Paul O'Connell has dismissed speculation that he could return to a coaching role with Munster anytime soon.

Paul O’Connell’s stay in Paris with Stade Francais will end once this season is done, it is understood.

The ex-Ulster out-half scored a try but his side fell to 46-15 home defeat.

It’s a case of friends reunited for Paul O’Connell, after the 38 year-old Munster and Ireland legend confirmed yesterday he is to move to Paris and take up as role as forwards coach with Stade Francais.

Ronan O’Gara may have coached across town in Paris with Racing 92, but he was quick to acknowledge Stade Francais’ coup in signing up his old Munster colleague Paul O’Connell.

Bordeaux may have to prepare for another Irish invasion.

Joey Carbery won’t be leaving Leinster anytime soon.

Connacht head coach, Pat Lam, was a proud man despite seeing his side lose 21-15 to Northampton Saints who keep alive their hopes of European Champions Cup qualification for next season.

Gloucester 17 Stade Francais 25: Gloucester let an early 10-point lead slip to go down to Stade Francais at BT Murrayfield as they failed to impose themselves in the European Challenge Cup final.

Ronan O’Gara breaks down that Racing 92 match you fortunately missed...

Do not tell Peter O’Mahony that Munster have regained a rightful place in the European quarter-finals this weekend, the Reds captain is adamant his side is fully deserving of their place in the Champion Cup knockout rounds.

Racing 92 and Stade Francais have announced that their proposed merger is off.

French giants Stade Francais and Racing 92 will merge next season, forming an “absolute monster” Top 14 Paris super club.

A huge story developing in Paris.

The tourist brochures present Paris as the city of lights and the city of love but one can appreciate why it won’t feature any time soon on bucket lists for the current Munster squad. From both a personal and sporting standpoint, the French capital has yielded nothing but grief for that particular group over the last 12 months.

Whether it was a brave face or genuine optimism from Rassie Erasmus this week, the feelgood vibes emanating from Munster’s director of rugby ahead of tomorrow’s Champions Cup opener in Paris could evaporate in a heartbeat if his side fails to rise to the occasion.

From where Munster was 18 months ago, things looked and felt a whole lot more positive from where I was sitting Tuesday night, writes Ronan O’Gara

Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder has challenged his side to do the double over Leinster this season.

Munster Rugby’s poor performances and falling attendances have seen its annual deficit forecast soar to almost €1.95 million for the soon-to-end financial year.

His body may have been telling him otherwise but CJ Stander was ready to go again last Monday, desperate to be picked by Ireland for a second time, eager to prove he belongs in Test rugby.

With the pressure valve released a little, our rugby correspondent Simon Lewis teases out the green shoots of Munster’s recovery with head coach Anthony Foley.

Munster supporters won’t relish the prospect of several Pro12 games without experienced players called up to the Irish squad, but Jack O’Donoghue is confident the province’s young guns can hold the fort.

At times, only a bottle of whiskey on a bar counter stood between Rory Best and myself sorting every ill there ever was in Irish rugby, writes Ronan O’Gara

The problem with being a market leader for so long is that expectation levels are always set at ceiling height. Munster have been a good news story for European rugby ever since that shattering defeat to Northampton in the 2000 Heineken Cup final.

DESPITE that crushing defeat to Saracens in London, Ulster remain Ireland’s solitary contender to make the last eight of this season’s Champions Cup. 

Munster 26 Stade Francais 13: The smiles have returned to the faces of the Thomond Park faithful after a miserable winter of discontent but Anthony Foley knows there is still a way to go before the sun will shine once more on this Munster side.

Munster restored some much-needed Champions Cup pride as they rebounded from Parisian humiliation with a bonus-point victory over Stade Francais in Limerick today.

Do not mention the phrase “dead rubber” in front of Mike Sherry. 

Keith Wood has called for root and branch reform at Munster and has warned it will take his former province “a number of years” to return to their former glories.

CJ Stander admitted he had experienced his worst moments in a Munster jersey following their embarrassing defeat to Stade Francais and said the players had to stand up and take more responsibility.

What went wrong in Paris?

Head coach Anthony Foley declared he was prepared to walk away from Munster if he felt he could no longer inspire winning performances from his players.