EDDIE O’SULLIVAN is still hopeful that Paul O’Connell will be available for Sunday’s Six Nations meeting with Wales at Lansdowne Road.

Longford manager Alan Mathews has warned of the dangers at every turn in European competition, even though his side kick off their UEFA Cup campaign against a team from just across the Irish Sea.

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Pontypridd will take a five-point advantage into the second leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final against Connacht at Sardis Road on Saturday evening - but the job is only half done.

CONNACHT will be at home in the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against Pontypridd on the second weekend of January.

Padraig Harrington quickly stretched his overnight lead to three strokes when he began his third round in the Dunhill Links Championship over The Old Course on Saturday.

Leinster will open their defence of the Celtic League title with a home tie against Welsh Cup winners Pontypridd on the weekend of August 30/31.

Llanelli coach Gareth Jenkins will throw his men to the Tigers tomorrow, but insists: ‘‘We won’t be daunted by it.’’

Leicester boss Dean Richards today underlined the huge task faced by his trophy-hunting Tigers on their mission to make Heineken Cup history.