Following three promotions in just five seasons, Cork side Highfield are set for a huge leap forward when they begin their All-Ireland Division 1B campaign against Malone at Woodleigh Park tomorrow afternoon.

Ulster have signed Ireland eligible prop Gareth Milasinovich from Worcester Warriors.

Former Ireland rugby international Bernard Jackman believes the sport has woken up to the dangers of head injuries, amid warnings that litigation arising out of serious cases could lead to more effective player welfare.

Newport Gwent Dragons and Ulster fought out an dramatic Pro14 League draw at Rodney Parade with visiting fly-half Christian Lealiifano both hero and villain.

Leinster rugby have revealed their new alternate jersey this morning ahead of the Pro14 championship.

Bernard Jackman could give you any number of reasons as to why he accepted the offer to coach the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Rory Best is set to captain the British & Irish Lions against the Chiefs on Tuesday after Warren Gatland named a matchday squad missing tour skipper Sam Warburton in the final game before Saturday’s first Test with the All Blacks.

The final round of Pro 12 games brought plenty of drama today.

Leinster 31 Glasgow Warriers 30: A youthful Leinster side had to deal with a second-half Glasgow power surge and a floodlight failure, the latter coming only 90 seconds out from the final whistle, before securing a 10th straight Guinness PRO12 win last night.

The Scarlets strengthened their position in the race for the Guinness PRO12 play-offs by beating Newport Gwent Dragons 21-16 in a low-quality clash on Saturday.

Leinster moved to the top of the Guinness PRO12 table after hammering Newport Gwent Dragons 54-22.

George North will return to Wales' starting line-up for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Munster centre Jaco Taute registered two first-half tries to put the Guinness PRO12 leaders on their way to 14 wins in 15 games following a bonus-point 45-17 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Irish Independent Park.

“Not in the mix”. That was the definitive reaction of Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus at UL yesterday to reports emanating from back home in South Africa he was in the running to become the next Springbok coach.

Seventeen points from Steven Shingler ensured Cardiff Blues won the keenly contested Guinness PRO12 derby clash.

Leinster received a timely boost yesterday with the news experienced lock Devin Toner has signed a contract with the IRFU to keep him at the province until at least June 2020.

Here’s the lowdown on four big games across Europe...

Australia coach Michael Cheika has rested most of his top names for tomorrow’s clash with France as the test is the only one on the tour that is not part of the Wallabies’ grand slam bid.

Munster recorded their second Guinness PRO12 victory of the season on Welsh soil after edging out Newport Gwent Dragons 20-16 in a fierce contest at Rodney Parade.

Defeat is painful and Munster have been hurting all week as they prepare to right the wrongs of last weekend’s home stumble to Cardiff Blues in their Guinness Pro12 trip to Newport Gwent Dragons today (5:15pm).

Andrew Conway is confident Munster’s home defeat to Cardiff Blues has served as an ideal kick in the behind ahead of tomorrow’s Guinness Pro12 trip to Newport Gwent Dragons.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Just when he thought it was safe to go back onto the wing, Keith Earls could be pressed into service in Munster’s injury-hit midfield.

Munster players have spent all summer adapting to life under new director of rugby Rassie Erasmus but with the season now underway there is still room for the odd surprise, not least in the parties’ opposing reactions to the weekend home defeat.

Witnessing Rassie Erasmus’s reaction to defeat last Friday night was as instructive as it was surprising.

Shane Horgan has challenged both Munster and Leinster to follow the example of Guinness Pro12 champions Connacht and attack the new season with a more exciting brand of ball-in-hand rugby.

Leinster and Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier will miss the PRO12 play-offs as well as Ireland’s summer tour to South Africa, after he was ruled out of action for the next eight weeks.

with high stakes in every game and tension etched across head coaches’ brows from Galway to Parma ahead of today’s 22nd and final round of the Guinness Pro12 league campaign, you would wonder why the men in suits had to be dragged kicking and screaming into a brave new word of meritocracy.

The Scarlets won at the third time of asking in the Guinness Pro12 as they grabbed a try bonus point to do the double over Newport Gwent Dragons with a 34-20 victory.

Even at 38, there is simply no stopping Peter Stringer who tonight equals Ronan O’Gara’s record for European appearances.

Anthony Foley believes Munster have done some good business by landing Irish tighthead John Andress and re-signing former academy lock Darren O’Shea for next season.

“It’s like every game we play from here on, we’re in cup final mode.”

Wales prop Tomas Francis has received an eight-week ban for making contact with the “eye or eye area” of England forward Dan Cole in last Saturday’s Six Nations game at Twickenham.

Munster and the Newport Gwent Dragons both received good news yesterday as they prepare for their Guinness Pro12 clash at Thomond Park tonight.