RUGBY clubs confirmed yesterday they were not charged by the IRFU for unsold tickets for the autumn internationals, despite suggestions to that effect some weeks ago.

AS if dealing with extremely difficult quarter-final opposition in Northampton Saints and Clermont Auvergne wasn’t enough to keep them busy, Munster and Leinster must face up to the reality that they have also been drawn away from home, should they qualify for the semi-finals of this season’s Heineken Cup.

LEINSTER RUGBY are facing the possibility of negotiations with a new kit supplier following Canterbury Europe’s slide into administration.

LEINSTER’s stunning Heineken Cup success is set to make its brand a market leader that can match Munster’s drawing power, according to the IRFU’s Commercial and Marketing director, Pádraig Power.

Mick Galwey has given his backing to Alan Quinlan ahead of the Munster flanker’s disciplinary hearing in Dublin tomorrow.

A PLAYER eligibility issue involving defending Irish Senior Cup champions Pembroke Wanderers threatens to overshadow the Dubliners’ quest to retain the trophy when they lock horns with Cookstown at Belfield on Sunday (1.15).

Leading economist Jim Power has today accused the Government of “fiddling while the economy burns”.

The New Stand at Donnybrook will be officially opened this Sunday before the Leinster Schools Senior Cup first round match between Belvedere College and Terenure College

IT WOULD be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we have achieved all we could have hoped for by reaching the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup.

FOR a number of years there has been an obsession in some schools with winning the Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup at all costs.

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney is poised to field his strongest available side for Wednesday’s sell-out Magners League clash with Leinster at Thomond Park.

THE Leinster Branch said last night they are “flabbergasted” by the leak of the referee’s report from the Magners League clash between Leinster and Munster at Lansdowne Road on October 6.

RUGBY fans are bidding sky high prices online for match tickets for this weekend’s Heineken Cup clash between Munster and Leinster.

LIKE Napoleon’s soldiers, more than 1,000 battle-hardened warriors of rugby’s Red and Blue armies will march on their stomachs into Lansdowne Road for next week’s Heineken European Cup semi-final.

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LEINSTER’S defeat at home to Sale last season has helped focus the minds on the importance of tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash with Bourgoin at Lansdowne Road (5.15pm).

Charlie Mulqueen concludes that the massive investment pumped into The Heritage at Killenard, Co Laois, will prove worthwhile.

THE Government has awarded the Munster Branch €600,000 towards the construction of a state-of-the-art multi-purpose stand at Musgrave Park in Cork.

Gary Ella has stood down from his position as head coach of Leinster today after a disappointing season for the province.

THIS HAS been one, long mother of a season. We know there’s still a few Celtic League games to endure, a couple of European Cup finals and various domestic leagues to wrap up, not to mention a tour to South Africa, but we’re going to sign off after today.

The Leinster Branch will not be selling any more tickets for Munster's Heineken Cup semi final against Wasps on April 25.

SOME of the Leinster squad went “back to school” yesterday and visited a secondary college in Tallaght to impart advice to the next crop of rising stars.

THERE had to be a scapegoat when Leinster lost to Perpignan in the semi-final of last year’s Heineken Cup at Lansdowne Road.

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Leinster and Ulster's Rugby World Cup stars are back in force for their respective Heineken Cup openers this weekend.

It has been confirmed that the Leinster Lions will play their three home games in Pool C of the European Cup at Lansdowne Road.

GLOUCESTER’S pre-season preparations have been given a lift from an unlikely source – judo champion Dave Kavanagh.

MUNSTER winger John O’Neill has been forced to retire from rugby with immediate effect because of injury.

LEINSTER last night insisted they were within a few days of appointing a successor to Matt Williams after former England full-back Jon Callard turned down the opportunity to coach the province.

GETTING to Munster’s European Cup semi-final against Toulouse will be harder than getting a ticket, according to the IRFU’s Munster branch.

A WEEK ahead of Ireland's vital Six Nations meeting with Wales, Ronan O'Gara will be in action for Cork Constitution in their AIB League clash with County Carlow at Temple Hill.

IRISH internationals Keith Gleeson and Malcolm O’Kelly are both nursing injuries as Leinster prepare for the big Heineken Cup match of the weekend away to Montferrand.

Leinster coach Matt Williams is to continue as director of coaching.

The Irish Rugby Football Union hope to receive a directive from the Government today on whether England’s Six Nations Championship visit to Dublin on March 24 should be postponed.