Women who lie on their backs in the last three months of pregnancy may have a higher risk of stillbirth, research suggests.

Their abilities to travel, multiply, and spread disease have always made rats one of mankind’s greatest pests.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley is banking on Paul O’Connell seeing out his contract until the end of next season.

Test rivals Joe Schmidt and Vern Cotter are already plotting behind the scenes to pull off their “ultimate goal” of forming a New Zealand coaching dream team, according to Paul Tupai.

Warren Gatland has revealed that a glowing recommendation from one of world rugby’s outstanding coaches played its part in New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe making an unlikely journey from Super Rugby to potential Wales Test star.

Real Madrid’s Fifa Club World Cup semi-final clash tomorrow with Mexico’s Cruz Azul has been switched to Marrakech from Rabat due to the waterlogged pitch at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah.

Anthony Foley has challenged his Munster players to leapfrog their Leinster rivals into Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad by winning trophies for their province.

Thomond Park plays host to rugby of a slightly different variety this weekend when 12 teams battle for the inaugural Limerick World Sevens.

Limerick is hosting Ireland’s first ever rugby World Club 7’s event, with a feast of rugby taking place in Thomond Park over the weekend.

Connacht have announced the signing of powerful 28-year-old front-row Tom McCartney from The Super Rugby side the Blues.

He has admitted to being tempted into the Ireland role, in part, by the carrot of a less hectic pace of life, so it was ironic yesterday to hear Joe Schmidt talk about being whisked through the suburban traffic of Paris on a motorbike at 140kph.

The final weeks of any season are characterised by drama and emotion. Dreams fulfilled and shattered, players moving on, others donning the boots for one last battle.

Incoming Connacht head coach Pat Lam is beginning to stamp his authority on the squad, with the province today confirming the acquisition of 20-year-old New Zealander Jake Heenan.

Former All Black centre Casey Laulala has made it clear he is not prepared to hand over the Munster 13 jersey to Keith Earls without a fight.

Ronan O’Gara, Conor Murray and Keith Earls have all been made available for Munster’s trip to Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday evening.

Former New Zealand skipper Sean Fitzpatrick has challenged Ireland to turn provincial form into Test match success as Brian O’Driscoll’s side embark on a three-match series against the world champions over the coming month.

Joe Schmidt: Leinster coach will be in Auckland to watch Ireland take on the All Blacks but only because he’ll be there on a family holiday.

England international Manu Tuilagi was last night fined €3,400 by the Rugby Football Union after he was warned by Auckland police for jumping from a ferry into the harbour.

WALES are daring to dream after arriving in Auckland yesterday with 80 minutes against France lying between them and the Rugby World Cup final.

Blues doctor Stephen Kara has allayed fears over New Zealand prop Tony Woodcock's fitness following weekend reports that he could miss the World Cup on home soil later this year due to a foot injury.

Sale Sharks have signed New Zealand inside centre Sam Tuitupou from Munster on a two-year contract.

Fly-half Dan Carter returns to the New Zealand side for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash with Australia but there is no place in Graham Henry’s 22-man squad for Sonny Bill Williams.

Canterbury fly-half Colin Slade has won the battle to be Aaron Cruden’s back-up for New Zealand’s final Tri Nations match against Australia in Sydney on September 11.

GRAHAM HENRY expects his New Zealand side to face a much-changed South Africa one when the two countries meet in the Tri-Nations on Saturday.

Ireland management says the decision not to spend the entire build-up to Saturday’s Test against New Zealand in New Plymouth was primarily based on player welfare.

ISA NACEWA seems well settled in Ireland. A native of Auckland, or the “big smoke” as he calls it, it was easy to adapt to city life in Dublin and he’s expecting the arrival of new twins on New Year’s Eve.

Ireland's Ronan O'Gara, Keith Earls and Donncha O'Callaghan and Auckland import Nick Williams will start for Munster for the first time this season in Sunday's sold-out Musgrave Park Magners League clash with the Dragons (5.05pm).

Dan Carter has been called into the New Zealand squad for the remainder of the team's Tri-Nations campaign.

New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu is to undergo surgery on a ruptured chest muscle and will be out of rugby for at least four months.

Hosea Gear is looking forward to getting some game time with the Wellington Lions after a frustrating few weeks on the sidelines with New Zealand.

Centre Rua Tipoki returns to the Munster side for the first time since mid-November to play Ulster in their Magners League clash with Ulster at Thomond Park on Saturday (7.30pm).

NEW ZEALAND rugby chiefs want to replicate the Thomond Park experience in their own stadia next year.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named seven new players in his 35-man squad for the autumn tour to Hong Kong and Europe.

THE Australian arrived at Leinster in the summer of 2005 armed with his three-year plan and intent on annexing world club rugby’s greatest prize.

Ulster coach Matt Williams rates Heineken Cup rivals Stade Francais as the best in the world ahead of their clash at Ravenhill on Saturday.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has announced Paul O'Connell will lead his strongest possible side for the Magners League opener against Edinburgh in Murrayfield on Friday.

Leinster's Australian scrum-half Chris Whitaker is impressed with the work of coach Michael Cheika in bringing in high-quality new players for the season ahead.

Daniel Braid has been called into the New Zealand squad ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup showdown with Australia.

A strong performance by Ireland against New Zealand will mean nothing to Eoin Reddan unless Ireland win the Wellington Test.

ALL BLACK hopeful Kieran Read has failed to make Graham Henry’s 26-man squad for the Test series against Ireland and England and the Philips Tri Nations.

THE Magners League title may be their immediate priority but Leinster have strengthened their bid for further success next season with the signing of versatile back Isa Nacewa from the Auckland Blues.

25-year-old Isa Nacewa has signed a two-year deal with Leinster and will move to Ireland later this year at the conclusion of his contractual obligations in New Zealand.

Gloucester prop Christian Califano has announced he will retire at the end of the season.