HEINEKEN CUP POOL 6:

There may have been a collective groan in Munster at the prospect of another Sunday lunchtime Heineken Cup kick-off, but the prospect of a final pool game with Edinburgh in the supposed graveyard shift was being viewed more optimistically within provincial headquarters.

John Afoa has rejected more lucrative offers from France and a crack at the Rugby World Cup in 2015 to reunite his family in Gloucester, according to Nigel Davies.

Ireland’s U17s are playing catch-up already to reach the European Championships following defeat to Serbia in yesterday’s opening elite stage qualifier.

Former England wing Lesley Vainikolo has left Gloucester to join French second division club La Rochelle with immediate effect.

IRELAND’S U17s face a cauldron of noise at the Tsentralniy Stadium in Almaty today (2pm) when 5,000 fans will be backing Kazakhstan’s bid to usurp John Morling’s side in their bid for UEFA U19 qualification.

Kevin Doyle, Richard Dunne and John O’Shea have been nominated for the 3/FAI Senior International Player of the Year Award, it was announced today.

Gloucester 3 Munster 16

FOR years in Europe, Munster have thrived on the underdogtag which inspired famous victories against opposition deemed by neutrals to be far superior.

FANCY a ticket for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final clash against Gloucester on Saturday? You’ll be lucky.

The semi-final draws for this year’s Umbro sponsored FAI Intermediate Cup, FAI Youth Cup, FAI Under 17 Cup and FAI Youth Interleague Cup was made this evening at the Radisson Hotel, Dublin Airport.

London Irish breezed into the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals against a poor Pau side at Madejski Stadium today.

THE Republic of Ireland U-17 side claimed a place in the Nordic Championship final with a 3-1 victory over tournament favourites Denmark.

Samoa’s powerful World Cup centre Terry Fanolua today agreed a new three-year deal with Gloucester.

LEICESTER Tigers could be boosted by the return of World Cup winners Martin Corry and Dorian West for the Zurich Premiership encounter at home to Gloucester tomorrow.

The third round draw for the FAI Intermediate Cup has thrown up some exciting ties, with the added bonus winners in this round reach the FAI Carlsberg Senior Cup competition.

LONGFORD TOWN and Kildare County progressed to the FAI Carlsberg Cup quarter-finals on Saturday with victories over Limerick and Cherry Orchard, respectively.

AN extraordinary draw for the second round of the Carlsberg FAI Cup last night ensured that two of the top four teams in the league will exit the competition at an unusually early stage.

Speedy Gloucester winger Marcel Garvey has been given 24 hours to prove his fitness for Saturday's Heineken Cup trip to Munster.

The FAI have named a 15-player Under-16 assessment squad for a match against Drogheda United at the eircom League club's O2 Stadium next Thursday.

"I FEEL that among all the Gloucester players he is the fittest and most certainly hot totty." So says the nameless (presumably female) fan on the www.robfidlerfans website.

Sale Sharks have continued to strengthen their set-up today by agreeing contract extensions with four more players and team manager Steve Diamond.

Gloucester’s Henry Paul is aching to play against Zurich Premiership leaders Leicester on Saturday despite his new England Sevens team-mates flying off to Beijing without him.

The draw for the third round of the FAI Cup takes place this evening in Dublin.