Coach Eric Elwood has brought Darragh Fanning and Shane Conneely into his squad for the trip to The Scarlets in the Magner’s League on Saturday.

Glasgow Warriors head coach Sean Lineen is relishing the first match of the season at home to Leinster in the Magner’s League following their move to their new training centre at Scotstoun Stadium back in June.

Ospreys back-row Jerry Collins will make it back to play against Ulster on the opening round of the Magner’s League despite double surgery in the off-season.

Cardiff coach David Young brings in Scott Andrews as his only change to the side to play Munster in the Magner’s League on Sunday.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley will give Ireland U20s Tiernan O’Halloran and Eoin Griffin a chance to show what they can do in the Magner’s League against The Scarlets in Wales on Sunday.

Michael Bradley has rotated his Connacht squad, bringing in eight new players, to prepare for The Scarlets this Sunday in the Magner’s League at Parc Y Scarlets.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made eight changes to his side for the home game with Leinster in the Magner’s League tomorrow evening (7.45pm).

Tommy Bowe will not play for The Ospreys against Leinster in the Magner’s League at The RDS on Friday night.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has made four changes in personnel for the refixed Magner’s League tie against The Ospreys at Ravenhill tomorrow.

Munster will be wtihout their captain Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls for the Magner’s League clash with Leinster at Thomond Park on Friday night,

Coach Tony McGahan has named a 27-man squad for Munster's top of the table Magner’s League clash against Leinster on Friday night in Thomond Park.

Glasgow Warriors have been boosted by the return of eight front-line internationalists for tomorrow night's Magner’s League tie against Munster at Thomond Park.

Coach Michael Bradley has made five changes to his side for the Magner’s League tie wuth The Dragons at The Sportsground tomorrow evening (6.30pm).

THE Franciscan Friars of the Renewal based in Moyross yesterday said they may hold a prayer vigil outside Thomond Park on Good Friday to mark their disapproval of the Munster v Leinster match going ahead on that day.

Ireland’s Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble wil get game time for Ulster against The Scarlets in the Magner’s League at Parc y Scarlets on Friday evening.

Ireland internationals Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace return to prepare with an extended Ulster squad for the Magner’s League clash with The Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets on Frdiay evening.

It looks like the postponed Magners League matches will take place on Six Nations weekends.

Tomorrow's Munster-Scarlets Magner’s League fixture has been postponed following a 10am inspection today by officials from Munster Rugby and David McHugh from the IRFU referee department.

Munster Rugby are preparing a contingency plan to move Sunday's Magner’s League fixture with The Scarlets if Musgrave Park is deemed unplayable due to the adverse weather conditions.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made four changes for the Magner’s League date with Ulster at Ravenhill.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika will have to make do without his frontline Ireland internationals for the Magner’s League trip to The Dragons on Sunday.

Ian Keatley will take over the controls at out-half in Connacht’s only change for tomorrow night’s clash with Ulster in the Magner’s League at the Sportsground (kick-off 8pm).

Captain Mike Blair and centre Nick de Luca will start for Edinburgh for the first time this season against Leinster in the Magner’s League at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Jean de Villiers will play in the Munster jersey for the first time following his inclusion in the squad for Sunday’s Magner’s League tie against The Dragons at Musgrave Park.

Scotland international lock Jim Hamilton makes a return to the Edinbrugh side to take on Leinster in the Magner’s League at Murrayfield tomorrow night.

The Scarlets coach Nigel Davies has opted to leave Stephen Jones on the bench and retain Rhys Preistland at out-half ahead of their Magner’s League encounter with Connacht at The Sportsground on Friday evening.

IN American Football terms it’s the blitz, in basketball it’s the press; it’s not so much defence as all-out attack — attack the ball-carrier with total aggression, with absolute intent to strip, to rob, to turn over, attack the ball with intent to intercept, to slow down. But always, attack, attack, attack, force the error.

MAN for man there isn’t a rugby team in the Northern Hemisphere to touch Ireland; man for man, there isn’t a club rugby team in the Northern Hemisphere to touch Munster.

Coach Declan Kidney has named a 25-man squad for Munster’s Magner’s League tie with the Neath-Swansea Ospreys at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

Coach Michael Cheika has spoken about Leinster’s need “to maintain their consistency” this week as the province make a less than glamorous trip to The Borders in the Magner’s League on Friday night.

Gordon D’Arcy and Malcolm O’Kelly have been included in the Leinster side to play Munster in the Magner’s League at Lansdowne Road on Friday (KO: 7.30pm).

GARY HAYLOCK will be a huge loss for Dundalk as they open their defence of the FAI Carlsberg Cup against Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park tonight (7.45).