The Heineken Cup as we know it has just seven games to run. When it is consigned to history at the end of the season in favour of its successor, the proposed new European Champions Cup, we will look back with fond memories on the last 19 seasons of memorable European action and the joy the tournament brought for rugby supporters across the competing nations.

Mike Prendergast believes Anthony Foley is the right man to take over from Rob Penney as Munster coach.

Heineken Cup. France. Must-win.

Former Munster scrum-half Mike Prendergast has become the latest Irish coach to head abroad after taking up a position with Grenoble in France.

IN A week when we all became more knowledgeable about French rugby in the wake of Jonny Sexton’s big move to Racing Metro, pressure continues to mount on national coach Philippe Saint-André to win the Six Nations with what is regarded as the strongest squad in the competition.

Connacht Rugby has today confirmed the contract extensions for George Naoupu, Jason Harris-Wright, Mick Kearney and Eoin McKeon.

It’s the French lifestyle that endears you to the country first.

PERCEPTIONS can really mess with the head sometimes.

Argentina utility back Juan Martin Hernandez will miss the Rugby World Cup after failing to recover in time from a right knee injury.

IT is hard to believe that four months ago I had to brace myself for a difficult landing with a foot of snow on the edge of the runway at Bristol airport en-route to the Liberty Stadium for Munster’s Heineken Cup game with the Ospreys.

LEINSTER’S Irish internationals won’t hold fond memories of Dave Pearson but players and staff dismissed the significance of his appointment for Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium.

LEINSTER coach Joe Schmidt admitted that, with the Heineken Cup semi-final 10 days away, he is prepared to gamble with his team selection for Saturday’s Magners League trip away to Aironi.

NEWCASTLE have been handed a one-year ban from European competition, suspended for five years, and fined €25,000 after pleading guilty to a charge of misconduct at a European Rugby Cup disciplinary hearing in Dublin yesterday.

BIG games, big clashes and a big prize at the end of it all — the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals look set to provide some classic contests right out of the top drawer of European action.

BRIVE coach Ugo Mola believes his side can ambush Munster’s Amlin Challenge Cup hopes at Stade Amédée on Saturday following their pressure-relieving victory over Top 14 minnows La Rochelle last weekend.

Keith Matthews will celebrate his 100th cap when he lines out for Connacht for tomorrow night’s Magners League against Edinburgh at the Sportground (kick-off 7.45pm).

MUNSTER will be without international scrum-half Tomás O’Leary for the province’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final with Brive on April 9.

Star Argentina back Juan Martin Hernandez has vowed to “do the impossible” and play at the World Cup later this year.

LEINSTER will be seeking their 25th Heineken Cup victory (*excluding 2009 semi-final and final) on the road against Racing Metro 92 at Stade Yves Du Manoir tonight.

Connacht Rugby have today announced the signings of Ulster duo Niall O’Connor and Mark McCrea along with the re-signing of former Connacht favourite George Naoupu from Japan for next season.

FEW Heineken Cup weekends, if any, are so pregnant with scripts and subplots as this.

Munster’s old foe Felipe Contepomi will start at fly-half for Toulon in the Heineken Cup match at Thomond Park on Saturday.

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood has backed his side to revive their Amlin Challenge Cup hopes against French outfit Bayonne at the Galway Sportsground tonight.

FINANCIAL irregularities continue to cause unrest in the French Top 14, with Bourgoin set to follow Montauban into the lower divisions due to a failure to balance their books.

A MONTH after celebrating his 24th birthday, Sean Cronin is set to achieve another significant milestone in his burgeoning rugby career.

Toulon centre Felipe Contepomi has returned to the Argentina squad for the Pumas’ Tests against Scotland and France.

WHEN Toulon coach Philippe Saint-Andre was interviewed after his side had outclassed the Scarlets in the quarter-final of the Amlin Challenge Cup, he was quoted as saying “The Scarlets are a great footballing side, with dangerous backs, but the Magners League is a lot different to the French championship.

With the dream of a World Cup winner’s medal now beyond him, Toulouse and former All Black Byron Kelleher tells Ian Moriarty why a Heineken Cup medal would fit the bill instead

LEINSTER lock Nathan Hines has warned that the province’s hopes of retaining their Heineken Cup title will evaporate if they repeat their awful start against Clermont Auvergne in Toulouse on Saturday.

France captain Thierry Dusautoir is considered unlikely to play for Toulouse against Leinster in the Heineken Cup semi-final on Saturday week.

RESPECTIVE coaches Michael Bradley and Tony McGahan have acted in totally contrasting fashion in their team selections for tomorrow’s crucial Magners League clash at the Galway Sportsground.

CONNACHT coach Michael Bradley has named a strong squad for Sunday’s Magners League showdown against Munster at the Sportsground (5.05pm).

JOHNNY SEXTON’S jaw was fractured in that titanic clash with Clermont on Friday.

IF ONLY we could have rugby like this every weekend.

MICHAEL BRADLEY’S “strongest” squad in his seven year tenure at Connacht are in confident mood ahead of today’s European quarter-final against French visitors Bourgoin.

Connacht captain John Muldoon returns from injury to lead his side out to play Bourgoin in the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup at The Sportsground on Saturday.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named a 26-man panel for their upcoming Amlin Challenge Cup quarter final against Bourgoin on Saturday.

CONNACHT have received a huge boost with a number of injury doubts named in a 26-man squad for Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Bourgoin.

Connacht 22 Edinburgh 21

MICHAEL BRADLEY has held up young wing Fionn Carr as the perfect example why Connacht should be allowed continue play a key role in Irish provincial rugby.

RYAN JONES readily admits Wales have been on an emotional rollercoaster during this season’s Six Nations Championship.

Northampton lock Courtney Lawes has signed a new contract with the Franklin’s Gardens outfit.

LEINSTER will kick off the Heineken Cup quarter finals, with the ERC pencilling in their appetising quarter final against Clermont-Auvergne for Friday night, April 9 (8pm).