CORK were crowned All-Ireland minor A ladies’ football champions after a thrilling victory in Birr.

CORK boss Robbie Smythe has a full squad to chose from ahead of today’s All-Ireland Minor Ladies football final with Dublin in Birr (2.30pm).

LEICESTER’S director of rugby Richard Cockerill claimed Heineken Cup referees are allowing cheats to prosper after Perpignan snatched a 22-22 draw at Welford Road.

LEINSTER shipped five tries in a friendly defeat by English champions Leicester at Welford Road last night. There was little in it at half-time after Ian McKinley’s try had helped keep the visitors within six points at 20-14.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan doesn’t do losing well, but he managed a few smiles when reflecting on a narrow defeat to Leicester Tigers at Musgrave Park last night.

LEICESTER boss Richard Cockerill watched the injury-ravaged Tigers earn a pulsating Heineken Cup draw with the Ospreys and hailed: “You can buy a team but you can’t buy spirit”.

England Saxons 34 Ireland A 12

England have included 13 capped internationals in a 27-man training squad to prepare for the traditional end-of-season challenge against the Barbarians at Twickenham on June 1.

SHANE HORGAN will start Ireland A’s clash with England Saxons at Welford Road next Friday.

GLOUCESTER boss Dean Ryan accepts his team will head into “a confrontational environment” when they tackle Heineken Cup hosts Bourgoin tonight.

ROB ANDREW has hailed “an English solution for the English game” after the Twickenham unveiling of a new detailed agreement governing professional rugby in England.

Ulster 14 Gloucester 32

ULSTER have been hit with a double whammy ahead of tonight’s opening Heineken Cup clash with Gloucester at Ravenhill. Flanker Stephen Ferris has been told he will be sidelined for up to six weeks while veteran fly-half David Humphreys is a major concern due to an ankle injury.

David Humphreys will have to come through a fitness test on a damaged ankle beofre Mark McCall can insert him at out-half for Friday's Heineken Cup opener against Gloucester at Ravenhill.

GLOUCESTER face a fight for their Heineken Cup lives in the south of France tonight, with captain Marco Bortolami admitting: “We have only one chance.”

ANDY ROBINSON has predicted a “phenomenally tough” game against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday as England strive to avoid their seventh successive Test defeat.

England boss Andy Robinson has made just one change for Englands' clash against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday.

England head coach Andy Robinson has named seven uncapped players in a 30-man squad for the Twickenham clash against World Cup favourites New Zealand on November 5.