It’s somewhat ironic that at a time when rugby is enjoying an unprecedented level of popularity in this country, with the national team ranked in the top two sides in the world, the game itself faces massive challenges.

Connacht centre Dave McSharry has been forced to retire from professional rugby due to a concussion injury.

And so the saga has come to an end.

Connacht coach Pat Lam says his side have planned how to pick up a first win at Thomond Park since 1986 and it’s down to ignoring the individual strengths of Munster.

Paul O’Connell was planning to contact Toulon last night to hear his new club’s take on reports that it had been caught up in a criminal investigation involving pharmacists who are alleged to have illegally supplied the club with substances such as antibiotics and growth hormones.

There are few surprises in Pat Lam’s Connacht squad for this evening’s Guinness Pro 12 opener at the Galway Sportsground (7.30pm).

Connacht’s biggest signing Mils Muliaina is leaving the province at the end of the season to take up a new contract in Italy.

Guinness Pro12

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has signed a new three-year deal ahead of the province’s final chance to bag a Challenge Cup quarter-final.

European Rugby Challenge Cup

Connacht welcome Edinburgh to the Sportsground on Friday night and head coach Pat Lam has made just one change from the side that beat Munster on New Year’s Day.

Connacht welcome Munster to the Showgrounds on New Year’s Day for their PRO12 derby match and both sides have made a number of changes to their starting sides.

European Challenge Cup Pool 2: Connacht 42 Bayonne 19

Connacht stormed away in the second half to record a bonus-point victory over French club Bayonne at The Sportsground tonight.

Connacht took the spoils in a bruising Guinness PRO12 mid-table tussle at the Sportsground, as they defeated the Scarlets for the first time since September 2011.

Ireland internationals Kieran Marmion and Rodney Ah You have returned to the Connacht squad for match day squad for the PRO12 Round 9 clash with Scarlets tomorrow night (kick off 7:30pm).

GUINNESS PRO12:

Connacht 43 Zebre 3

Connacht’s first All Black, Mils Muliaina, makes his debut for the province tonight when Connacht host Zebre at the Galway Sportsground (7.35pm).

Mils Muliaina, who has 100 New Zealand caps, will make his Connacht debut in the Showgrounds tomorrow night, in the province’s PRO12 clash with Zebre.

Exeter Chiefs 33 Connacht 13

Pool two leaders Connacht face an onerous task away to a fancied Exeter in this afternoon’s second European Challenge Cup fixture.

Pat Lam has made five changes to the Connacht side that

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From domestic club league to the World Cup in the autumn, expect this lot to be making rugby headlines this year, says Gavin Howarth.

Glasgow Warriors 39 Connacht 21

Glasgow Warriors 39 Connacht 21

Robbie Henshaw will make his 50th appearance for Connacht when he starts for them against Glasgow Warriors on Friday night.

With just over six weeks to go until the start of the Guinness Series, the debate about who will form Ireland’s new centre partnership continues to rumble.

Connacht 10 Leinster 9

Leinster and Connacht have both named strong sides for their PRO12 clash in Galway on Friday night.

Coach Pat Lam has made three changes to Connacht’s starting 15 for their clash with Edinburgh Rugby in the PRO12.

Connacht 16 Newport 11

Head Coach Pat Lam has named his team for the opening round of the Guinness PRO12 against Newport Gwent Dragons at the Sportsground at 5pm tomorrow.

There is considerably more positivity surrounding the future of Connacht Rugby this week with the signature of their first All Black and the appointment of new chief executive Willie Ruane, but it may not translate into a much-needed win when they face a wounded Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium this evening (6.30pm).

After putting out an unchanged sidefor the last four games, Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made a host of changes to the team to face Munster in tomorrow's interpro at the Sportsground, (kick off 6:15pm).

ULSTER 58 CONNACHT 12Ulster put themselves firmly back on track in their bid to reach the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs with a thumping 58-12 bonus point win over fellow Irish province Connacht.

Head Coach Pat Lam has named an unchanged Connacht side for the fourth game in a row with the team traveling to take on Ulster tomorrow night at Ravenhill, kick off 7:05pm.

Head Coach Pat Lam has once again named an unchanged Connacht side for the trip to Scarlets on Sunday.

Connacht centre Dave McSharry says that having taken several big scalps in the Heineken Cup in the past three years, it is now time they qualified for the competition off their own bat.

Connacht coach Pat Lam insists it is still one game at a time despite the province recording its first four-game winning streak since 2002 with a bonus win against the Dragons.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

The Connacht team to face Edinburgh at the Sportsground at 5pm tomorrow has been named.

RABODIRECT PRO12:

Munster coach Rob Penney has a number of selection headaches ahead of Friday night’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Connacht at Thomond Park (7.15pm).

Connacht 14 Newport Gwent Dragons 11

Connacht 9 Toulouse 37

There will be three changes to the starting team facing Toulouse on the return leg for Connacht.