League loses Irish stars

The IRFU contracted players are engaged in a 10-week pre-season conditioning period which sees them miss the first three weeks of action.

But, as he is employed by the Scarlets, Easterby is free to play.

"I am genuinely feeling fresh at the moment and I am looking forward to getting my hands on the ball," he said.

We need to be playing regular rugby Simon Easterby Jenkins makes League plea Young wants rest guaranteed

"I have worked hard for the last five weeks with Scarlets fitness coach Wayne Proctor, working on speed and also power in the gym," the 29-year-old back-row man told the South Wales Evening Post.

''Yes, we have had a long year which included the games before the World Cup, then the World Cup, Europe, Six Nations and the summer tour, but this year is a big year as well.

''As a side we want to stamp our authority on the European Cup and to do that we need to be playing regular rugby."

Easterby's statements come amidst debate in Wales over whether the country's international stars should - like the Irish - miss the start of the league campaign to concentrate on development towards the 2007 World Cup.

The Scarlets and the Ospreys have said that the rules should not be hard and fast, and that they should have the choice of playing their Wales players.

The Blues say they were ready to honour a Wales request to rest their internationals, but that they will review the situation if the other regions do not comply.

The Dragons have named seven Wales tourists for this weekend's friendly with Northampton, and claim this is with the blessing of the Wales management.