Connacht was the first ever Irish provincial team to win in France and England, a breakthrough for this country in rugby terms in 1997. It put down a marker that we had clubs capable of success at international level. It won two Celtic League quarter finals and two European Shield Parker Pen quarter finals. All this suggests that the Connacht branch is doing an excellent job. In the Connacht schools interprovincial competition of 1999-2000 they won three games, drew one and lost three. In 2000-2003 they won nine games and lost three. That is positive proof that they are moving in the right direction. There were between seven and 18 under age club players in Connacht in 1997 out of a total of 1,540. There are now 2,750 players, which is again proof of the work being done in the area.