Rory Best admits he was tempted by a potential move to Bristol – but put family first.

Rob Kearney has agreed a “nine-month extension” to his IRFU contract and will play with Leinster next season.

Munster centre Rory Scannell admits pre-season has been “tough” ahead his side’s PRO14 opener against South African side Cheetahs tomorrow.

Connacht coach Kieran Keane is hoping science will give his side the edge and help them to a first win over Gloucester in their history.

It’s just over three years since 29-year-old tight-head prop Wiehahn Herbst packed his bags and headed from Durban in the hope of starting a new sporting life in Belfast.

It has been a month of personal rewards for Connacht prop Denis Buckley, but none will come bigger than a Connacht victory over Gloucester in the vital first-leg Champions Cup play-off on Sunday.

Edinburgh 13  Gloucester 19

Ulster are familiar foes for the patrons at Leicester’s Welford Road.

Gloucester 45 Munster 8

New Munster head coach Anthony Foley could be forgiven for enduring a few shivers of apprehension after seeing the Gloucester team chosen by his old mate Laurie Fisher for this afternoon’s pre-season friendly at Kingsholm.

Former Ulster Director of Rugby David Humphreys yesterday broke his silence about his move away from Ravenhill to Aviva Premiership side Gloucester.

Ireland’s most-capped hooker, Rory Best, has been handed the captaincy of Ulster for a second time.

Australian Laurie Fisher, who worked with Munster between 2008 and 2011, is the new head coach at Gloucester.

Chris Henry has had to bide his time to get to the front of the Irish back row queue and after a long campaign in an Irish shirt he just doesn’t want the season to end.

On Saturday, Leinster not only bring the curtain down on the domestic rugby season but also on the longest goodbye the game in this country has ever seen when Brian O’Driscoll lines out as a professional rugby player for the last time.

Plots, sub-plots and challenges abound ahead of Ulster’s clash with Leinster at the newly refurbished Ravenhill tonight with Leinster looking to cement their place at the top, but more crucially Ulster continuing their bid to claim the final semi-final berth.

Ulster are sweating on the fitness of their front-row ahead of Friday’s big Irish derby when the visit of Leinster hails the official opening of the rejuvenated Ravenhill stadium where there will be a capacity of 17,500 in attendance.

Ireland tighthead prop Declan Fitzpatrick has returned to Belfast following a heart scare which forced him off during Ulster’s defeat at Glasgow on Friday.

Emerging Ireland tight-head prop Ricky Lutton has signed a two-year professional contract with Ulster, while full-back Ricky Andrew has penned a one-year deal.

Ulster full-back Jared Payne has been hit with a two-match ban following his red card against Saracens in the Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat last Saturday.

Ulster have been left with a considerable casualty count following their Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Saracens on Saturday.

Rod Nawn rates the Ulster men in a Payne-less game.

Springbok Ruan Pienaar is back and primed to help guide Ulster through their difficult Heineken Cup quarter-final shoot-out with Saracens at Ravenhill tomorrow (6.30pm).

Tom Court has never earned a piece of silverware in eight seasons with Ulster, but the prop’s experiences as part of Ireland’s 2009 Grand Slam-winning squad tells him that may be about to change.

Ulster coach Mark Anscombe is convinced the full house at the refurbished Ravenhill will have a key role to play in Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens.

Ulster loosehead prop, Tom Court, will make his 150th appearance for Ulster in tomorrow’ RaboDirect PRO12 match against Cardiff Blues.

Thoughts of a potential Heineken Cup semi-final with Leinster can wait as far as Munster head coach Rob Penney is concerned, it is a first visit to Thomond Park by four-time champions Toulouse that will exercise his mind as European competition goes into the knockout stages.

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 5:

Ulster 27 Montpellier 16

Ulster 29 Munster 19

Ulster 29 Munster 19

RABODIRECT PRO12:

Chris Henry and Iain Henderson have recovered from injury to start for Ulster against Munster at Ravenhill tomorrow night (kick off 19:05).

Ulster are slowly getting their big guns back following a string of injury concerns.

Leinster 19 Ulster 6

RABODIRECT PRO12:

Ulster 48 Benetton Treviso 0

Ulster 48 Treviso 0

John Afoa has rejected more lucrative offers from France and a crack at the Rugby World Cup in 2015 to reunite his family in Gloucester, according to Nigel Davies.

Ulster have been rocked by the news New Zealand prop John Afoa will leave the province at the end of the season after signing a long-term deal with an Aviva Premiership club.

Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, has made six personnel changes and one positional switch to the team that beat Edinburgh last weekend for tomorrow afternoon's game against Zebre in Italy.

Ireland internationals, Craig Gilroy and Iain Henderson have recovered from injury and have been named in Mark Anscombe's starting XV for the game against Edinburgh at Ravenhill tomorrow evening.

Future Ireland prospect Jared Payne will captain Ulster when they travel to face the Scarlets in Llanelli this evening (6.30pm).

Munster have made four changes to their team for tomorrow's clash with Gloucester at Thomond Park.

Zane Kirchner looks set to feature for Leinster for the first time this weekend, against Castres at the RDS, with Rob Kearney welcoming the Springbok’s belated arrival and the competition it will induce in his own backyard.

Ireland winger Craig Gilroy will miss Ulster’s opening Heineken Cup tie against Leicester Tigers at Ravenhill tomorrow night due to an ankle injury.

Connacht 7 Ulster 18

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

In his second part of his new season preview, our rugby correspondent Daniel Pitcher takes a look at Ulster Rugby. Tomorrow he takes a look at Leinster.

The perfect end to an accomplished reign.