Start to play (7,2)
'start' is the definition.
(I have seen 'start of play' mean 'curtain up' so perhaps 'start' could also mean 'curtain up')
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for curtain up that I've seen is " start of play".)
(Other definitions for inter that I've seen before include "foreign footballers" , "Prefix for between - bury it" , "Lay to rest" , "I rent (anag.)" , "Set deep" .)