Joe Schmidt has chosen New Zealander John Plumtree as the man to take charge of Ireland’s forwards and the 48-year-old will join the Irish coaching set-up next month.

Ireland have appointed John Plumtree as their new forwards coach, the Irish Rugby Football Union has announced.

Will cautious Philippe Saint-Andre let multi-talented backline express themselves?

Ulster’s former Natal Sharks and Springbok full-back, Stefan Terblanche believes the Irish provinces will remain an attractive proposition for overseas players even if the IRFU sticks to its plan to squeeze the influx of non-Irish qualified talent.

Brian McLaughlin has named Paul Marshall and Pedrie Wannenburg in the starting line up for Ulster's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with the Ospreys at Ravenhill tomorrow (7.05pm).

The New Year has brought a bonus for Ulster Rugby supporters with the news that scrum-halves Ruan Pienaar and Paul Marshall have each signed new two-year contracts, keeping them at the club until June 2014.

Ulster have confirmed the signing of former South Africa international Stefan Terblanche on a three-month contract.

Ulster Rugby have this evening confirmed that Stefan Terblanche will join the club on a 3 month contract.

MUNSTER’S backroom reshuffle for next season continued yesterday with the appointment of Ian Costello as both skills and A team coach.

Ulster Rugby today announced that second row forward Johann Muller has signed a one-year contract extension.

LEINSTER have offset the upcoming departure of Scottish lock Nathan Hines to Clermont Auvergne by signing Natal Sharks second-row Steven Sykes, who wants to represent Ireland.

Leinster rugby have announced today the signings of Natal Sharks secondrow Steven Sykes, Connacht tighthead prop Jamie Hagan and Canterbury Crusaders outhalf Matt Berquist.

Ulster Rugby today confirmed that prop BJ Botha will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

IT IS somewhat unfortunate that the ongoing saga about the IRFU ticketing policy has overshadowed the return of international rugby to its traditional home in Lansdowne Road.

Argentina fly-half Juan-Martin Hernandez and French winger Benjamin Fall will not travel with the Racing Metro squad that will face Leinster in the opening round of the Heineken Cup next Saturday at the RDS (kick off: 1:30pm), it was confirmed today.

ENGLAND and Lions centre Riki Flutey, pictured, is on the cusp of signing for Munster, according to media reports in France.

DAVID HUMPHREYS says Ulster have secured a world-class forward in South African Johann Muller.

Ulster have today announced the signing of South Africa international lock Johann Muller on a two-year contract.

CONFUSION surrounds the international future of South Africa prop Tendai Mtawarira after it emerged he may not be eligible to play for the Springboks.

South Africa has released prop Deon Carstens to play for Natal Sharks against the British & Irish Lions on Wednesday at the Absa Stadium in Durban.

WITH LESS than three weeks to go before Ian McGeechan announces the Lions squad to tour South Africa, every amateur pundit in Britain and Ireland is choosing their favourites to don the famous red jersey.

THIS year’s Heineken Cup took off in spectacular fashion last weekend with some outstanding contests, surprise results and cracking atmosphere.

Frederic Michalak will return to Toulouse from the Natal Sharks at the end of the Currie Cup in October on a three-year contract.

THE GREATEST modern day out-half, All Black magician Dan Carter, is reportedly being bombarded with offers from loads-a-money clubs in England and France.

France fly-half David Skrela has announced he will leave Stade Francais at the end of the season and join Top 14 rivals Toulouse.

WORLD Cup superstar Bryan Habana has led the tributes to departing Springboks coach Jake White, declaring: “He has taken us on an unbelievable journey.”

South Africa will field nine of their victorious World Cup final starting line-up against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

WHEN Shaun Payne signed for Munster five years ago, few took a great deal of notice. He had a good track record, initially in his native South Africa, where he was part of a crack Natal Sharks side, and more recently with Swansea.

IT WAS the comments of South Africa’s World Cup-winning captain John Smit that resonated most over the weekend.

South Africa back Francois Steyn has been cleared of biting an opponent in his country’s World Cup victory over Tonga.

MARTIN CORRY claims England will “draw strength from adversity” when they go into battle as huge World Cup underdogs against South Africa tonight.

Namibia number eight Jacques Burger expects the back row to be the key battleground in tomorrow's World Cup clash with Ireland.

NAMES like Kees Lensing and Jacques Burger will mean little or nothing to the vast majority of Irish rugby fans this morning.

Prop Kees Lensing will lead Namibia in their World Cup opener against Ireland on Sunday.

FRANCE are determined to learn from their mistakes of four years ago as they head into their series of warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup.

Bath have completed the signing of Springboks fly-half Butch James on a two-year contract.

NEW ZEALAND Maori captain Rua Tipoki teams up with Munster today, and is all set to get medical and work-permit clearance.

Sale Sharks have announced the signing of South African centre Rudi Keil on a two-year contract from Guinness Premiership rivals Gloucester.

HE calls Munster’s 2006 Heineken Cup win “a fairytale”, and looking back now he clearly understands why. Out of Africa and into the Munster maelstrom of another emotional European odyssey, Trevor Halstead was a shining light throughout the 2005/06 Heineken Cup winning campaign.

South Africa team to face Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday:

MUNSTER centre Trevor Halstead is to return to his native South Africa after next season, having refused a new deal to stay on with the European champions.

NO matter what the sport, you often wonder how people who have been teammates on countless occasions are suddenly able to play against each other in a different competition.

WHEN Munster came calling in the early summer of 2005, Trevor Halstead was betwixt and between. Should he stay with the Natal Sharks or seek a new challenge in a country and with a team he didn’t know a whole lot about.

Munster's South African centre and full back want to create their own piece of Thomond Park magic today. Edward Newman and Charlie Mulqueen spoke to Springboks, Trevor Halstead and Shaun Payne.