Having delayed the inevitable longer than anyone could possibly imagine, Peter Stringer last night finally brought down the curtain on his 20-year rugby career.

"I cannot describe how it feels to have lived that dream for nearly all my life."

Donncha O'Callaghan has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

Munster legend Donncha O’Callaghan has issued a warning to Ireland about the potential ‘banana skin’ that awaits them at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Ireland half-backs Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton have been warned they’re in Welsh crosshairs for Saturday’s pivotal Six Nations clash at Lansdowne Road.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend says Chris Harris has earned his place in the starting line-up of their NatWest 6 Nations opener in Cardiff.

Josh Adams admits it is “a surreal feeling” to have realised a rugby dream and be picked for Wales.

Worcester wing Josh Adams will make his Wales debut in Saturday's NatWest 6 Nations opener against Scotland.

Niyi Adeolokun scored a first-half hat-trick as Challenge Cup Pool Five leaders Connacht ended the group campaign with a win over Oyonnax.

Connacht prop Conor Carey is hoping to push on this spring and start emulating some of the achievements enjoyed by the tightheads he came through with on an exceptional Irish U20 squad.

The European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) officials, including board chairman and former England international Simon Halliday, congregated in the tunnel outside the palatial dressing rooms at the U Arena and had every reason to be pleased with themselves.

Connacht captain John Muldoon said that Simon Zebo has probably put his international career ‘on the back burner’ by going to France, but the veteran star can understand why he has made the move.

Former Munster and Ireland lock Donnacha O’Callaghan will bring the curtain down on his illustrious career at the end of this season.

Connacht 15 Worcester Warriors 8: You suspect the more Kieran Keane settles into life in Galway the more he appreciates exactly what his predecessor Pat Lam achieved, not just with limited resources but the manner in which he got them to play in the difficult climatic conditions.

In Pool Five of the European Challenge Cup, Connacht made it two wins from two with an uninspiring 15-8 victory over Worcester, who suffered their ninth away defeat in a row in the competition.

Former Ireland international Donncha O’Callaghan says he is looking to earn the respect of the opposition when he steps out opposite Connacht at the Sportsground tomorrow.

Former Irish scrum-half Peter Stringer said he feels as fit now as he did 10 or 15 years ago and is determined to keep on playing as long as he has the opportunity.

Munster coach Rassie Erasmus knew all about his fellow South African Gerbrandt Grobler and so regarded him as the ideal player to fill the gaps left in the Munster second-row by the departures to France of Donnacha Ryan and Dave Foley and the long term injuries to Darren O’Shea and Dave O’Callaghan.

England coach Simon Middleton insists a prime-time TV slot will not ramp up the pressure on his players as they face off against New Zealand in the World Cup final today.

Former Irish lock Donncha O’Callaghan said that getting through his 20th preseason campaign as a professional was made all worthwhile when he was this week named as captain of Worcester Warriors for the season.

Worcester Warriors 26

Connacht have completed the signing of Irish-qualified scrum half James Mitchell on a two-year deal.

True Grit, tenacity, determination, new players winning through, stalwart players not giving up the ghost and bloody hard work won Munster through a ‘Season like No Other’.

Donncha O’Callaghan has been hailed as one of the most professional rugby players in the world after the 38-year-old former Munster legend signed on for another season in the English Premiership with Worcester Warriors.

Having scored 73 tries in 18 Aviva Premiership matches and conceded 49, it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that Wasps are being labelled as rugby’s answer to Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers.

Eddie Jones will send England out against Australia with orders to “break them mentally and physically” in Saturday’s climax to the autumn at Twickenham.

Here’s the lowdown on four big games across Europe...

Former Leinster star Ben Te’o has revealed how he considered declaring for Ireland before opting to pursue an international career with Six Nations rivals England.

Donncha O’Callaghan has admitted lining out for Worcester Warriors against Munster on Friday was one of the most ‘emotional’ nights of an incredible career.

Munster 52 Worcester Warriors 21: It certainly wasn’t a happy return to Cork for former Munster and Ireland hero Donncha O’Callaghan as Munster stormed to a comprehensive pre- season win over Worcester Warriors at Musgrave Park last night.

Donncha O’Callaghan is edging ever closer to making 400 top class professional appearances in a remarkable career that shows no signs of coming quickly to an end.

Reports Springbok centre Jaco Taute is on the brink of joining Munster on a short-term contract appear premature with the province waiting for Stormers to give the the go-ahead.

Rassie Erasmus will not be expecting perfection when he sends his Munster charges into action for the first time tonight.

Rassie Erasmus has given Munster’s young midfield hopefuls two pre-season games to stake their claim to a starting place for the new campaign before looking to bring in a more experienced replacement for long-term injury victim Francis Saili.

New Munster boss Rassie Erasmus has found himself in the midst of an injury crisis at fly-half, with only Ian Keatley apparently ready to start the season.

England 45 Ireland 21: Twenty-one points was enough to win each of the two previous World Rugby U20 Championship finals and only twice has a team scored more than that and lost, but you got the impression at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday evening that no matter what Ireland scored, England would nab more.

Michael Cheika has revealed that Australia were unable to persuade Ben Te'o to pledge his allegiance to the Wallabies due to the financial rewards on offer in the Aviva Premiership.