Anthony Foley and his new management team face a host of challenges this season, not least drawing high-flying English Premiership and French Top 14 sides Saracens and Clermont Auvergne in the pool stage of the new European Champions Cup.

With the autumn international series taking centre stage for the next three weeks Munster players have been afforded the week off but James Coughlan, Sean Dougall and Niall Ronan are facing into a week of rehabilitation.

Tony McGahan’s plans for a week with his squad in northern Italy have been disrupted by adverse weather conditions which have rendered the postponement of their RaboDirect PRO12 game with Aironi was unavoidable.

ONCE regarded as the biggest prize in provincial club rugby, the ODM Munster Senior Cup has been hit by the inability of another club to fulfil a fixture.

IT was as coach Brian Walsh predicted – difficult – but Cork Constitution were resilient enough to secure the 26-20 victory over Shannon that was required to keep them on top of Division 1A of the All Ireland League.

The IRFU today announced a restructuring of the All Ireland League to be implemented for the start of the 2011/12 season.

THE English Premiership (EP) may have its critics, with Sky Sports the greatest culprits in creating the illusion that it’s the best league in the world. In terms of marketing, stadium atmosphere and match-day colour, sure it’s in a league of its own, but question marks have always stalked the EP in terms of quality and standard.

ONE of the privileges of being in the Munster Academy is the opportunity to train with the senior squad. On Wednesday, for example, Dave Foley got a glimpse of what may lie in store for him should he progress to the professional ranks: an open training session at Thomond Park where kids, grown men and grannies flocked to the cathedral of Munster rugby to watch the slickest machine in European rugby go through their paces. Gods in their own backyard.

TWO of the country’s leading rugby coaches have roundly condemned the Irish Rugby Football Union following the decision to maintain a 16-team first division in the AIB League.

TWO of the country’s oldest and greatest clubs, Garryowen and Cork Constitution, clash once again this afternoon in the final of the ODM Munster Senior Cup at Thomond Park.

The IRFU made a statement this afternnon that will come as sweet music to the collective ears of the All Ireland League clubs.

All Ireland League teams:

Nenagh 22 Bruff 13

Former Irish coach Warren Gatland is better placed than most to evaluate the Six Nations clash at Twickenham and the domestic furore over the future of club rugby. He spoke to Barry Coughlanin London yesterday.

TOP Irish rugby clubs are likely to challenge an IRFU decision yesterday to return to provincial leagues before the implementation of a national structure from season 2005-2006.

By Donal Lenihan WITH so much to be decided in terms of qualification to the knockout stages, all eyes will be focused on the remaining 12 pool games in this weekend’s Heineken Cup.

THE Munster Senior Cup was once the most coveted rugby prize in the province. It’s still important but events at provincial level have overtaken just about everything at club level.

IRELAND prop Marcus Horan has given the thumbs up to the All Ireland League as the ideal mechanism for developing international players of the future.

WITH the pain of the Heineken Cup semi-final defeats slowly evaporating, preparations will already be under way for another assault on European competition next season. The fact it is a World Cup year will serve to shift the focus from the provincial sides in the first half of next season, yet when that concludes in late November, the Heineken Cup will once again become the main priority for the Irish provincial sides.

AIL Rugby: Half-time scores