Brian O’Driscoll is calling for more foreign players to be allowed to play in Ireland saying it would only benefit the professional game.

At present, the Players Advisory Group, controlled by the IRFU, acts as a screening body so that the Irish provinces are not over flown with overseas talent.

The group has a policy which attempts to limit each province to three high-profile foreign players. They also aim to prevent the sides employing more than one non-Irish player in the same position.

Of the three Irish teams involved in the Heineken Cup, O’Driscoll’s Leinster has the largest foriegn contingent with nine imports almost double that of Munster who isn't even filling the current 'high-profile' quota.

The Irish system has been praised in recent years with the national team winning a number of Triple Crowns and Munster claiming the Heineken Cup. However, the positive press seems to have stemmed somewhat following the nation’s Rugby World Cup debacle.

O'Driscoll sees some clear advantages in levelling the playing field when it comes to competing with English and French clubs for the signatures of talented foreigners, but does not want to reshape the entire structure.

"I don't see how structures can change just like that," O’Driscoll said at the launch of the Heineken Cup in Dublin.

"There is probably a way that we can balance it so there is an opportunity to bring more overseas players in so that the younger guys within the squad can learn off them.

"I'm talking about good quality foreigners who the likes of Leicester and a lot of the other English sides have.

"It's something that we can improve on."

The IRFU last week announced that a review on the national side's World Cup performance would be undertaken with team management, officials and players all expected to be approached for their views.

"The second that you think you have the ideal formula is the moment that you start going downhill. Look at England, they did exactly that after the 2003 World Cup,” O’Driscoll says.

"They didn't work hard enough at it. Granted they still managed to make the World Cup final this time around but it is a mistake that a lot of other countries will learn from.