Is the dam on the brink of bursting? Is international rugby ready to sell its soul? The haste with which a proposed new 12-team World League is being introduced smacks of panic. There is even talk of the tournament running in 2020. Surely not?

From where Munster was 18 months ago, things looked and felt a whole lot more positive from where I was sitting Tuesday night, writes Ronan O’Gara

Marcus Horan sat down to decide his future. Another year in rugby? With no contract on the table from Munster he knew it was time to end a long and fruitful sporting career.

South African starlet CJ Stander has been welcomed to the Munster fold by chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald, who described the newcomer as a “a hugely exciting signing.”

Ahead of today’s squad announcement for the Autumn Internationals, Alan Good considers the key questions facing Ireland coach Declan Kidney

Munster Rugby are still deciding on the best location for their long-awaited single training base although a decision is due by the end of the month, according to sources.

Niall O’Donovan was yesterday welcomed back into the Munster fold as team manager on a two-year contract.

Niall O'Donovan has been appointed as Munster's team manager, it was announced today.

Munster are in no doubt captain Paul O’Connell will be ready for pre-season training later this month, despite failing to pass fit for Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand.

Munster intend to have Rob Penney’s management staff appointed by the time the new head coach arrives in Ireland this summer.

THE citing charge against Munster prop BJ Botha arising from an incident in the Rabo-Direct PRO12 League game against Ospreys earlier this month has been dismissed.

MUNSTER may have found what they’ve been looking for, after signing Australian code-jumping sensation Will Chambers on a short-term contract.

SOME of Ireland’s top rugby stars wore black arm bands yesterday as they completed the Irish stage of the cross-channel fundraising cycle for Munster’s former fitness coach Paul Darbyshire, who died on Monday after a long battle with motor neurone disease.

FORMER Munster strength and conditioning coach Paul Darbyshire has died from Motor Neurone disease, less than a day after the start of a fundraising cycle for his family and research into new treatment.

MUNSTER rugby players and supporters are organising a series of charity events to support a colleague and friend diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year and to research into the debilitating condition.

JEAN DE VILLIERS is interested in returning to Munster after this year’s World Cup.

THE Munster pack will be answerable to Anthony Foley from next season following confirmation that the former captain will succeed departing forwards coach Laurie Fisher at the end of this campaign.

THE waiting game is always the worst and Denis Hurley is hoping against hope that a scan on an injured right knee will provide good news today.

MUNSTER maintained their stranglehold on top spot in the Magners League with a scrappy victory at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella yesterday but the win was tainted by the loss of Denis Hurley to a knee injury.

MUNSTER yesterday confirmed the worst-kept secret in Irish rugby by announcing the signing of Ulster tight-head prop BJ Botha.

MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne last night described the clubs as the “lifeblood” of the game in the province in the wake of criticism of the provincial set-up by officials at grassroots level.

MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne has paid tribute to Tony Buckley who departs for Sale Sharks at the end of season and expressed annoyance that Irish rugby chiefs couldn’t match the deal on offer from the Premiership club.

MUNSTER have been handed a massive boost ahead of Friday’s Magners League tie against Edinburgh with confirmation that Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer and Denis Leamy have been released from the national squad.

MUNSTER’S comfortable position at the top of the Magners League will be under threat tomorrow when they meet Benetton Treviso in the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

MUNSTER have moved swiftly to secure the talents of some of the province’s brightest young stars.

PETER STRINGER will be plying his trade with Munster in a Magners League game against Treviso on Sunday around the same time Ireland prepare to face France in the RBS Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium.

MUNSTER skipper Paul O’Connell received bad news yesterday, as a European Rugby Cup (ERC) appeals committee decided a four-week ban was just reward for the red card he sustained in the Heineken Cup win over the Ospreys earlier this month.

MUNSTER appear set to appeal Paul O’Connell’s four-week ban handed out by Heineken Cup chiefs yesterday.

SHOULD Munster enjoy a fruitful pre-Christmas Heineken Cup run against the Ospreys, bouquets will likely be handed to the Thomond Park ground staff for their success in getting the pitch ready for last Saturday’s Magners League clash with Cardiff Blues.

THE first wave of Munster’s cavalry return tonight to face the Dragons at Rodney Parade (7.05pm) but given the province’s recent form, a rescue mission is hardly necessary.

MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne revealed last night that Paul O’Connell could lead the province “in one of the two Heineken Cup matches against the Ospreys” next month.

IN the midst of Munster’s less than perfect preparations for tomorrow night’s Magners League clash with Ulster at Ravenhill, it hasn’t gone unnoticed one man could well take centre-stage.

PAUL O’CONNELL remains on course to be back playing for Munster before Christmas.

MUNSTER don’t expect a definitive report on the calf injury that forced Jerry Flannery out of last week’s Heineken Cup game against Toulon until later in the week.

THE availability of centre Sam Tuitupou hinges on the outcome of today’s ERC disciplinary meeting in Dublin, but Munster have been boosted by the availability of hooker Jerry Flannery for Saturday’s must-win Heineken Cup clash with Toulon at Thomond Park.

Ospreys may be serial under-achievers in Europe, but they’re still not a team anybody wants in their pool, says Simon Lewis.

MUNSTER’S belief that they face a backlash tonight at Firhill is very much on the money if the comments of Glasgow Warriors’ captain Ally Kellock and coach Sean Lineen prove to be well founded.

THE sense of gloom that enveloped the Munster squad after serious injuries to Felix Jones, Ian Dowling and Denis Fogarty lifted considerably yesterday with the news Denis Hurley, Denis Leamy, Lifeimi Mafi and David Wallace have regained full fitness and are included in the squad for Friday’s clash with the Glasgow Warriors at Firhill.

LIFEIMI MAFI is set to provide Munster with another boost this weekend when he makes his long-awaited return from injury.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan has tipped Tony Buckley to make a huge impact on Irish rugby this year.

Ireland internationals Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary and Donncha O'Callaghan make their first appearance this season in the Munster squad ahead of the Magners League trip to Edinburgh for the game in Murrayfield on Friday night (7.05pm).

MUNSTER have signed Cheetahs prop Wian du Preez on a two-year contract.

South African prop Wian du Preez will move to Munster on a two-year contract.

PREVIEW: Cardiff Blues v Munster, tomorrow 6.15pm (Cardiff City Stadium)

FORMER All Black Sam Tuitupou has been signed by Munster as a replacement for the departing Springbok Jean de Villiers.