Often it can result in a game becoming a lottery on account of line-out problems. Unfortunately this has affected our results to date. However I am sure that if we adopt that less well known approach that September and October are for sowing rather than harvesting, we shall come out of this fallow period all the richer for the experience.

Our first match in Cork (my city) will take place next Friday against Ulster. I expect this match will be hot and effervescent and I am certainly looking forward to it enormously. All our Munster competitions are progressing apace with many surprises occurring weekly as you will see on the website.

We should not neglect to congratulate Connacht and Ulster on reaching the semi-finals of the Celtic Cup. On the weekend that they were achieving that goal our own Under 21 squad under the expert guidance of Brian Hyland (coach) Phillip Danagher (asst. coach) and Niall O'Shea (manager) retained the Interprovincial championship.

That achievement was all the more laudable in that they succeeded in an extended programme - matches played home and away - and did so with a 100% record. This sort of performance augers well for the future of Munster Rugby. I am not going to record the further fortunes of my family in this homily but ask you to keep the faith and continue your exceptional support for Munster.

Len Harty President Munster Branch 2003/2004.