James Hart was woken early yesterday morning.

Darragh Fanning has said it is a dream come true to be part of the Leinster squad this season.

Lote Tuqiri has landed in Dublin. The Fijian born superstar is to pen a short three-month deal with Rabo Direct Pro 12 and Amlin Cup Champions Leinster.

In the third of the provincial season previews, our rugby correspondent, Daniel Pitcher offers an insight into Leinster. His final preview comes tomorrow when he looks at Munster.

The chief executive of the ERC has admitted the dispute over the Heineken Cup, which is threatening the tournament’s future, is unlikely to be resolved by the time the domestic rugby season kicks off in September.

Nobody has done it now for almost three-and-a-half years, not since a Frenchman who just happens to be appearing in Dublin this weekend on European semi-final business.

Zebre 22 Leinster 41

Munster 16 Leinster 22

RABODIRECT PRO12: Munster v Leinster

While his Munster team-mates were writing their names in the history books once again, Peter Stringer sat in a bar on his own watching the game.

Stade Francais’ Jerome Fillol looks set to become the first professional player to be cited for spitting at an opponent.

AMLIN CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

The absence of Conor Murray from tonight’s Munster squad for the must-win RaboDirect Pro12 game with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun has set the tongues wagging — is he out of favour, injured, or what?

Warren Gatland insisted yesterday that Paul O’Connell remains firmly in contention for a place on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia this summer.

Tournament organisers have announced the dates and kick-off times for this season’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

No one will blame Munster and their red army of supporters for thinking tomorrow’s match against Racing Metro is already won, the points safely stowed away.

1. Help the cause:

European rugby chiefs are confident there will be no southern hemisphere interference to threaten the future of the Heineken Cup.

The future of the Heineken Cup and European rugby in general remains uncertain after English clubs’ governing body, Premiership Rugby, announced it has agreed a new £152m deal with broadcaster BT.

Tony McGahan was a relieved man yesterday as he watched his stars cruise through a tough training session four days before the Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Ulster at Thomond Park.

Ronan O’Gara wants to lead Munster’s young guns into another glorious golden era.

MUNSTER skipper Paul O’Connell isn’t fooled by the suggestion pride won’t be enough motivation for Northampton Saints.

HEINEKEN CUP progress won’t necessarily equate to Six Nations success but Leinster’s Shane Jennings believes the performances of Leinster, Munster and Ulster in Europe this season will nonetheless fuel Ireland’s Test ambitions.

CONNACHT chief executive Gerry Kelly believes Toulouse are the most glamorous side in Europe and has predicted that playing the French side in the Heineken Cup will encourage a whole generation of Galway youngsters to take up rugby.

MARCUS HORAN believes Harlequins could unwittingly have done Munster a favour by winning the Amlin Cup semi-final at Thomond Park a fortnight ago.

ALAN QUINLAN believes Munster have developed a complex aboutsemi-finals because they’ve been too anxious and worked up.

IT has been a frustrating season for Marcus Horan and his Munster colleagues but the experienced prop believes redemption is within sight.

THE country’s first major festival of the summer generated an estimated €20 million in visitor spend for the Limerick region.

MUNSTER’S dreams of an Amlin Cup consolation prize were crushed ruthlessly by Harlequins on Saturday in the province’s most embarrassing defeat of a proud 16-year European odyssey.

ISSUES unlikely to arise in Thomond Park today. No 1: extreme dehydration.

THE inclusion of Paul O’Connell in the Munster squad for today’s Amlin Cup semi-final clash with Harlequins is incalculable.

PETER STRINGER will have turned 34 when his current contract with Munster ends in June of 2012: it’s an age when most rugby players would be thinking of retirement, but Ireland’s record-breaking scrum-half has no notion of calling it a day any time soon.

THERE’S plenty speculation, but it’s most unlikely Paul O’Connell will return for Saturday’s Amlin Cup semi-final clash with Harlequins at Thomond Park.

PAUL O’CONNELL took part in a full contact training session with Munster yesterday.

Harlequins winger Ugo Monye has highlighted Keith Earls as the main threat to his side’s chances of progressing past Munster in Saturday’s Amlin Cup semi-final.

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

MUNSTER’S Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final with Harlequins could generate more than €5m for Limerick city and the surrounding region.

ROYAL wedding watchers will get to see the British royal wedding on a big screen being erected in Limerick for the occasion.

MUNSTER’S season could reach a crescendo with inspirational skipper Paul O’Connell back at the coal-face.

A HARD week.

From Peppa Pig to books on psychology, Munster’s James Coughlan explains to Michael Moynihan the importance of downtime between high intensity matches

RONAN O’GARA may be battered and bruised, but he’s ready to face-up to the fierce physicality Brive will bring to Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at Stade Amedee-Domenech.