AT last, Munster secured a victory at the third time of asking in this pre-season programme — a timely boost in advance of Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 league opener at Musgrave Park against Newport Gwent Dragons.

MUNSTER have named a team mixed with youth and experience for their pre-season clash with London Irish at Thomond Park Stadium tonight (7pm).

Harlequins 10 Stade Francais 31

BRISTOL secured their third win of the season against Harlequins at the Memorial Stadium yesterday to keep the pressure on Cardiff Blues at the top of Heineken Cup Pool Three.

Stade Francais 37 Harlequins 17

There was no dream return to London Irish for England’s Peter Richards as Harlequins, his former club, recorded their second win over the Exiles this season with a narrow EDF Energy Cup victory.

Connacht failed to halt stop Bath’s European Challenge Cup run with a 36-24 win at the Sportsgrounds in Galway tonight.

Australian fly-half Chris Malone clinched a dramatic injury-time European Challenge Cup victory for Bath over Connacht at the Rec today.

Harlequins’ continuing efforts to keep their top players for next season’s National Division One campaign have met with further success.

The future of Irish out-halfs Jeremy Staunton and Andrew Dunne at Harlequins could come under further examination as chief executive Mark Evans has sanctioned the signing of Wales international Arwel Thomas until the end of the season, at least.

NEC Harlequins have turned to veteran Tony Diprose to lead their challenge against Munster at Twickenham tomorrow (1pm).

NEC Harlequins will have three Irish men, Andrew Dunne, Simon Keogh and Gavin Duffy in their starting 15 and Munster old boy Jeremy Staunton on the bench when they entertain Alan Gaffney's men at Twickenham on Saturday.

Harlequins 19 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 46

England Under-21s 27 Ireland Under-21s 19

ENGLAND will meet the Six Nations’ ‘form side’ in tonight’s U21 international against Ireland at Kingsholm.