It is believed that an escape clause which required Pat Lam to give six months notice was the primary reason why the Connacht coach made the announcement yesterday that he was departing the Sportsground at the end of the season.

Stephen Archer recently signed a three-year renewal of his Munster contract.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley is hopeful more of his players will commit their futures to the province in the wake of a quartet of key contract signings yesterday.

It’s appropriate that an unique sporting occasion should be the vehicle to raise awareness of a rare terminal condition which only affects around two in every 100,000 people.

Bryan Habana insists defending champions Toulon cannot afford to be complacent going into Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster in Marseille, despite their home advantage and red-hot favouritism.

It’s doubtful in their professional careers if any of the Ulster or Saracens players have had to shovel dog pooh off pitches before training, but that was exactly Francois Pienaar’s experience when he first joined the English side.

You could have substituted South African World Cup-winning captain John Smit’s comments after last week’s trip to Thomond Park with those expressed by his illustrious Springbok predecessor Francois Pienaar all of 13 seasons ago.

Munster backs coach Simon Mannix will look to Ronan O’Gara to lead by example against Saracens tomorrow following his five-star performance at Thomond Park last Saturday.

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ULSTER’S All Black World Cup winner John Afoa is relishing his provincial debut in today’s RaboDirect Pro 12 derby clash with Connacht at Ravenhill.

Veteran Munster flanker Alan Quinlan will announce his retirement in the coming weeks, it was confirmed today.

IRELAND backs coach Alan Gaffney yesterday emerged as a shock candidate for the vacant coach’s job at Australian giants the Brumbies.

South African World Cup winner Bakkies Botha has agreed a deal to sign for Toulon, the French Top 14 club have confirmed.

WHEN Ireland was denied a place at the South African World Cup because a French player handled the ball to help score a goal there was an outcry.

BACK in the Leinster fold after a 12-week absence, Shane Jennings has been rewarded with the captaincy of a team that also includes Jonathan Sexton for the Magners League clash with Glasgow Warriors at the RDS tonight (8pm), weather permitting.

TONY McGAHAN is taking his players away for a seven-day training camp to sunny Vilamoura in Portugal next Wednesday but yesterday the Australian had to equip himself with the worst elements of the Irish ‘summer’ at rain-lashed Clonakilty Rugby Club.

How come so many Irish gems end up at Welford Road? EDWARD NEWMAN discussed the connections with Leicester’s chief scout Dusty Hare and ex-Lion Eric Miller

Well, in defiance of all predictions, in defiance of another invasion by the massive Munster Red Army, it was a blue, blue world in Dublin on Saturday.

Matt Banahan inflicted another dose of Heineken Cup heartbreak on gutsy Glasgow with a try double at Firhill.

FRANCE head coach Marc Lievremont defended David Skrela after the fly-half’s kicking horror show gifted Australia victory in Paris.

Leinster have announced their senior squad for the coming season.

ROBBIE SAVAGE insists Wales “have gone a long way backwards” under John Toshack and stand no chance of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

A fourth American takeover of a Premiership club is on the cards after wealthy businessman Will Chang announced he is considering a move for an English side.

South African World Cup chiefs insist preparations for the 2010 finals are on course and that there will be no need for England to step in as contingency hosts.

Trevor Immelman began the Madrid Open with a birdie 24 hours after one of the most terrifying experiences of his life.

NIGEL MELVILLE and Dean Ryan have sent out a clear warning to Phil Vickery and Chris Fortey — don’t think you are going to walk back into the side for Saturday’s game at Thomond Park.

GLOUCESTER’S South African World Cup star Thinus Delport will miss the crucial Heineken Cup games against Munster after suffering a serious season-ending knee ligament damage.

Gloucester’s South African World Cup star Thinus Delport is out for the season after suffering serious knee ligament damage.

THERE may be good news for Munster ahead of their Heineken Cup double header against Gloucester later this month.

THE memory of Connacht rugby player and all-round sports fanatic Dr Joe Costello will be honoured on Friday when a galaxy of sporting stars gather at Galway Golf Club.

South African World Cup winner Japie Mulder has retired from rugby because of a neck injury.

Francois Pienaar is the latest-high profile figure to demand a change to the current Six Nations' format.