ULSTER’S preparations for tomorrow’s crucial Heineken Cup tie against Leicester have been given a welcome boost with confirmation that scrum-halves Ruan Pienaar and Paul Marshall have both signed contract extensions.

WITH Alan Quinlan, one of the great modern characters and indeed one of the most influential players of the professional era, set to retire from rugby next month it is interesting to take stock of a new trend in the international game and one that is a cause for concern.

MONKSTOWN’S wait for a men’s Irish Senior Cup title will stretch into a 98th year after they were beaten 4-3 by Cookstown in a stunning final at Belfield yesterday.

It’s been 12 years since Ulster’s Heineken Cup success, and the same since they made the knockout phase of the competition. Too long, says the province’s stalwarts. Brendan O’Brien took the temperature ahead of Sunday’s clash with Northampton

HEINEKEN Cup-winning former Ulster stars Andy Ward and Jonathan Bell headed south yesterday to launch the 2010 Heineken Kinsale Sevens in the coastal Cork town last night.

Coached by Andy Ward and Adam Larkin, Belfast Harlequins will face a trip to UL Bohemians in the next round of the AIB Cup after coming through their first round encounter with Naas at Deramore Park this afternoon.

Steve Williams will look to make a few changes for Ulster's tussle with The Ospreys at Ravenhill on Friday night in the return leg of the Heineken Cup.

After five straight seasons in Division One, Belfast Harlequins have been relegated - UCD edged today's do-or-die Division One duel at Belfield.

GARRYOWEN ended a 13 year drought without a national title with this AIB All-Ireland Cup final victory on Saturday.

MUNSTER Senior and Junior Cup champions Garryowen are favourites to add the AIB All-Ireland Senior Cup to their trophy cabinet against Belfast Harlequins at Dubarry Park, Athlone this afternoon(4pm).

Shannon's dreams of a possible AIB League and Cup double were dashed at Deramore Park as Belfast Harlequins edged them in a seven-try thriller.

Four players saw yellow as Lansdowne dug deep to end Belfast Harlequins' recent winning run with an 8-5 victory.

Belfast Harlequins 19 St. Mary's College 3

Belfast Harlequins' newly-found confidence was on show at Stradbrook today as they shared out an incredible 11 tries with Blackrock in a 43-36 victory.

Belfast Harlequins 21 Nenagh Ormond 0

Belfast Harlequins 3 Dolphin 13

Cork Constitution 25 Belfast Harlequins 3

Galwegians 29 Belfast Harlequins 8

BRYN CUNNINGHAM will join the list of Ulster centurions when he faces Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park this evening.

Belfast Harlequins 33 Blackrock College 19

Belfast Harlequins 22 Cork Constitution 53

Cork Constitution 41 Belfast Harlequins 13

Belfast Harlequins 31 UL Bohemians 27

Belfast Harlequins 13 Lansdowne 3

Belfast Harlequins 13 UCD 8

County Carlow 19 Belfast Harlequins 28

Last year's AIB League champions Shannon, UL Bohemians and Greystones will all face away trips when the league resumes for the 2005/06 season in October.

WILLIE ANDERSON has been appointed coach of All-Ireland Division Two club Ballynahinch.

Ireland prop Simon Best has been chosen to succeed Andy Ward as Ulster captain.

Internationals David Humphreys and Tyrone Howe return to Ulster's fold for the daunting away trip to Neath-Swansea Ospreys in the Celtic Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

Ulster 16 Llanelli Scarlets 3

JASON HOLLAND plays his 100th game for Munster in tomorrow night’s Celtic League tie with Edinburgh at Thomond Park (7.30pm).

Ulster will go with the same side this weel as last week against Llanelli Scarlets at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Ulster Coach Mark McCall has named his side for the Celtic League clash against the Cardiff Blues on Friday night.

Ulster 17 The Borders 13

Ulster are one point behind Connacht with one game in hand on The Westerners as bottom club The Borders travel to Ravenhill on for Friday.

NEATH-SWANSEA Ospreys bid to kick off a dream weekend for the Welsh, and a miserable one for the Irish, by capturing the Celtic League tonight.

Seamus Mallon has been given the opportunity to make an impression in the centre for Ulster away to Munster in the Celtic League at Musgrave Park on Friday evening.

Ulster Coach Mark McCall has chosen a 26 man squad ahead of Friday's Celtic League clash against Munster in Cork.

Mark McCall has plumped for Adam Larkin at out-half for the Celtic League meeting with Glasgow at Ravenhill on Friday night as David Humphreys will be at Twickenham for the Tsunami Appeal match.

Former Ulster Captain and Ireland Flanker Andy Ward was confirmed today as Director of Rugby at Grafton Belfast Harlequins.

Belfast Harlequins 56 Buccaneers 14

ULSTER’S international players Kevin Maggs, David Humphreys and Tommy Bowe will face the Dragons at Newport when the Celtic League gets back to business tomorrow night.