PROMISING full-back Danny Riordan — he will be 22 on Monday — has received a timely birthday with his inclusion in the Connacht side to play Edinburgh Gunners in the Magners League at the Sportsground tomorrow night.

Connacht will continue their preparations for their opening game of the Magners League when they take on Rotherham next Friday (3pm) in a pre-season friendly.

Narbonne 35 Connacht 29

New signings Brett Wilkinson and Adrian Flavin could make their debuts for Connacht next weekend when Michael Bradley's men take on Narbonne in France in a pre-season friendly.

Connacht will renew acquaintances with old rivals Narbonne when the sides clash in a pre-season friendly at Parc des Sports et de L'Amitie in the south of France on Saturday, August 12.

THOMAS CASTAIGNEDE admits it has been hard watching France endure a stuttering start to their RBS 6 Nations campaign as he prepares to make his tournament bow against Italy tomorrow.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has drafted Bourgoin lock Carlos Del Fava into his first 15 for this weekend’s Six Nations Championship clash with France in Paris.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has dropped Andrea Lo Cicero in favour of Fabio Ongaro in his team for the RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland.

Connacht are one win away from a European Challenge Cup quarter-final after a narrow victory over Montpellier in France.

Guinness Premiership leaders Bristol have suffered a major blow with the loss of their former England hooker Mark Regan for up to six weeks.

FRANCE COACH Bernard Laporte has made several changes for the clash with Australia in Brisbane on Saturday with his side looking to bounce back from the dismal 27-13 defeat to South Africa last weekend.

Connacht will face Worcester, Montpellier and Amatori Catania in the new look European Challenge Cup.

WILLIE ANDERSON has been appointed coach of All-Ireland Division Two club Ballynahinch.

Clontarf centre James Downey has extended his contract at Connacht for another year as French club Narbonne were also looking to sign the 24- year old Dubliner.

ALTHOUGH set to lose out when Munster’s 24-man training squad for Saturday’s Celtic Cup clash with Edinburgh is cut to 22 today, Garryowen young gun Conan Doyle is very much one for the future.

ENGLAND boss Andy Robinson wants to recreate a “fortress Twickenham” factor - starting with today’s RBS 6 Nations clash against fellow wooden spoon candidates Italy.

A doubt over the fitness of Paul Griffen means former captain Alessandro Troncon has been preferred at scrum-half for Italy’s opening RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland in Rome on Sunday.

Gareth Llewellyn hopes to achieve a notable career double against England next Saturday – even if it has been 12 years in the making.

BLUE prop John Yapp is the only uncapped player in Wales’ 31-man squad for the forthcoming RBS Six Nations.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has named one uncapped player – Cardiff Blues prop John Yapp – in his squad for this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.

ON this very day twelve months ago, Munster and Connacht clashed in Athlone in what is now regarded as one of Celtic League’s worst ever games.

Connacht must be sick of the sight of French clubs. Or is it the other way around?

Sale Sharks scrum-half Bryan Redpath could be sidelined for three months after he suffered a fractured cheekbone during his team’s European Challenge Cup victory against Narbonne.

Leinster 18 Connacht 9

It is a case of as-you-were for Connacht's assault on Leinster in the Celtic League at Donnybrook tomorrow night.

Following a heroic comeback against Narbonne last Saturday, the dates for Connacht’s next French date, with Montpellier, in the second round of the European Challenge Cup have been announced.

Connacht 40 Narbonne 21

A dream first half from fly-half Paul Warwick has seen Connacht take a 29-7 lead into the break of their European Challenge Cup first round second leg meeting with Narbonne at the Sportsground.

Connacht: McHugh, Mostyn, Yapp, Downey, McPhillips, Warwick, Keane, Hogan, Jackman, Knoop, Farley, Short, Swift, Lacey, Muldoon.

Coach Michael Bradley will look for inspiration from out-half Paul Warwick, a last-minute withdrawal last week, if Connacht are to overturn a 14-point deficit against Narbonne in the first round-second leg of the European Challenge Cup at the Sportsground on Saturday.

European Challenge Cup 1st round, 1st leg result:

Number eight John Muldoon, props Ray Hogan and Stephen Knoop, second-row Christian Short, out-half Paul Warwick and centre James Downey make up a party of six players that will make their European débuts for Connacht at Narbonne in the first round of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup on Saturday (6.30pm Irish time).

FIVE short months after Shannon’s AIB League victory, it all starts again at Thomond Park on Sunday.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock today named two uncapped players in a 29-man squad to prepare for autumn Test matches against South Africa, New Zealand, Romania and Japan in November.

PAUL BURKE spoke last night about “his hardest decision” as he prepares to leave Harlequins and join Alan Gaffney’s Munster.

SPORTS fans in Galway are spoiled for choice this weekend.

MUNSTER have secured the services of the internationally- capped Paul Burke for the next two seasons.

Connacht have made seven changes to the side which defeated Narbonne in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final for Saturday's Celtic League clash with Celtic Warriors at Bridgend.

Connacht 16 Narbonne 10

Connacht have come back to take victory over Narbonne.

Parker Pen latest

Parker Pen latest

Parker Pen latest

Simon Danielli is backing Bath to wipe out a five-point deficit and remain on course for a domestic and European double when they take on Beziers tomorrow.