The IRFU has been considering this idea on the basis that it cannot maintain expenditure at current levels. It views Connacht as the easiest cut it can make. What needs to be asked is whether such drastic action needs to be taken and if this is a case of the IRFU discriminating against Connacht. Some facts need to be considered when considering these questions. Despite the need for urgent cuts, the IRFU has already booked 88 rooms in the Westin Excelsior Hotel in Rome for the upcoming Six Nations Championship match against Italy. Given that the players and coaching staff will take up only a small portion of those rooms, the question needs to be asked as to the reason the IRFU is bringing so many officials to the game, especially when it is supposed to be trying to cut costs