Bridesmaid. It’s a word that seems to provoke equal amounts of fear and loathing from members of the opposite sex, much to the incomprehension of men everywhere.

With Brad Thorn recently arrived, Leo Cullen fully recovered from surgery and Devin Toner likely to be named as first reserve, it is unlikely Damian Browne will get to register his ninth Heineken Cup appearance this weekend.

IRISH provinces will be chasing a financial jackpot this weekend as they look to secure a Heineken Cup quarter-final home draw, with local economies benefiting by up to €10.5 million, according to figures released by the tournament organisers.

Leinster rugby have announced today that flanker Rhys Ruddock and centre Eoin O’Malley have agreed new one-year and two-year deals respectively.

FEW Heineken Cup weekends, if any, are so pregnant with scripts and subplots as this.

LEINSTER head coach Joe Schmidt admits he will have mixed feelings when he returns to Stade Marcel Michelin to face former club Clermont Auvergne in Saturday’s Heineken Cup Pool Two clash.

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

ASM Clermont Auvergne coach Vern Cotter believes his side are in ‘a good position’ to qualify for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals ahead of Sunday’s crucial Pool Five game with Munster (Stade Marcel Michelin, 3pm, Sky Sports).