The Leinster squad may be bolstered by the return of Isa Nacewa and Richartd Strauss ahead of their crucial Heineken Cup Pool 5 clash with the Scarlets at the RDS on Saturday (6pm).

Leinster A 44 Jersey 13

Munster A coach Ian Costello has the luxury of being able to name what is arguably his strongest team for today’s British and Irish Cup clash with Aberavon in Tralee (1pm).

A MEDICAL study claims protective skull caps do nothing to protect against concussion.

MUNSTER took the last qualification spot in the British and Irish Cup courtesy of Leinster yesterday.

IRELAND U-20s 24 WALES U-20s 38

AFTER consecutive away victories, Darren Edwards has made four changes for Wales U20’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland at Parc Y Scarlets tonight (7.10 pm).

Lee Byrne has been ruled out of Wales’ autumn international campaign after suffering ligament damage in his right foot.

The inaugural British & Irish Cup will get underway on the weekend of Saturday, November 21.

Dafydd James is already established as a Heineken Cup record-breaker – but his sights are set on another landmark feat this weekend.

Wales and Ospreys centre Sonny Parker has announced his retirement from international rugby, delivering another blow to head coach Mike Ruddock.

THE MOST influential player the Heineken Cup has seen since its inception in 1995/96?

R&A selection chairman Peter McEvoy has named an initial squad of 29 players for next August's 40th Walker Cup, to be held at the Chicago Golf Club, Illinois.

ANOTHER blow for Munster, another wake up call in advance of today’s Heineken Cup clash with Treviso.

Connacht open their Parker Pen European Challenge Cup campaign this weekend in the south of France when they take on Beziers in the first leg of the tie at Stade de la Mediterranee on Sunday (kick-off 2pm Irish time).

Munster 22 Celtic Warriors 21

GORDON D’Arcy is back in the Leinster fold after injury to help the former Celtic League champions against the Borders this weekend.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made two changes to the side for their Celtic League clash against Llanelli at Dubarry Park in Athlone on Friday (7pm).

Celtic League chiefs are still searching for a title sponsor to back the 2003/04 competition that kicks off in just four weeks’ time.

MUNSTER will face two crucial Heineken Cup games within a week in the opening phase of the competition when they play Gloucester home and away next January. They open their campaign on the weekend of December 5/7 with an away tie to Bourgoin and they follow with a home game to Treviso the following weekend, January 12/14.

Full-back Brett Davey makes his final appearance for Pontypridd in their last Welsh Premier League fixture against Cardiff at the Arms Park on Friday night, kick-off 7.05pm.

Cardiff flanker Martyn Williams will captain Wales in their Lloyds TSB tour game against the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Caerphilly 15 Pontypridd 17

Bridgend chief executive Adrian Hadley has become the first major casualty of the restructuring of Welsh rugby.

Reading's Madejski Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for the finals of this year's Parker Pen Challenge Cup and Shield on May 25.

THE row between the Welsh Rugby Union and the clubs will have no bearing on the outcome of the Celtic League decider between Neath and Munster today (2.45pm).

CONNACHT rugby has won a stay of execution in the latest twist over the future of the province’s senior squad.

Welsh rugby's bitter battle about the future of its professional game will tonight enter a critical phase.

ENGLAND and Wales are both counting the cost of injuries to key players ahead of the RBS Six Nations Championship.

The Connacht team to play Pontypridd in the second leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final clash at Sardis Road on Saturday (5.30pm) shows one change from that which started the first leg last week.

Pontypridd will take a five-point advantage into the second leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final against Connacht at Sardis Road on Saturday evening - but the job is only half done.

CONNACHT’S rugby players last night blasted the IRFU for its ‘appalling’ decision to discuss the possible disbandment of the provincial team 48 hours before the biggest game of their careers.

The Connacht team to take on Pontypridd in the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final at Ericsson Park, Athlone on Saturday (5.30pm) shows three changes from that which started against Narbonne in the last round.

Connacht coach Steph Nel has named a 24 man squad for Saturday's Parker Pen Challenge Cup first leg tie against Pontypridd at Ericsson Park in Athlone (ko 5.30pm).

Connacht's Parker Pen Challenge Cup home quarter-final clash with Pontypridd will be taking place in Leinster.

CONNACHT will be at home in the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against Pontypridd on the second weekend of January.

Connacht will be at home in the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against Pontypridd on the second weekend of January.

Connacht have set up a Parker Pen Shield quarter-final against Pontypridd after beating French side Narbonne yesterday at Corinthian Park.

The Connacht team to play Narbonne in Sunday’s Parker Pen Challenge Cup second round, second leg tie shows three changes from that which went down 42-27 in France on Saturday evening.

Pontypridd 12 Neath 13

Pontypridd 12 Neath 13

COLM McMAHON could be pressed into action as a winger for Munster’s Celtic League quarter-final with Connacht at Musgrave Park on Friday.

The prospect of a Welsh side reaching the Celtic League final improved with the news that the winners of the Pontypridd v Neath quarter-final clash will be at home in the semi-finals.