Ok Snort, you have successfully poked the bear
My recollection of all this was nothing to do with a trial to enter the CAS, the Waves team was never told any such thing.
In those days the Waves played St Pats every year at some stage of the season, but it had no bearing on the CAS comp, only the current CAS school members made up the comp. These same schools competed in all other sports eg Athletics, swimming etc, no sign of Pats or Pius.
In fact Barker didn't even play Pius in 1979!
Waves won that year fair and square, undefeated in all CAS games, and it is correctly written in the CAS Rugby records.
Now times have changed and I think the case for new and stronger Rugby schools should be seriously considered for the Rugby comp, can't comment on other sports. I also think Rugby is quite a separate case to other sports due to safety considerations, ie, being truly competitive is a serious requirement, particularly in scrums.
For interest sake, I am aware that at least 1 CAS school, not the Waves as has been touted, voted against Pats joining, I am not sure Pius was really ever being considered but could be wrong in the case.
Will I see you at Trinity?