's where the Celtic League has got to go. People are continually saying the Zurich Premiership is so good, which it is, but now we've all got to take it seriously.
"National and regional coaches will realise the success of the national team will only come from a strong competitive base.
"Now that our regions are condensed with a stronger playing pool so the players will be more used to playing in a harder competition which will suit the national team.
"Ireland have gone to extremes by pulling all their players out, but it also doesn't give their players the opportunity of playing in a top level competition.
"If we manage things in Wales on an individual basis it could work," added Marinos, referring to a 32-game restriction on players though there is no formal agreement between the Wales management and the regions.
"I don't disagree with the principle of resting players, but it needs a common sense approach, and the responsibility is on us to manage our players and get the best out of them.
"It has got to be left to the coaches so that the players peak at the right times.
"We have to judge each case on its merits because different players have different requirements, but we have to give credit to Mike Ruddock and the management for reaching a compromise solution."
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