IRELAND manager Paul McNaughton rates Gordon D’Arcy’s chances of travelling to the World Cup as “tight”.

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.

Leinster’s appetite for the battle will be a key issue in today’s Magners League final, believes our rugby analyst

TELEVISION viewers who rely on aerials to receive their TV signal will face blank screens from the end of 2012 unless they access a new, free-to-air digital TV service.

Leinster centre Gordon D’Arcy has been ruled out of Saturday’s Magners League final meeting with Munster at Thomond Park after failing to recover from an ankle injury which he picked up in last weekend’s Heineken Cup final victory against Northampton.

WOMEN across the Mid-West and beyond will let their feet do the talking on Saturday in support of those affected by breast cancer.

LEINSTER returned to training yesterday sporting all manner of bumps and bruises but the expectation is that none of last weekend’s squad will be on sick leave when the European champions face Munster in the Magners League Grand final on Saturday.

Tickets for next Saturday’s Magners League Grand Final between Leinster and Munster at Thomond Park (kick off 5.05pm) will go on public sale at 2pm today.

FAVOURITISM is a role that has rarely suited Irish rugby teams and that’s a reason why Leinster will need to be on their guard as they face two major finals in eight days starting with the Heineken Cup decider against Northampton in Cardiff on Saturday.

DAMIAN VARLEY insists Munster will put a mini-crisis behind them by defeating Ospreys at Thomond Park tonight and advancing to the Magners League final.

LEINSTER captain Leo Cullen has branded losing as “unacceptable” as he prepares to lead his team on a mission to heal the scars of last season’s Heineken Cup semi-final defeat against defending champions Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

As the Heineken Cup great eight set their sights on the Millennium Stadium, one of Europe’s rugby elite must focus on a lesser prize. But ex-hooker John Fogarty warns Munster there’s nothing shabby about the Amlin Challenge Cup. Brendan O’Brien listened in

TONY McGahan is a master of keeping his feelings to himself.

LEINSTER chief executive Mick Dawson is confident the province can buck the trend of falling attendances at sporting events when Joe Schmidt’s side take to the Aviva Stadium.

LEO CULLEN’S shoulder injury has given Leinster’s senior statesman, Malcolm O’Kelly, a golden opportunity to wrap up his illustrious career on a high in the Magners League final at the RDS (6.30pm) on Saturday.

LEINSTER prop Stan Wright has been cleared to play in the Magners League final against Ospreys following a disciplinary hearing.

Leinster prop Stan Wright has been cleared to play in the Magners League final against Ospreys following a disciplinary hearing.

MUNSTER will face an old friend when they meet Cornish Pirates in the inaugural British & Irish Cup final in Camborne on Sunday (6pm).