Cork has been without a team in the top level of the women's club game in Ireland for the past two seasons.

Munster A opened their Celtic Cup campaign with a share of the spoils with Ospreys this evening at Musgrave Park.

Ultan Dillane and Rory Scannell became the first players to be jettisoned from Ireland’s World Cup planning as Joe Schmidt’s training squad was trimmed ahead of Saturday’s opening summer Test against Italy.

Size isn’t everything. Generations of Irish forwards have learned that much.

Over 5,500 tickets have been sold for the game at Musgrave Park, which kicks off at 7:15pm on Friday night.

Lansdowne’s place at the summit of club rugby has continued into awards season.

Terenure College and Garryowen were the big winners on the final day of Division 1A’s regular season, setting up semi-final clashes with defending champions Cork Constitution and table-topping Lansdowne respectively.

The Ireland Women’s management team has confirmed a 48-strong training panel to prepare for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Dublin and Belfast in August. 

“Once the scrum goes unopposed it’s like a game of rugby league. I’m an old fashioned boy from the Welsh coal-mining towns so the scrum was the platform and that differentiated the game more than anything. I would like to see a directive that you’d have two specialist props and a hooker on the bench.”

Jerry Flannery enjoyed an outstanding career as a hooker with UCC, Shannon, Galwegians, Connacht, Munster, and Ireland, and completed his Masters in Sports Performance when he received a welcome call from an old friend and team mate.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Connacht have revealed plans for a 10,000 seater stadium as Galway turns green in advance of the province’s biggest fixture in its professional era.

Galwegians 19 Cork Constitution 38: Cork Constitution’s sheer hunger for silverware was obvious when captain James Ryan spoke in the aftermath of their 38-19 Ulster Bank Bateman Cup final win over Galwegians at Crowley Park.

Some big knockout action takes place today...

DIVISION 1A

If you watched Ireland’s U20s take on Wales in Dublin last Friday evening then chances are that the sheer size of the Leinster loosehead prop Andrew Porter stood out every bit as much as the abandon with which Nigel Carolan’s offloading side played.

Cork Constitution brought Ballynahinch’s two-match winning run to a shuddering halt by hammering the hosts 38-3 at Ballymacarn Park in this Ulster Bank League Division 1A clash.

UCD 0

Ulster Bank AIL review: Division 1A leaders UCD had the measure of local rivals Old Belvedere for the third time in recent weeks, as a three-try salvo steered the students to a terrific 23-6 Ulster Bank League victory at Anglesea Road.

Despite their respective defeats at the weekend, both Old Belvedere and Garryowen hang onto their top four spots in the Ulster Bank League — after the weekend fixture schedule was decimated by the weather, UCD proved too strong for Belvedere and won 20-12 at the Belfield Bowl, while Clontarf defeated Garryowen at Castle Avenue and eased to a bonus point win on a 39-25 scoreline.

Cork Constitution 19 UCD 19: Four games in, Cork Constitution still await their first win of the Ulster Bank League campaign after Saturday’s Division 1A clash with University College Dublin ended in stalemate at Temple Hill.

Previews of all today’s Division 1A/1B games.

Today

This year’s Ulster Bank League Division 1A campaign gets under way on September 11 with the clash of Old Belvedere and Terenure College, while last year’s beaten finalists Clontarf face UCD.

Ireland’s promising hooker Zack McCall says the World Rugby U-20 Championship is a huge stepping stone for anyone hoping to become a professional rugby player.

RBS Women’s 6 Nations

Under-20 RBS 6 Nations

Hannah Tyrell won’t be lacking in confidence in her third outing for Ireland tomorrow afternoon against Wales.

Ireland coach Tom Tierney has made one enforced change from the side which defeated England for Sunday’s RBS Women’s 6 Nations game with Wales (Swansea, 12pm).

Ireland U20 coach Nigel Carolan still believes ‘the championship is there for the taking’ ahead of tomorrow night’s crucial RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales (Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay, 7.45pm).

University College Dublin won a thrilling Ulster Bank League Division 1A clash with leaders Lansdowne at Belfield on Saturday to maintain their challenge to finish in the top four.

Women’s Six Nations: Ireland’s opening 70 minutes against Italy bodes well for this Six Nations campaign, but Nora Stapleton insists the side aim to atone for a disappointing finish as they meet champions France in Ashbourne tonight.

Ireland’s U20s and Women’s: Both teams enjoyed ultimately comfortable openings to their respective Six Nations campaigns last Friday.

Jack Coonan, the highly-promising Leinster back-row forward and Connacht prop Nathan White, are the only uncapped players in the extended 46-strong Ireland squad announced yesterday by head coach Joe Schmidt. 

The Ireland coaching staff has today named an extended squad of 46 players for the upcoming RBS 6 Nations matches against Italy and France, as well as the Ireland Wolfhounds fixture against the England Saxons.

More misery for Munster with the selection of just four of their players on Nigel Carolan’s expanded Ireland squad of 30 for the U20 Six Nations.

It’s only five months since Ireland made history at the Women’s Rugby World Cup by beating New Zealand in the pool stages and reaching the semi-finals, but the personnel changes since have been seismic.

All games kick off at 2.30pm unless stated

(2.30pm unless stated)