With 15 players away with the Ireland team as World Cup preparations intensify, Munster front row forward Stephen Archer says there is a great opportunity for the province’s young stars to stand up and be counted.

Munster out-half Joey Carbery is part of the 40-man squad flying to Portugal today for an eight-day warm-weather training camp.

Munster Senior Challenge Cup specialists Cork Constitution will open their title defence with a mouth-watering tie against 2018 champions Garryowen.

Enya Breen (20), from Skibbereen, is a second year physiotherapy student at UL and regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects in Irish women’s rugby. She lines out for defending champions UL Bohs in today’s AIL final against Railway Union (Donnybrook, 3pm)

Joe Schmidt has made seven changes to the Ireland team to face France in Sunday's Six Nations clash.

Cronin has been dropped from the 37-man squad just a week after his first Six Nations start in 68 international appearances.

Adam Griggs has made one change to the Ireland team ahead of their Women's Six Nations match away to Italy.

The uncapped Linda Djougang, Anne Marie O'Hora and Kathryn Dane are also included on the bench.

Terenure College and Garryowen were the big winners on the final day of Division 1A’s regular season, setting up semi-final clashes with defending champions Cork Constitution and table-topping Lansdowne respectively.

Lansdowne continue to look the team to beat in Ulster Bank League Division 1A after winning at Tom Clifford Park for the first time since 2011, while defending champions Cork Constitution have leapfrogged Terenure College in pursuit of the second home semi-final berth.

A spectacular second-half performance from Railway Union saw them claim the IRFU Women’s All-Ireland Cup following a comprehensive 33-3 victory over UL Bohemians, the defending cup champions and league leaders at Dubarry Park on Saturday.

Ahead of their meeting in the Women’s Six Nations at Donnybrook tomorrow afternoon (1pm kick-off), Niamh Briggs acknowledged that Scotland are becoming a dangerous proposition for Ireland.

New Ireland women’s head coach Adam Griggs believes a daunting test in France tonight will be the making of his team.

There's a first cap for winger Megan Williams in the Ireland women's side for their first Six Nations game against France on Saturday.

Cork Constitution 26 Buccaneers 0: Gerry Hurley was thrilled to have participated in one of Cork Constitution’s most impressive Ulster Bank League performances of the season at Temple Hill on Saturday.

Rugby star Sophie Spence wants female Irish players to “receive an equal level of respect and treatment” as their male counterparts.

Munster regained the IRFU Women’s Interprovincial Championship crown by virtue of scoring difference after defeating 2016 champions Leinster (11-5) at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Bruff 8 - UL Bohemians 22: A late opportunist try from Ogie Scannell, converted by Michael Mullally, finally sealed the deal for UL Bohemians in a tough Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Cup semi-final at Kilballyowen Park, Bruff, this afternoon.

The IRFU Women’s Interprovincial Championship goes down to the wire this afternoon when Munster host champions Leinster in a top of the table clash at Thomond Park (2.30pm).

Lansdowne 24 Cork Constitution 10: Scott Deasy came back to scupper his former club on the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch yesterday as Lansdowne earned a 24-10 win over Ulster Bank League champions Cork Constitution.

Joe Schmidt’s young son Tim scored the bonus point try for Terenure College as they won their Dublin 6W derby with St. Mary’s College to continue their excellent start.

Skerries teenager Ciaran Frawley converted four of UCD’s five tries and kicked a penalty as they dished out a 36-8 derby defeat to Dublin University, moving to the top of Ulster Bank League Division 1A in the process.

Rassie Erasmus has endorsed potential Munster successor Dave Wessels as “one of the good fits” to replace him as director of rugby.

Joe Schmidt said that the five uncapped players who have made it into the squad for the first game of the summer tour against the USA on Saturday evening deserve their chance.

Ireland U20 head coach Peter Malone is looking forward to having another crack at New Zealand as he prepares to bring his side into battle for this summer’s World Rugby U20 Championships in Georgia, writes Daire Walsh.

Table-toppers Lansdowne and defending champions Clontarf will have home advantage in the Division 1A semi-finals after a tumultuous final day in the Ulster Bank League.

Ireland 27 France 22: Not a performance to shout about, but Ireland’s U20s did just about enough to make it three wins from three in this year’s Six Nations at Donnybrook last night.

When you’ve locked horns and beaten women’s rugby giants New Zealand and World Cup champions England in the recent past, taking on highly-ranked Canada isn’t quite the frightening prospect it could be.

It’s already been a campaign featuring fresh faces and Ireland women’s coach Tom Tierney has continued with that policy for the side’s latest Six Nations outing, against Italy, at Donnybrook on Sunday at 1pm.

DIVISION 1A

It may well be the most notorious train journey in Irish sporting history.

Ireland’s inexperienced women’s out-half Nikki Caughey thought there would be more nerves on her return to the team against Wales last weekend after a two-year absence with injury.