Fly-half Niall O’Connor is not giving up hope that he is still an integral part of Ulster coach Mark Anscombe’s overall plans.

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has admitted his team were lucky to come away from Italy with a win when they overcame Zebre 27-25 at the Stadio XXV Aprile yesterday.

The organisers of the Heineken Cup admit it would be “almost unthinkable” for English clubs to pull out of the tournament and form their own breakaway competition.

THE latest RaboDirect Pro 12 League table says much about the current status of Leinster and Munster.

Munster have named an extended 30-strong squad ahead of the RaboDirect PRO 12 game against Connacht on Monday (7.45pm).