Before looking forward to the inaugural Champions Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday, I feel compelled to examine the implications of an announcement last week that attracted minimal attention on this side of the world.

Nothing ever comes easy for Connacht. Their constant battle for recognition and the right to sit as an equal partner with the other three provinces in the eyes of the IRFU has raged for over a century.

I’m not sure how long it’s been since Munster sat on top of the Pro 12, but there must be a feeling of quiet satisfaction within the squad as they head back into European action, writes Donal Lenihan.

He is part of a team — never mind a defence — that has yet to incur a black card this summer.

Connacht centre Dave McSharry has signed a contract extension which will keep him at the Sportsground until the summer of 2015.

With second row Mike McCarthy moving to Leinster at the end of the season, Connacht have secured a high profile replacement in the shape of current Chiefs captain Craig Clarke who has signed a three-year deal with the western province.

After Saturday, it’s just as well Ireland are not coming back here for 12 years.

Injured pair Jamie Heaslip and Gordon D’Arcy are out of Ireland’s Third Test against New Zealand.

World Cup-winning rugby star Sonny Bill Williams won the New Zealand heavyweight title with a first-round knockout of Clarence Tillman.

Ulster have been dealt a serious setback with the news that summer signing Jared Payne is likely to be out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Ulster Rugby announced today that they have signed Auckland Blues back Jared Payne on a three-year contract.

Sale Sharks have swooped to sign Samoa international Tasesa Lavea from reigning French champions Clermont Auvergne.

De La Salle have impressed observers with their physical strength and conditioning as they’ve annexed the Waterford and Munster hurling titles. The man responsible worked with a professional rugby outfit in New Zealand. Michael Moynihan reports.

LEINSTER forwards coach Jono Gibbes has singled out Toulouse scrum-half Byron Kelleher as one of the main threats to the Irish province’s hopes of retaining their status as Heineken Cup champions.

INCOMING Leinster coach Josef Schmidt is relishing his move to Ireland but admits his immediate focus is to knock his new employers out of the Heineken Cup.

HARD man to second guess, is Declan Kidney.

AS Jonathan Sexton embarks on an international career he hopes will be paved with gold, he might look for inspiration from someone of similar age from the southern hemisphere, a young man he will get to know very soon.

Scarlets 20 Munster 22

IN THE enforced absence of Ireland’s Lions and Churchill Cup internationals, Munster will be giving youth its fling in tonight’s friendly against Sale Sharks at Musgrave Park (7pm).

MUNSTER marquee signing, Jean de Villiers, is eligible to play for South Africa when he joins up with the two-time Heineken Cup champions next month.

Former North Harbour lock forward Bernie Upton has joined Michael Bradley's Connacht.

JEAN de Villiers has apparently taken another step towards a new career with Munster, following the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

ONE SHUDDERS to think what might have happened had the Royal XV been lifted and energised by the support of a capacity home crowd in Rustenburg last Saturday.

Warren Gatland believes the Blue Bulls’ stunning Super 14 triumph has underlined how tough a task the British and Irish Lions face in South Africa.

THE Lions’ injury jinx will follow them into their South Africa tour opener against a Royal XV today.

The British and Irish Lions’ injury jinx will follow them into their South Africa tour opener against a Royal XV tomorrow.

IN-FORM Bulls’ centre Wynand Olivier will be back to give the Waikato Chiefs an even harder time in the New Zealanders’ first Super 14 final in Pretoria tomorrow (Sky Sports Xtra, 4pm)

Connacht have captured New Zealand second-row forward Bernie Upton on a two-year contract.

Connacht's new signing Samoan centre Niva Ta'auso has arrived in Galway.

The Ospreys have confirmed they are in negotiations to sign New Zealand A scrum-half Jamie Nutbrown.

Connacht have signed 28-year-old Samoan centre Niva Ta'auso for the forthcoming season from Super 14 side Highlanders.

ALL BLACKS coach Graham Henry has re-applied for his job following the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) decision to make the position contestable after the team’s failed World Cup campaign.

MUNSTER rugby chiefs are hot on the trail of All Black speedster, Doug Howlett, but face opposition from clubs in England and France.

NEW Zealand rugby selectors picked scrum-half Brendon Leonard and prop John Schwalger for the first time and omitted winger Rico Gear for the All Blacks’ final matches before the World Cup.

HE HASN’T read the Australian newspapers online, and he’s tip-toed around the praise that’s come his way since stepping into the scrum half position for the two tests against Wales and Italy.

Worcester have signed Tongan international hooker Aleki Lutui on a two-year deal.

NEW Zealand provincial powerhouses Wellington Hurricanes and Canterbury Crusaders have staked early claims to this year’s Super 14 rugby title.

Simon Lewis, Auckland

Martin Corry was called into British and Irish Lions action for his third game of the campaign and captained a side which had a distinct midweek feel about it.

Geordan Murphy could have been forgiven for kissing goodbye to any hopes of wearing the Lions fullback jersey in the Test series against New Zealand after watching Josh Lewsey produced a stunning man-of-the-match display in the Lions’ victory over the Bay of Plenty.

THEY say paper never refused ink. That said, the amount of column inches that have been dedicated to the Lions tour even before a ball has been kicked on New Zealand soil is incredible.

The Lions think-tank is expecting a full-on, up-front challenge from provincial side Bay of Plenty when they begin their 2005 tour of New Zealand at the Rotorua International Stadium tomorrow (8.10am).